Careers open day at Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College

STUDENTS and parents will have an opportunity to visit Teagasc, Clonakilty Agricultural College when the College holds its careers day on Friday, October 16th.  

Talk will start at 11am where potential students, parents and career guidance counsellors can get full details on the range of courses available at Teagasc, Clonakilty Agriculture College. There has been a sustained interest from young people seeking agricultural education and training in the past five years which has driven demand for places in Clonakilty.  

The factors which have seen the interest in courses increase include improved returns from farming, new opportunities to expand and more recently, the favourable measures for young people in the new CAP reform, under the Young Farmers scheme and the National reserve.

The college has seen continual demand for its FETAC Level 5 course since 2010, according to college principal Majella Moloney.  ‘This is partly a reflection of the growing confidence in agriculture and the food industry. 

‘The Food Wise 2025 report has identified significant growth opportunities across all the agri-food sectors and provides an important roadmap for its future direction,’ she added.  ‘This is giving assurance to new entrants that there is a national framework in which they can have a sustainable future on the land. The 12-week practical learning period at Level 5 and a further 12 weeks on the Level 6 Advanced Certificate option, where the students specialise in Dairy Herd Management, ensures the young people completing the Teagasc courses have a varied and stimulating learning experience. 

Graduates of the Level 6 Advanced Certificate have the opportunity since 2012 to apply for the Teagasc/UCD Professional Diploma in Dairy Farm Management. 

With some dairy farmers looking at significant expansion in their dairy operation, there will be increasing opportunities for graduates to work as farm managers over the next number of years. 

‘The two-year Professional Diploma will be the source of these trained people and the entry requirements for this course can be satisfied by completing the Level 5 and Level 6 courses that are run in Clonakilty,’ she added.