Walsh Scholarship Knowledge Transfer Funded Masters 2021

Applications are now open for the Walsh Scholarships Knowledge Transfer Programmes 2021.

The MSc Agricultural Extension and Innovation and MSc Agricultural Innovation Support are collaborative funded programmes delivered by UCD and Teagasc for graduates with an interest and ambition to work in advisory and education roles. These programmes involve placement within Teagasc advisory and educational services where the student gets the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors.

Both programmes start in September 2021 with limited funded places available.

An information event was held on Tuesday 6^th April – WATCH BELOW

The MSc Agricultural Extension and Innovation is a 24-month taught master’s programme involving full time mentored placement in a Teagasc advisory office while completing modules using reflective and blended learning. 

 The MSc Agricultural Innovation Support is a 21-month research master’s programme involving a 15-month placement in a Teagasc advisory office or agricultural college researching critical issues around the role of knowledge transfer in supporting farmer decision making and technology adoption. Topics for application to this programme are listed below:

1. Achieving improvement in water quality through targeted organic manure storage advice

2. A KT toolkit to improve fertiliser spreading on grassland farms

3. Evaluation of a pedagogical competency framework in the design and delivery of training for Teagasc Education Staff

4. Evaluation of the Teagasc podcast as a virtual advisory method and recommendations for future development

5. An intervention study to increase the area sown in catch crops as a mitigation strategy in a catchment with high stream water concentrations of nitrate

6. Engaging farmers in conversations about climate change

7. The perception of horticulture as a career among school leavers

8. Advisory approaches for adoption of Selective Dry Cow Therapy

9. An examination of KT from the Hen Harrier Project relevant to Teagasc KT programmes

10. Examining dairy farmers decision making process regarding core and non core tasks

11. How will Irish dairy farmers adapt if permissible organic nitrogen stocking rate limits are reduced

12. Knowledge sharing of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) management systems through eLearning, interactive in-forest KT formats and new digital tools

13. Assessment of a sustainable innovation support model for smallholder dairy farmers in Kenya

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must hold an upper second-class honours degree in agricultural science or equivalent discipline that meets the educational qualification requirements of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine for the Farm Advisory System (FAS).

• Applicants with a pass degree coupled with significant and appropriate work experience may also be considered.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are now closed.

For more information, please email  (opens in a new window)agribus.ruraldev@ucd.ie.

Closing date for applications was Friday, 28^th May 2021 at 17:00hrs