Hello from Ireland,
We are delighted to be taking part in the EUROPEA “Your Week” campaign. Teagasc programmes have returned to the normal format with students attending classes in colleges and participating in practical skills training on farms, in horticultural units, forestry plantations and stables yards. Teagasc provides vocational education and training programmes which are placed are Levels 5 and 6 on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications which is comparable to Level 4 and 5 on the EQF.
We have new developments in our education programmes this year with the introduction of farm animal workshops for students, delivered by specialists including Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM) staff. We are also delighted with the news that funding has been provided by DAFM for farm machinery simulators for colleges. Simulators are used in many sectors to assist with learning new technical skills and developing basic and advanced competencies in operation of high-risk/valuable machinery. The introduction of simulators for students will provide an additional tool to support learning and also enhance the integration of technology in teaching methods. Most importantly, the simulators will also improve awareness of the farm safety risks when operating machinery for operators with all levels of experience.
The team of staff and students in Ballyhaise College in County Cavan welcomed their first group of exchange students from Finland in September. It was a great experience for both Teagasc staff and students and the exchange students fully participated in all student activities in the college while also attending the World and National Ploughing Championships.
The weather in Ireland this Autumn has been good for farming with many farmers starting their last grazing rotation on paddocks as grass growth slows down before dairy and beef cattle are housed for the winter. Field conditions for sowing Winter crops has been very good also for tillage farmers.
Further details on the new developments are included in the following articles.
Kind regards
Carmel and James
Carmel Finlay- carmel.finlay@teagasc.ie
James Maher- james.maher@teagasc.ie
