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Farm Manager Apprenticeship

Entry Requirements | How to Become an Apprentice Farm Manager Programme Costs | Programme StructureProgramme Modules | More Information 

Overview

The Farm Manager Apprenticeship is for anyone who wishes to pursue a managerial career in the agricultural sector or existing personnel employed on farms to progress with their existing educational qualifications. The programme will provide the person with the latest research and best practice management knowledge to successfully run a commercial farm business.

Programme Title: Farm Manager Apprenticeship
Duration: Two years
Award Title: Bachelor of Science in Professional Sustainable Farm Management
Certification: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) issues certification as the awarding body


Entry Requirements

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, an applicant must:

Be directly employed by a SOLAS approved Employer

  • Farm Technician Apprenticeship qualification (Higher Certificate in Technical Farm Operations – NFQ Level 6*)
    or
  • Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture (or equivalent) Award*
    or
  • Level 7 Specific Purpose Professional Dairy Diploma in Farm Management*
    or
  • Anyone working in the agricultural sector must be 18 year old or older working in the agricultural sector (2 years full-time) with the relevant experience and equivalent educational experience (NFQ Level 6 or higher*) deemed acceptable by employer and consortium and subject to the validation of supporting evidence and/or assessment process.

*A qualification deemed equivalent on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications to any of the qualifications listed above.

Note – Where there is a mathematics requirement at Leaving Certificate Established or Vocational Programme, obtaining a minimum grade O6/H7 in Maths or a F2 in Foundation Maths, mature and international applicants may be required to demonstrate that they possess the required competency through the completion of a maths assessment.
The programme is through the medium of English and it is highly desirable that the applicant will meet CEF Level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Language). Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. The certificate of the English language standard must have been issued within 2 years of the expected start of your course.


How to Become an Apprentice Farm Manager

Step 1

To be eligible for this apprenticeship, an applicant must:

  • Be directly employed by a SOLAS approved Employer.
  • Meet the entry requirements.

Step 2

  • The approved SOLAS Employer will start the registration process with SOLAS (The Further Education & Training Authority).

Step 3

  • Applicant’s application will be assessed by Teagasc in consultation with SOLAS.

Step 4

  • If successful, applicant will be registered as an apprentice both with SOLAS and Teagasc.

Step 5

  • Apprentice will be called for induction training and off-the-job learning block release

Programme Costs

The cost of the apprenticeship is €1,375 per year of the programme. Associated costs such as travel and accommodation for off-the-job block release are extra.


Programme Structure

Apprentices will be trained in a progressive manner and will get to put their skills into practice during both on and off the job training stages. On successful completion, the apprentice will be fully competent in the role of a Farm Manager.

Employers are asked to support employees throughout their learning journey by engaging and facilitating mentor one-to-ones on a regular basis. Employers will be issued with advice on this during induction training.

The block release programme has been designed to minimise the impact of the apprentice’s absence for the work place. Block release allows for employers to plan for the apprentice’s absence throughout off-seasons. Attendance is compulsory and apprentices will attend classes, practicals, labs and field trips while off-the-job. Assessments will take place also in this period. Off-the-job training will be a total of 10 weeks per year.

The following is an overview per stage of the off-the-job-training periods

Autumn / Winter Semester (Sept-Dec) 

16 days off-the-job
8 online live classes

Winter / Summer Semester (Jan-June)

24 days off-the-job
12 online live classes

Note 1: Off-the-job training (Classroom; Practical; etc.) supported with E-directed learning (Online
Classes & Online Tasks) in addition to formative feedback from on-the-job training.

Note 2: Note: Repeat Days are extra days and will be scheduled in July


Programme Modules

Year 1 / Stage 1

  • Farm Finance & Strategic Management
  • Health & Safety Management
  • Sustainable & Environmental Farm Managemen
  • Farm Product Quality & Operations Management

Year 2 / Stage 2

  • Manager Skills – Leadership; Delegation; Decision Making
  • Economic Sustainability & Labour Management
  • Farm Infrastructure & Regulations
  • Climate Smart Farm Technologies
  • Apprentice Project

More Information 

For more information is available on the Apprenticeships Website

Information for employers is available in the employers section of the apprenticeships website

For Further information please contact:

Marcella Phelan 
National Apprenticeship Programme Co-ordinator
Teagasc - Curriculum & Development Standards Unit 
+353 (0)51644508
marcella.phelan@teagasc.ie  

Dr. Emma-Louise Coffey
Programme Co-ordinator
Teagasc – Kildalton College
T +353 (0)2542706
E emmalouise.coffey@teagasc.ie