Teagasc students learn online as virtual open day set for April 24

The National Botanic Gardens is home to the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, located at Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Photo: Peter Stears.

John Mulhern, principal of Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture, provides an insight into how the college has adapted in light of Covid-19.

Careers

22 April 2020

Teagsc College of Amenity Horticulture’s Level 5, 6, and 7 students should respectively be returning to their final week of spring placement, before returning to the college to finish their last three weeks of term; starting their fifth week of placement; and returning to college for their last week-and-a-half of term, but none of that is happening currently said John Mulhern, principal of Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture.

“Instead, students and staff are at home following the rules that the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the government has asked us all to follow in this strangest of times.”, said Mulhern.

Mulhern continued: “We are entering week four of lockdown where we are all observing the ultimate in social distancing, where loved ones are temporarily isolated in an attempt to play our part and diffuse this pandemic.

“Our staff has responded to the new environment strongly by putting together a detailed online programme for our students using our online platform MOODLE, which can host a variety of resources to aid learning in a remote setting.

“Overall, our students have responded positively to this new learning environment. It will allow for the completion of programme work through a combination of online questions, multiple-choice questions, written reports, and exercises.

“Progression from Level 5 to the higher programmes will not be impeded as we aim to continue with our normal internal verification process in early June. All student results are updated continually online so self-tracking of progress is facilitated.

“In the current environment, students are learning to adapt to an increasing online awareness. These online skills that students are developing at this time, are completely transferable into the labour market.

“Increasingly, horticultural businesses are having to look at the online space in an attempt to reach their market, so it adds to students skillsets when they have to engage in online learning.

“Recruitment to our programmes is ongoing and we continue to engage with new and prospective students who want to pursue courses and careers in horticulture.

“This summer, the college is planning two modules in plant propagation and garden design. We will continue to roll out these modules and incorporate an online element to them also.”

Virtual open day

On Friday, April 24, the Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT), will participate in a virtual open day where the college will be available online from 2pm to 4pm to deal with queries in relation to their Level 7 degree course.

Those interested in any of the college’s courses can email or call +353-(0)1-804-0201 for more information.