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Teagasc New Part-Time Horticulture Courses
- 15 March 2016
The Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin has announced a series of new part-time / work-based courses for the horticulture sector. Three new QQI Level 6 component awards will be offered in Ecology and the Environment, Garden centre operations and Tree and Shrub management. This will complement the existing awards in Sportsturf Science and Maintenance, Market Gardening, Nursery Stock Production and Landscape Design and Construction.
These courses are intended for prospective students who are currently employed in the horticulture industry and who wish to further their career development in their chosen sector. These courses will enable the student to develop a greater understanding of the sciences underpinning their sector, and will also help them improve their skills and competence at a practical level.
These courses are offered at a time and in a manner to best meet the demands of the horticulture industry. Courses will commence in November in the Botanic Gardens and in January in Kildalton College. Students will attend the colleges for a maximum of two days per week. The courses will be offered over a 16 week period during which time students will undertake a full programme of both academic and practical training. Students will also undertake an industry based project relevant to their chosen sector.
Principal of the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens, John Mulhern said: “As well as providing the learner with a taste of 3rd level training in their chosen sector, these courses will equip the learner with the knowledge skill and competence relevant to the sector in which they are employed. On completion of these courses, students can undertake further full-time or part-time training in horticulture by choosing from the range of Level 5, 6 and 7 courses offered at the two Teagasc horticulture colleges.”
In addition to these courses for industry personnel, Teagasc are also offering new component award courses at Level 5 on the topics of Horticulture Mechanisation, Landscape construction and Maintenance, and Plant Protection. Plant Propagation and Plant Identification and Use are already offered in the colleges as stand-alone components. These courses are intended for those who have a keen interest in horticulture and who wish to improve their skills and competence in these very important areas.
A Career and Course Information day took place yesterday, Thursday, 10th March in the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens.
Recently the college has also embarked on specific industry training for practitioners in Horticulture. Teagasc teamed up with the Association of Landscape Contractors of Ireland (ALCI) to deliver targeted programmes for its members. These have involved soft landscaping techniques along with plant identification and combinations. Further information and future course availability can be got directly from the college.
