If the outdoor life on the land appeals to you, then you need to get to grips with major changes in agricultural and horticultural courses offered by Teagasc. Courses are now offered at two levels, explains Dr David O'Connor, head of education with Teagasc. There are third-level qualifications from the National Council for Educational Awards and post-Leaving Certificate qualifications from the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA). A number of agricultural and horticultural colleges have formed partnerships with institutes of technology, says O'Connor. Places will be allocated through the Central Applications Office on the basis of points obtained in the Leaving Certificate.
Dr Mary Meaney, director of Blanchardstown IT, which has partnerships with Warrenstown and the National Botanic Gardens, says the institutes of technology will provide business, computer and science education with the agriculture and horticulture being taught in the relevant colleges. Careers open to those who complete the national certificate in agriculture include farm management, environmental management and monitoring, agri-industry sales and marketing and quality control. Options for those with the horticulture diploma include landscaping, greenkeeping, nursery took production, and garden centre operations. It is hoped that a national diploma in agriculture will be in place by 2003 when the first national certificate students will graduate. Arrangements for transfer to UCD for both agriculture and horticulture graduates are being negotiated.
For those who don't get the points or who don't want do do longer courses, there are NCVA level 2 qualifications, where places will be allocated on the basis of an interview. These courses are offered at the agriculture and horticulture colleges with some input from the VECs and FAS. O'Connor says the minimum entry age of 17 is designed to encourage students to stay in school until Leaving Certificate. There is an NCVA level 3 qualification on offer. This comprises nine months on paid placement and two months in college. There are linkages between NCVA level 2 and 3 courses and the courses offered at third level.
Career prospects in agriculture and horticulture have never been better, says O'Connor. "If somebody is considering a career in agriculture it will pay as well as a career elsewhere. There are advantages as to location and commuting time. Many also perceive the outdoor life as an advantage." Caroline Smiddy, a young farmer in beef and tillage, was at the AgriAware stand at Teagasc open day. She says: "I don't like to be cooped up. I like being in the open air. You can be by yourself a lot, but there is a good social life in the country. There's no traffic jams, no smog and you're self-employed so you work as many hours as you need. The downside is that you don't earn huge amounts."
Women comprise fewer than 10 per cent of students on Teagasc agriculture courses, but the gender balance is better for horticulture, where almost one-third of students are female. The reason for the low participation of women in agriculture is cultural, with males almost always inheriting farms, O'Connor says. Smiddy was unusual in that she inherited a farm from a relative. Overall, the land seems to have lost little of its allure. Last year, there were serious drops in numbers starting Teagasc courses. This year, the decline is less, with some 600 students enrolling in agriculture programmes (down 20 on last year) and 150 on horticulture (same as last year).
