Awards and Certificates Presented to Teagasc Horticulture Graduates

Awards and certificates were presented to 114 graduates of Teagasc’s College of Amenity Horticulture by Bertie Ahern TD, at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin today, Monday, 9 November 2009.

The 47 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, who were conferred last Friday at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), received awards from Mr Ahern this morning. They had completed a three-year horticulture course, based in the Botanic Gardens or Warrenstown College in collaboration with the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown (ITB). The graduates will go into employment in a variety of sectors of horticulture, including landscape design, landscape contracting, parks management, garden centres and greenkeeping, with some pursuing further studies.

Ms Mary Harty, a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Horticulture, received the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture medallion for the best performance on the horticultural course.

Certificates were also presented to 64 students who completed one-year courses in horticulture at FETAC Levels 5 and 6. In the afternoon, 39 students were presented with Advanced Certificates in Greenkeeping FETAC Level 6 by Pat O’Dwyer, chairman, Greenkeeper Training Committee, Golfing Union of Ireland.

The presentations were followed by a reception in the Visitors Centre at the National Botanic Gardens and guests had an opportunity to visit the magnificently-restored Palm House resplendent with its plant collection.

The Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, in co-operation with Institutes of Technology, the National Botanic Gardens, the National Parks, Dublin and County Parks Authorities, FÁS and commercial horticultural enterprises, provide courses in a wide range of horticultural areas. At any time, in the region of 350 students are enrolled on courses based in the Gardens, where they contribute to the work of the Gardens as part of their practical training. They are also allocated work placements with various enterprises and institutions in Ireland and abroad during their training. Courses are FETAC or HETAC accredited.

“These courses combine science, business and art. Graduates have a very successful rate of employment uptake because they cover such a wide range of activities,” according to Pat Leonard, assistant principal of the college. He said: “We have both mature students and school leavers together with students employed in the industry, taking work-based courses. The enthusiasm and interest in plants unites all students and they can use the wonderful Botanic Gardens as their textbook”.