Teagasc Conference to Pinpoint Education Challenges
10 February, 2003
The challenges facing agricultural education in Ireland and Europe will be addressed at a national conference being run by Teagasc in Dublin Castle on Tuesday, 18th February.
Sponsored by FBD Trust, the conference will bring together the major stakeholders in the Irish agricultural training system with the aim of developing a blueprint for the sector over the coming decade.
Announcing details, Paddy Browne, Head of Education with Teagasc, said the conference is taking place at a time of revolutionary change in Teagasc training.
"All courses are now nationally certified and benchmarked to the highest international standards. An indication of the changes is that a total of 11 third level courses, provided jointly by Teagasc colleges and institutes of technology, are on this year's CAO list."
"These new course together with the opportunity for participants to progress up to university degree level, have led to increased participation in agricultural and horticultural courses. This reverses the downward trend which took place since the mid 1990's," said Paddy Browne.
Paddy Browne stressed that even greater challenges lie ahead.
"The shift towards part-time farming and the increasing emphasis on distance and life-long learning requires that we continue to refine how we deliver training to young entrants to the industry and to adult farmers. All of these issues will be addressed at the conference," he said.
The conference will be addressed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Joe Walsh and by Alan Dukes, Chief Executive of the Irish Institute of European Affairs.
Delegates will also hear the views of leading educationalists from Ireland, Holland and the UK as well as successful farmers and horticulturists.
It runs from 10 am to 4.15 pm. Because of strong demand, advance registration is strongly advised. Anyone interested in attending should contact Teagasc at (01) 6376059 or email: amcdonnell@hq.teagasc.ie.
