Six third-level agricultural science students from UCD and WIT have landed the much sought-after professional work experience (PWE) travel bursary.

The bursaries, which were awarded recently, will give financial assistance to those wishing to travel abroad on their PWE.

This year is the fourth of this joint initiative, in which the Agricultural Science Association (ASA) and Irish Farmers Journal reward third-level students who demonstrate an interest in fulfilling the work placement segment of their degree overseas.

The WIT bursaries are also supported by Glanbia and Seedtech.

The winners were from across the country, with three from Cork and one each from Wicklow, Laois and Tipperary.

Among the countries students will travel to are New Zealand, USA and Chile.

The winners

From UCD

  • Ana Mooney from Nenagh in Tipperary will travel to Missouri in the USA, where she will work on a dairy farm with accomplished farmer Niall Murphy.
  • Leyla Byrne from Blessington in Wicklow will travel to three farms in South Island, New Zealand, where she will undertake placements in dairy, beef, lamb and an abattoir.
  • Daire Brady from Waterfall in Cork will travel to Los Lagos in Chile, where he will work on a dairy farm in conjunction with Insight Investments.
  • Owen Cashman from Glanmire in Cork will travel to Missouri in USA, where he will undertake a placement with Emerald Dairies.
  • From WIT

  • Nicole Keohane from Kinsale, Co Cork, is a third-year student. She will travel to New Zealand in January where she will work on a dairy farm for four months.
  • Andrew Mansfield from Rathdowney, Co Laois, is a second-year student at WIT. He will also travel to New Zealand, where he will work a large-scale dairy farm.