Teagasc Offers First Ever Nationally Certified Courses

Issued 8^thMay 2001

Young people interested in careers in agriculture, horticulture, the horse industry and forestry can for the first time this year avail of courses which are nationally certified.

The courses follow the decision to bring all Teagasc courses into the mainstream education system with graduates receiving awards from the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETEC), which is regulated by the newly-formed National Qualifications Authority of Ireland.

A new range of courses is being provided in all Teagasc colleges, starting next September. Recruitment to the courses is now underway .

Courses are being provided in agriculture, horticulture, horse breeding and training and forestry, with the option for students to specialise within each course. Students can avail of the colleges' residential facilities or can pursue the courses on a non-residential basis. In both cases, maintenance grants are paid by Teagasc.

A key feature of the new courses is that participants can progress to third-level courses which are being introduced this year by Teagasc college/institute of technology partnerships.

The Director of Teagasc, Dr Liam Downey, said the new courses represent a radical change in the approach to agricultural training in Ireland and will ensure that young entrants will be properly trained to successfully confront the new challenges and opportunities facing the agriculture industry and rural Ireland.

He said the introduction of the new courses is being accompanied by a major refurbishment programme in agricultural and horticultural colleges. A total of £10m is being spent on bringing facilities in the colleges up to the standards which exist in the institutes of technology.