New Honours Degree Programme Launched at Teagasc Kildalton College Open Day

Details of a new honours degree programme at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) were announced at the Careers Open Day at Teagasc Kildalton College (Friday 6 October, 2006). Graduates of the new programme will receive a BSc (Honours) in Business Management in Agriculture, Forestry or Horticulture.

WIT in partnership with Kildalton College already run a substantial programme to pass degree level in agriculture, agricultural science, horticulture and forestry.

Speaking at the Kildalton open day, Dr. Eddy Fitzgerald of WIT highlighted the keen interest of graduates of the pass degree programme to progress to the honours degree level. The honours programme was introduced in September and already forty-five students are participating. The WIT honours degree is classified as Level 8 under the National Educational Qualifications Framework. In this regard, the WIT honours degree has the same status and recognition as comparable Level 8 programmes offered by Irish and indeed foreign universities and Institutes of Technology according to Dr. Fitzgerald.

Tom Kent, WIT Forestry Department said that developing students business management skills and research skills are the key objectives of the new honours degree programme. These skill sets are highly sought after in the forestry sector and also in the broader agricultural sector.

Frank Murphy, Principal, Kildalton College, welcomed the new honours programme saying that it will greatly enhance the opportunities for students attending Kildalton. Almost fifty per cent of students at the college are now participating in the higher level courses jointly offered by WIT and Kildalton College. The opportunities to progress to honours degree is a major incentive for Kildalton students. Students who have progressed from vocational courses (Level 5 and 6) have performed exceptionally well in higher level degree programmes

Una Mc Dermott (WIT) and Ciarán Walsh (Kildalton) highlighted the tremendous opportunities that exist in the horticultural sector. The whole amenity and landscape sector of horticulture is expanding rapidly. The new honours degree programme in horticulture will further strengthen the horticultural programmes already offered by WIT and Kildalton. The new programme will focus on two core themes of developing business management skills and research skills.

Tony Pettit, Head of the Teagasc college emphasised the wide range of courses offered at Kildalton. There are now 16 different courses with close to 400 students participating, many of whom will progress to joint WIT pass degree and honours degree level programmes. Kildalton is also a leading player in equine training with its courses well recognised and acclaimed in the sports horse industry. Mechanisation is another core area being developed at the college and students interested in machinery can undertake an Advanced Certificate course at the Machinery School.

Paddy Browne, Teagasc Assistant Director for Education and Development highlighted the growing importance of training for foreign nationals now working on Irish farms. Kildalton has recently broken new ground with the Farm Relief Service farm placements by jointly developing a short training course for foreign national operatives.

For further information on any of the courses available at Kildalton College please contact:

Tony Pettit, Head, Kildalton College at Tel. 051 644402,

Frank Murphy, Principal, Kildalton Agricultural College at Tel. 051 – 644403,

Ciaran Walsh, Asst. Principal, Horticulture at Tel. 051-644421