Two Waterford Institute of Technology students have won travel bursaries that enable them to go to New Zealand for farm work placements.

Roisin Horan, who is in her third year of BSc Agricultural Science, is the winner of the ASA (Agricultural Science Association)/WIT travel bursary in association with the Irish Farmers Journal and Arvum Group.

Peter McGuniness, who is a second year agriculture student, won the ASA/WIT travel bursary in association with the Irish Farmers Journal and Glanbia. Peter departs on New Year’s Eve to start work on 3 January with a 1,000-cow dairy herd on a farm beside the town of Methven in the province of Canterbury

A number of students at WIT will start their 15-week placements in New Zealand and Australia in early January.

John O’Conor of Teagasc in Kildalton is involved in organising work placements for all WIT students.

He says: “This is a great opportunity for our students. They get to see different farming systems and practices and it really enhances their understanding of agriculture at an international level.”