About the School
The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science is the only academic institution in Ireland that delivers education and research on the complete food chain from initial on farm production through processing to final consumption by the consumer.
The School supports the agri-food industry in Ireland by educating students to become industry leaders and by conducting world class research. The value of the agri-food sector in Ireland accounts for ca. 10% of the total merchandise exports (viz €8.6 billion). Research, training and innovation are key drivers of sustainability and growth in this industry, and UCD plays a central role in effecting this. The benefits impact at national, regional and local levels.
Teaching
The School delivers a range of science-based teaching programmes that cover the complete food chain from on-farm production agriculture to food science and human nutrition.
Our teaching programmes engage and challenge students through the quality of our teaching and by incorporating the best disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge while building on the attributes of a liberal education, including, the capacity for critical thinking, judgement and effective communication.
We ensure that our programs evolve by integrating advances in knowledge, by ensuring that the research activities of the school are incorporated into our undergraduate learning and by remaining sensitive to the rapid pace of cultural, social, economic, political, technological and environmental change occurring in society, and the international and global context. We continually examine our programs and practices to ensure that students are both challenged and engaged, and develop the desire and the capacity for lifelong learning.
Research
Our approach to research is in keeping with the overall UCD Strategy of promoting basic research embedded in strong disciplines while creating interdisciplinary programmes that draw on these disciplines to promote new fields of study and develop initiatives that exploit new knowledge to inform public policy and to stimulate economic development in areas of national priority. The success of the approach is dependent on the strength of disciplines and on individuals who can lead across disciplinary boundaries.
