Irish uni tells students to work down under

University College Dublin (UCD) is described as Ireland’s global university and its School of Agriculture and Food Science is among its largest schools.

It offers degrees in agri-environmental sciences, food science, human nutrition, forestry, horticulture and a range of options under the broad heading of agricultural science.

Third-year students in the dairy business degree course are urged in the advertising and promotion material to spend time in New Zealand to gain professional work experience. Visit between July and December, at the height of the NZ dairy season, the brochures say.

For their part, undergraduates who have visited NZ are fulsome in their praise.

Aisling Claffey says a big attraction of the degree course was the opportunity to visit NZ. She gained valuable knowledge and experience working on a large scale dairy farm.

Paul Murphy says a six-month NZ work placement “was without doubt the highlight of my university experience. I was exposed to a range of techniques, methodologies and a way of life I had never seen before and it was truly an eye opening and unforgettable experience.”

UCD’s marketing manager Damien Dempsey says in Ireland now young people have huge interest in pursuing degrees in agriculture, food science and human nutrition. UCD works with secondary schools to highlight the range of subjects taken in the university’s degree courses. The uni attends big events such as the National Ploughing Championships to talk to prospective students and their parents.

“We also highlight the types of roles graduates occupy when they complete their degrees. There is often some confusion about the types of employment roles graduates find,” Dempsey told Rural News.

“There is a huge breadth of opportunity – consultancy, business, banking, agri food or journalism. Employers are recognising the many transferable skills graduates have, so by shining a torch on the range of opportunities available, students have a better sense of their future.”

The uni takes about 350 new students each year into the School of Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition. And the Veterinary School also has good student uptake.

“We have a lot more students who are not necessarily from a farming background,” he says. “But they understand the importance of agriculture as a subject internationally and its links to such global issues as climate change and feeding the world’s growing population. They choose agriculture and agricultural and food science degrees because of the opportunity and interest and relevance they offer.”

The university partners with Teagasc, Ireland’s agricultural research and advisory service organisation, in agricultural innovation, research and education. Students spend time at various Teagasc establishments around Ireland.