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Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College, Mountbellew, Co. Galway, Ireland |
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Web Page designed by: Brendan Kearns |
The following are the courses on offer at Mountbellew:
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Vocational Certificate in Agriculture
(Fetac)
This course is suitable for people who wish to make their careers in farming and the agri industry but who do not wish to complete the Higher Education course. The course is very suitable for future farmers and for people seeking employment on farms. There is an abundance of employment opportunities at attractive rates of pay for trained people.
There is no minimum educational entry requirement but those who have completed the Leaving Certificate are likely to benefit most from the course. Applicants must be 17 years on 1 October in the year of entry to the course.
Students who successfully complete the course may go directly into employment although most are expected to progress to the Vocational Certificate in Agriculture - Level 3 or to one of the specialised Teagasc Diploma courses or to the Farm Apprenticeship Scheme. They may also transfer to the Higher Certificate in Agriculture under certain conditions.
Course Content
Students on the course will acquire skills and knowledge relating to soils and plants, animal and crop production, farm management, machinery, enterprise development and management, the environment, farm buildings, personal development and health and safety. About half the course consists of practical/skills training. Typically, students spend half of each day on the farm and workshops and half at classroom work. Computer applications is an important part of the course. Among a number of compulsory modules is one on communications.
Students may choose a cluster of elective modules in one of the specialisms: Dairy Production, Drystock Production or Crop Production. They also spend 4 weeks in spring on work experience on a farm which has the enterprise of their specialism.
Colleges have a range of development activities such as public speaking, debating, and sports. It is usual for students to form a branch of Macra na Feirme (Young Farmers Club) in the college and to participate in Macra competitions and other activities. Students usually enjoy the experience of the year in a college where they develop life skills, make new friends and get exposure to a wide range of disciplines.
Vocational Certificate in Agriculture - Level 3 |
People who achieve this Certificate will have met the skill and competency requirements for various Farm Development Aids.
Students who obtain the Level 3 Certificate may transfer to the Higher Certificate in Agriculture under certain conditions.
Course Content
The emphasis in this course is on the development of business and management skills and in developing proficiency in a range of skills in one of these specialisms; Dairy Production, Drystock Production and Crop Production.
Students spend 36 weeks on paid work experience on an approved training farm where they learn management and manual skills associated with their chosen specialism. Eight weeks are spent on course work at the college.
If students enrol in full-time vocational education or in industrial apprenticeship, the period on farm work experience can be reduced to 18 weeks.
Bachelor of Business in Rural Enterprise and Agribusines
Duration: Three Years
Awarding Body: GMIT
Course Code: GA 172
Progression: Add – on Honours Bachelor Degree in Business Studies at GMIT or transfer to other Institutes or Universities.
Location: Mountbellew Agricultural College and GMIT
Method of Application: CAO
Maintenance Grant: VEC (means tested)
Duration : 3 years
Location
This unique three year third level course, which has a common first year with the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Environmental Management, is offered at the Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College, Mountbellew and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
Course Aim
The course, resulting in the award of Degree in Business in Rural Enterprise and Agribusiness is aimed at students interested in acquiring training and qualifications for careers in the rural and agribusiness sectors. Some graduates take up careers in the agribusiness and agriservice sectors or in the general business areas of finance, marketing, sales, retailing and management. A number of graduates manage farms or take up careers as development officers in government departments. Most graduates of the programme now progress to an Honours Bachelor Degree in Business Studies and then to Post Graduate courses after which they enter the job market. Some of these complete the Higher Diploma in Education and then find employment as teachers in second level schools.
Entry Requirements and Application Procedures
The minimum entry requirements for the course are a Grade D3 or higher in at least five (ordinary level) subjects in the Leaving Certificate including Maths and English or Irish. If there are more applicants than places the standard points system will be used to rank applicants. Mature students and holders of specific Fetac awards may be admitted without meeting these minimum requirements.
Course Structure and Content
The course is both semesterised and modularised. There are two semesters in each year and students take six modules per semester. There is a common first year for this Bachelor of Business in Rural Enterprise and Agribusiness programme and the Bachelor in Science in Agriculture and Environmental Management programme. After the first year students have a choice either to continue in the business stream or change to the science stream. There is a three month careers related work placement period in the second semester of year 2. This placement is normally done with key companies involved in the agribusiness and rural enterprise sectors.
Modules for Year One
Semester 1
Mandatory Modules: Financial and Farm Accounting, Microeconomics, Computing and Information Systems 1, Production Agriculture 1 and Environmental Science 1.
Electives: Language and Culture or Communications 1.
Semester 2
Mandatory Modules: Cost and Management Accounting, Macroeconomics, Business Statistics, Production Agriculture 2 and Environmental Science 2
Electives: Language and Culture or Communications 2.
Modules for Year Two
Semester 3
Mandatory Modules: Marketing, Farm Business Management and Advanced Drystock Production.
Electives include any three of the following: Agricultural Economics, Business Information Systems, Analytical Science, Farm Buildings and Maintenance, Advanced Dairy Production, Farm Mechanisation and Language and Culture.
Semester 4
Three months period of career related placement in an agribusiness.
Modules for Year Three
Semester 5
Mandatory Modules: Market Research, Enterprise Development and Sustainable Development.
Electives include any three of the following: Community Development, Rural Development, Advanced Farm Business Management, Environmental Management 1, Food Production and Language and Culture.
Semester 6
Mandatory Modules: Sustainable Agriculture, Agri-enterprise project and Agri-marketing.
Electives include any three of the following: Financial Management and Taxation, Irish Economy, Agribusiness Management, Management Information Systems, Quality Assurance, Environmental Management 2 and Language and Culture.
Progression
Students who achieve the award of Bachelor of Business in Rural Enterprise and Agribusiness may apply to progress to an add-on Honours Bachelor Degree in Business Studies at GMIT and it is intended to develop a separate add-on Honours Degree in Rural Enterprise and Agribusiness in the near future. There are also possibilities to progress at other ITs and Universities.
Students who complete year 2 of the programme and who are unable to progress to year 3 but satisfy the required credits and learning outcomes may receive a Higher Certificate.
Applications are made through the Central Applications Office.
Certificate in Business Studies
(Fetac)
An Fetac Level 2 course in Business Studies is offered to mature students since 1999. This course is run in the evenings and has a maximum intake of 20 participants. The course has a business and rural development orientation.
Throughout the year there are a wide range of short courses run at Mountbellew college. Courses include:
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Farm management
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Farm Machinery and tractor operations
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Agricultural Appreciation
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Responsible Persons (veterinary practice personnel)
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Farm enterprises (skills training)
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Deer farming
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Organic farming
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