Record number of exhibitors attend UCD Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Careers Day 2020
Record number of exhibitors attend UCD Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Careers Day 2020
Attended by a record number of 50 exhibitors the UCD Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition Careers Day, took place on Wednesday, 12th February 2020 in the UCD Ad Astra Hall.
Professor Alex Evans, Head of Agriculture at UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science opened proceedings by congratulating the students on organising such a successful event. Prof. Evans said “We are delighted to welcome so many companies here today interesting in discussing opportunities with this years’ graduates. These graduates are the leaders of the future and we are very proud of the contribution they are going to make to the challenges of the future”.
The keynote address “New Career Challenges in Agriculture and Food” was delivered by Mr. Richard Kennedy, CEO Devenish, 2019 EY Entrepreneur of the Year and a UCD Agricultural Science graduate. Speaking about his time at UCD Richard Kennedy said “The Agricultural Science faculty and the Agriculture Science degree are the basis for what I am now”.
Seamus O’Mahony, President of the Agriculture Science Association (ASA) addressed students and spoke of the endless opportunities available in the industry for graduates encouraging everyone to seize every opportunity open to them. Seamus announced the winners of the ASA Mock Interviews which were held on Tuesday, 11th February. The ASA is a voluntary organisation and is the professional body for graduates in agricultural, horticultural, forestry, environmental and food science. Each year members of the association conduct mock interviews with more than seventy final year students participating this year.
The final speaker of the day was Careers Chairperson, Owen Cashman. Owen spoke about his honor of taking on the role of careers chairperson, highlighting the positive interaction he has had with the agriculture and food industry throughout the year and the high regard that students from UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science are held. Owen wished all his classmates well in their future careers saying “I have no doubt you will all go on to achieve great things in your careers’. Your degree from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science is only the beginning for you and I wish you all the very best. I look forward to hearing about your successes over the coming years”.
Aoife Bergin, Auditor of the Agricultural Society was MC for the day. In her closing remarks Aoife spoke of how the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science is the only school in UCD to organise their own careers day “The success of this event is testament to the agri-food industry, the opportunities for graduates and the caliber of the degree students at the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science receive.”