John Mulhern, principal of the College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens reports in from the recent Teagasc conference: Education Vision
The need for land-based education and training is going to intensify. That was the core message at the recent Teagasc conference – Education Vision – meeting future needs – which took place on 5 June in Kilkenny. Issues such as sustainability and climate change, smart technologies, changing consumer requirements and future policy direction all have profound implications for future knowledge and competency requirements. At the production level, the pressure to be efficient, competitive and business oriented will intensify and further drive demand. Speaking at the conference, Teagasc director Professor Gerry Boyle stressed that “The next generation of young farmers will need to break with traditional views and conventional wisdom to fully maximise the potential of their farm resources.”
Head of education in Teagasc, Tony Pettit stated that the future will see fewer, but better-educated land-based professionals. The Teagasc Education Vision consultation noted the existing strengths of Teagasc. Tony emphasised however that “Future Teagasc education pathways and curriculum content will need to enable learners to meet wider and deeper skillset requirements. While technical skills will always be crucial, personal skillsets such as problem-solving, and learning to learn, will be of equal if not greater importance in the 21st century.’’Frank Murphy, Teagasc curriculum development and standards unit manager, outlined how the Teagasc education pathways are evolving. He highlighted that a Level 6 advanced certificate in agriculture should be the minimum qualification for entrants to the sector, with a Level 7 apprenticeship in farm management as the target Teagasc programme for future farm managers and owners. Alan Jagoe, a dairy/tillage farmer from County Cork and member of the Teagasc Authority highlighted the issue of generational renewal as a major challenge for the land sector. He said, ‘‘Land mobility will be vital to sustaining the land sector but the land sector needs to able to offer attractive, viable career paths to attract new blood.’’
The 250 conference attendees also participated in seminars relating to professional development, learner work placement, gender diversity in land sector education and careers, and the implications arising from ‘smart agriculture’. Well known broadcaster and consultant Dr. Maureen Gaff ney reiterated the importance of fostering personal competence in agricultural education and the importance of internal farm family discussions on potentially sensitive issues such as succession.
In particular, in relation to horticulture education, Teagasc will develop specialised training opportunities for specific horticulture sectors including commercial mushroom production, greenkeeping and sportsturf management. Teagasc will also expand part-time and blended education options for horticulture education and training. With an eye on future learning strategies and mechanisms, the teaching staff at the Botanic Gardens are currently working with a software company to develop a new digital platform to facilitate a more blended approach to learning. We would hope to pilot this with current modules next semester. The aim here is to be able to offer online based learning to a broader audience in a blended approach whereby learners can do the theory at a time of their choosing and the practical learning will be done on site in Teagasc Botanics or Ashtown research site.
Teagasc is also developing two horticulture apprenticeships as part of its education vision. Apprenticeship is defined as a programme of structured education and training which formally combines and alternates learning in the workplace with learning in an education or training centre. It is a dual system of on-the-job training and off-the-job training. Key requirements for new national apprenticeships are that they:
● are industry-led
● are at least two years duration
● contain a minimum of 50% on-the-job training
● prepare apprentices to work autonomously and competently in a specific occupation
● involve a contract of apprenticeship
● provide a salary for the duration of the apprenticeship (on-the-job and off-the-job).
Teagasc hopes to have two horticulture apprenticeships ready for enrolment with industry in September 2019.
The effectiveness of apprenticeship schemes in bringing young people into work is recognised by the EU Commission. The European Framework for Quality and Effective Apprenticeships (EU Commission, 2017) initiative to boost apprenticeships forms part of the EU New Skills Agenda for Europe, adopted by the Commission in 2016. The Commission views apprenticeships as strengthening ‘the link between education and the labour market’ and providing the ‘combination of technical, transversal and soft skills that employers are looking for’. ✽
 JOHN MULHERN has worked with Teagasc for more than 17 years, primarily in an educational capacity. He is the current principal of the College of Amenity Horticulture, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin. |
