Exam results have been filtering in across the summer, and as the nation’s learners (and those supporting them) prepare for their next steps in academia or the world of work, we’ve been thinking about the role of students in the agri-tech innovation ecosystem.

Notwithstanding the current political debate about the relative value of different degrees and the role of apprenticeships, this month we are arguing for the value of students as vital contributors to the engine of progress.

From internships to collaborative R&D, bringing fresh thinking and team projects to businesses, it’s time to reframe the conversation to recognise that hosting students creates value, as well as providing learning. Being a student is about so much more than gaining new knowledge, the need to ensure learners are fit for the workplace of today (and tomorrow) has never been more important.

Happily, there are a wealth of programmes designed to help them deliver significant value to businesses as well as help individuals gain that all-important ‘experience’ of the sector.

Of course, Agri-TechE ’s Early Career Innovators’ Forum exists to  help those setting out in the industry to gain experience and build their network, but other more structured programmes exist to help businesses access this expertise. Dr Laura Bouvet, Agri-TechE ’s Knowledge Exchange Manager has written an article highlighting her experience as a student working with industry and how it benefitted both.

Post graduate students funded by BBSRC participate in a PIPS programme (Professional Internships for PhD Students) – a three-month placement in an external organisation. While badged as a learning experience for the student, the opportunity to harness a trained pair of hands and a finely tuned brain shouldn’t be under-estimated.

Similarly, a number of post-graduate courses – such as MBAs at many universities – require the students to undertake a team project applying their learning to address a real-world challenge. So, if you need a piece of desk research carrying out, they can be called upon to provide capacity and capability within your organisation and be specifically tasked with a project pertinent to your strategy.

Need to understand more about your competitors? Get your student team on the phone, searching the web and writing you a report about the current state of the art.

Looking to tackle a new international market? You have a team ready to help do your desk research about potential routes to success.

Wanting some insights into the trends in investment, technology or market forces? They stand ready to help.

So, it’s time to reframe the conversation that you aren’t just offering a learning opportunity – you can gain significant value from engaging with those poised to enter the industry. And you may just find your next employee……