University College Cork is in the “advanced stages” of developing a new agricultural science course.

In an interview with the Irish Farmers Journal, Prof Thia Hennessy, Dean of Business School at University College Cork, confirmed that the university will be teaching their first full degree in agricultural science.

“UCC is currently at the advanced stages of developing an agricultural science undergraduate programme.

"It would be the university’s first full degree programme in agricultural science, which is exciting for University College Cork and Munster in general,” she explained.

The course is expected to begin in September 2019.

Opportunities for rural workers in tech firm

There has been a boost on the jobs front for those looking to work from home.

Dublin-based IT firm, eBecs has confirmed the creation of 100 new jobs this week with the company stating that they will allow flexibility to employees, enabling them to work from home. The firm specialises in delivering Microsoft business products.

It said that the new jobs are spread across Microsoft Certified professionals, their graduate and return to work programme. The company was established in 2016. It comes on the back of the opening of a new headquarters by sports analytics firm STATS. Their new European headquarters are in Limerick and will employ up to 150 people by 2020.

8,000 students gear up for ag science exam

The leaving cert is under way and agricultural science students gear up for their exam on Monday, while agricultural economics students sit their exam Thursday next.

Almost 8,000 students are expected to sit the Leaving Certificate agricultural science paper this year. Figures show that 92% of those sitting the paper on Monday 18 June will be taking the higher-level exam. More students are now sitting the agricultural science exam than subjects such as engineering, music, physics, Spanish and religious education.

The ag economics exam is one of the last exams to take place, with just over 50 sitting this exam. In total, 55,255 students will sit the Leaving Certificate this year.

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20 minutes with: Thia Hennessy of UCC on Ireland's food island image

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