Countryside College of Southwest Finland and Finnish institute for fish economy and environment (Suomen kalatalous- ja ympäristöinstituutti) provide teaching which prepares for the vocational degree of animal keeper. The objective is to provide the student with the necessary knowledge and skills for the vocational degree of animal keeper following the national degree requirements. Primary candidates for this training are those already working in the branch or those who have previous experience.
The employment potential for test animal keepers and ranch animal keepers get better by a vocational degree and work practise. Practical training is given in co-operation with animal ranches. Practical training also includes a business-skills module, since pet shop keepers and animal care-centre keepers normally work as independent entrepreneurs. A personal curriculum is drafted for each student.
Animal entrepreneur
Basic degree in agriculture (countryside entrepreneur) 120 study weeks
The objective of training is to provide the student with solid basic-level know-how for working in different animal-related professions and for those who intend to become entrepreneurs. A countryside entrepreneur can work e.g. as a livestock keeper, in a care-centre for pets or found animals and as a vacation substitute. They can also work in animal parks, pet shops as well as stores for agricultural supplies and animal feed. The degree also trains the student for working within various service tasks designed for farms, e.g. as an animal entrepreneur, countryside travel entrepreneur or within further processing of agricultural products.
