“In this three-month period, I discovered a whole new world of future opportunities.” UCD Global talks to two PhD students about their Erasmus+ experience.

09 Oct 2023

To celebrate Erasmus Days – a six-day festival of Erasmus+ taking place across Europe - UCD Global spoke to two PhD students who recently completed exchanges funded by the Erasmus+ ICM programme. UCD’s Sarah Woodmartin recently returned from a four-month stay at Massey University, New Zealand while Bia Oliveira has returned to Massey after spending three months at UCD.

Bia Oliveira (above left) and Sarah Woodmartin (above right)

Your exchanges are part of a wider project to help UCD and Massey University join forces to tackle challenges faced by the agricultural industries in both Ireland and New Zealand. Tell us about your background and how it links to the project.

Bia: I’m originally from Brazil and moved to New Zealand in 2019 to work on a dairy farm. In 2020, I started my PhD in Pasture Science at Massey University. My research focuses on diverse pastures as an environmental alternative to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Sarah: I am carrying out my PhD in conjunction with UCD and Teagasc. My research focuses on the effect of sward type on intake, digestibility, methane output and meat quality in sheep as well as equating the environmental cost of implementing binary sward mixtures in sheep systems.

You spent a semester in each other’s institutions - from an academic perspective, what motivated you to apply to complete part of your PhD research at Massey University/ UCD?

Sarah: New Zealand and Ireland are unique countries in their ability to grow grass and are renowned for their pasture-reared produce. There are differences too, so it was a great opportunity to immerse myself in the vast farming systems New Zealand has to offer.

Bia: New Zealand and Ireland’s systems have a lot in common. It was also great timing in relation to my PhD journey so I saw this as an amazing opportunity to experience Irish farming and culture.

Bia and colleague at UCD's Lyons Farm (above left) and an image from Sarah's experience at Massey University (above right).

How did this Erasmus+ ICM experience contribute to your PhD research?

Bia: I spent my whole exchange period at the Lyon’s Farm which is the UCD farm in Newcastle, close to Dublin. I had a unique opportunity to work on the Multi4More project due to its similarities to my research on diverse pastures as a means of mitigating the effects of climate change. I worked alongside another PhD student comparing the sheep GHG emissions, and performance monocultures and alternative forage systems.

Sarah: I got the opportunity to help students and researchers carry out trial work similar to my own while also continuing with my analysis and writing. The opportunity to network with students and researchers working in a similar area but a different local context meant that we could share ideas and discuss our findings, which was invaluable to my PhD research.

Above: image taken during Sarah's experience at Massey University

We’ve learnt that New Zealand and Ireland are very similar in their ability to grow grass –  what about differences?

Bia: New Zealand and Ireland are similar in so many ways – kind and fun people, weather, farming. The difference is that Ireland has the best beer, and New Zealand has the best rugby!

From a non-pasture perspective, what was the highlight of your Erasmus+ ICM experience?

Sarah: The people I met during my Erasmus were the highlight of my experience  - we helped each other with trial work and analysis or any other issues and then we would go hiking at weekends. So I would say exploring the mountains and the amazing scenery New Zealand has to offer with new friends.

Bia: The Lyon’s team – both staff and students were great people, always happy to have to answer my questions and have a chat.  In this three month-period, I discovered a whole new world of future opportunities, something not every PhD student has the chance to do.

Bia and colleagues at UCD's Lyons Farm during her Erasmus experience at UCD (above left). Sarah and colleagues hiking in New Zealand. 

What would you say to students who are considering applying for an Erasmus+ exchange opportunity?

Sarah: Definitely apply! It’s a great opportunity to advance your studies and meet others in your field of research while also getting to travel and experience a new culture and working environment.

Bia: There’s no doubt that international experience is a great achievement for your CV. But more than that, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. So make a plan, set the goals and don’t think twice!

Find out more about Erasmus+ ICM exchange 

• Bia and Sarah undertook Erasmus+ ICM student mobility periods funded under the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility funding programme (now known as Erasmus+ Key Action 171). Project leads were Professor Tommy Boland for UCD and Professor Paul Kenyon for Massey University.
• Funding for the three-year project was awarded in 2020 by the Higher Education Authority, Ireland's Erasmus+ National Agency, to support the academic mobility of students and staff between the two institutions. 
• Erasmus+ Key Action 171 is an EU-funded programme that supports the academic mobility of students and staff between Erasmus programme countries (broadly speaking, EU countries) and partners from third countries not associated with the Erasmus+ programme (broadly speaking, non-EU countries).
• Between 2015 and 2023, UCD obtained almost €1.5 million in KA171 funding to support the academic mobility of 340 students and staff between Ireland and 32 partner countries worldwide.
• Find out more about Erasmus+ ICM projects or contact erasmusicm@ucd.ie.