Minister McConalogue addresses final year students at UCD Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Careers Fair
UCD celebrates Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Careers Day 2023
Minister McConalogue. Pictured at the 2023 UCD Agriculture, Food Science & Human Nutrition Careers Day
The UCD Agriculture, Food Science & Human Nutrition Careers Day took place on Wednesday, 22nd February 2023. The annual event, organised by students for students, was lucky enough to welcome Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. to open this year’s event, as he did last year.
Minister McConalogue provided a keynote address to final year undergraduate students in the UCD Garret Fitzgerald Debating Chamber. Aoife Feeney, Agricultural Policy Officer at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ireland and Niamh Bambrick, ASA Vice-President, alumni from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, also addressed students, along with the Dean of Agriculture, UCD Professor Frank Monahan and Ms. Eilish Gill, Agricultural Science Careers Committee Chair.
Providing the keynote address, Minister McConalogue closed by saying “As I look around here, I am absolutely confident that we are in safe hands as we face into one of the most exciting periods of agriculture and farming in our history. My final message to all of you as you move through your education and your careers, is that you should do so safe in the knowledge that you are in the greatest industry in the world.”
22/02/2023. Pictured at the 2023 UCD Agriculture, Food Science & Human Nutrition Careers Day. Pictured are Aoife Feeney, Agricultural Policy Officer at the Embassy of the Netherlands, Ciara Byers Agsoc, Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D and Eilish Gill, Agricultural Science Careers Committee Chair, Dean of Agriculture, UCD Professor Frank Monahan and Niamh Bambrick, Vice President, ASA
The UCD Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Careers Day is a long-established event and is an important opportunity for soon-to-be graduates of the various programmes to connect and network with potential future employers. Nearly 50 exhibitors attended the event, providing students with an excellent opportunity to speak with representatives from a wide range of organisations across the agriculture and food industries.
This year marks a milestone for the UCD Agricultural Science Society, known as AgSoc, as they celebrate 100 years. Amongst many other fundraising events, AgSoc has the huge task of organising Careers Day, and any proceeds raised go towards charities chosen by the students. This year, their chosen charities are Multiple Sclerosis Ireland and Tiggy’s Trust.
Of the society, Minister McConalogue said in his speech, “It’s the 100th anniversary of AgSoc, an amazing society with such tremendous longevity, a society really like no other.”
In her speech, Eilish Gill, Chairperson, Agricultural Science Careers Committee said, “It’s an honour to be the Chairperson of the AgSoc Careers Committee especially as AgSoc ventures into its 100th year. The AgSoc has helped to create a great sense of community spirit and pride in every student… Many of the companies here have been attending for many years, showing the strong links between the School, students and industry. We are also delighted to welcome new faces this year, showing our sector is growing, going from strength to strength.”
This student organised Careers Day is the only event of its kind organised within UCD, and demonstrates the professionalism of students in the School of Agriculture and Food Science. Careers Day is one of a series of career focused events hosted within the school to support students with their career development.
22/02/2023. Pictured at the 2023 UCD Agriculture, Food Science & Human Nutrition Careers Day. Pictured are Katrina Marsh Coolock, Dublin, David Moran, Templetuohy, Co. Tipperary, Sorcha Lauder, Clontarf, Co. Dublin.
Prof. Frank Monahan, Dean of Agriculture and Head of School, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science said “I don’t need to tell any of you about the challenges we face in the world, and that these problems need to be solved using less resources, more efficiently. But with that, there is huge opportunity for our graduates.”
During the event, Niamh Bambrick, Vice President, ASA (Agricultural Science Association), made a formal presentation to the winners of the ASA Mock Interviews. ASA coordinates the Mock Interview Series annually to provide students with an opportunity to practise and improve their interview skills as part of their ongoing professional development.