Royal Agricultural University hosts 180th anniversary celebrations
1st October 2025
The oldest agricultural college in the English-speaking world, the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), has recently celebrated its 180th anniversary during a special party.
Staff and governors of the historic university – which was founded in 1845 as the Royal Agricultural College – were joined online by senior staff from the RAU’s partner universities in China, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine to celebrate the institution’s milestone anniversary.
RAU vice chancellor professor Peter McCaffery and Dame Fiona Reynolds, chairwoman of the University’s Governing Council, welcomed guests, both in person and online, at the University’s Alliston Centre.
Professor McCaffery said: “Agricultural innovation requires international collaboration, and we are delighted that our global partners in China, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Sharjah could join us to celebrate our 180th anniversary this month.
“We are all driven by a universal purpose to care for the land and all who depend on it, as well as united by a common desire to address the global challenges that face humankind – climate change, food security, sustainable land use, biodiversity loss and heritage management.”
Professor McCaffery explained that the university’s founding mission was to develop agricultural education and land management across the world.
RAU’s long history since 1845
A special giant birthday cake in the shape of the RAU’s iconic and historic main building was made especially for the celebration by local RAU alumna Simone Walls.
The Royal Agricultural College opened its doors to its first 25 students on 15th September 1845, and the institution, which became a university in 2013, has held a number of special events this year to celebrate its 180th anniversary.
In addition to the more than 1,100 students studying at its Cirencester campus, the RAU has more than 3,000 students enrolled on RAU courses with its international partners, with planned growth for more than 4,000 students in 2026-27 and over 5,000 students in 2027-28.
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