Gurteen College is one of Ireland’s foremost agricultural colleges. Situated in Ballingarry, Co. Tipperary, it offers training courses in agriculture and equine studies for farms and rural enterprises, and provides a solid foundation for progression to higher level courses and future careers.
Founded in 1947 as Gurteen Agricultural College by the Methodist Church in Ireland to encourage young farmers to stay at home rather than emigrate, the college is located in the heart of Ireland and provides quality education in pleasant surroundings.
As a registered charity, Gurteen is dedicated to providing education, training and facilities to the highest quality standards; demonstrating best modern practice in its farm and other enterprises; promoting the personal development of each student; fostering an ethos of personal responsibility, community values and life-long learning.
Gurteen College is situated on a farm covering over 1,000 acres (380 hectares) of land, making it the largest college farm in the country. It has in excess of 500 full-time students and is one of just seven agricultural colleges remaining in Ireland. Three of these are privately-run – Gurteen, Mountbellew in Co. Galway and Pallaskenry in Co. Limerick.
Despite the decline in agricultural colleges (there were 12 as recently as 2000), Gurteen has experienced a sharp rise in numbers since the collapse of the construction industry as many young people with farming backgrounds return to farming education and the land.
“Farming still existed during the Celtic Tiger,” Gurteen College principal Mike Pearson points out.
“It has and always will be there. But because there were so many opportunities in the building trade, a lot of young farmers opted to go down that route. They had all the necessary skills and were ideally suited to construction work.
“When the building boom ended, those same young people who had delayed their farming education came back. As a result, our numbers have trebled in the past few years.”
Gurteen College offers a wide range of courses in agriculture, equine and veterinary nursing on a full-time, part-time or distance learning basis. The equine department was opened in 1999. The courses aim to provide training in practical areas. To this end, full-time students take part in the day-to-day practical work on the college farm or equine area.
The main agricultural courses are the one-year Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture; Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture, Options in Dairy, Dry-stock and Crop/Bio energy; Level 6 Special Purpose Award (Green Cert). These courses are validated by FETAC.
A Level 6 Higher Certificate in Business in Equine Studies Acceptable as Green Cert and a Level 7 Bachelor of Business in Equine Studies are also available from Gurteen in conjunction with Athlone IT. Another course offered in conjunction with AIT is Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing. Gurteen is currently developing a range of new courses in conjunction with other ITs, details of which will be announced soon.
Gurteen’s excellent practical facilities ensure that students are encouraged to develop their skills fully, which is essential in the rapidly changing world we live in. At the heart of the college are the McKinny Conference Hall and the main block lecture theatre. There are 100 residential bedrooms, a large canteen, computer suites and a range of student recreational facilities, including a modern sports hall, heated outdoor swimming pool, floodlit tennis and basketball court, GAA and rugby pitches, snooker, pool and table tennis tables, stables and a cross-country course.
There is also a large workshop building, while accommodation is provided for pony camp and youth camp groups during the summer holidays, ensuring the college is a hive of activity all-year around. The equine department offers a cross-country course for students, Eventing Ireland and those involved in hunter trials, with its facilities including indoor and outdoor arenas.
Gurteen College is one of the largest employers in the region, with 40 staff – including 20 teachers (both full-time and part-time) – on its books. By insisting on shopping locally, Gurteen makes a huge contribution to the economies of north Tipperary and south Offaly.
Gurteen’s commitment to the environment is reflected in the fact that heat is generated on campus by a 50kW wind turbine and wood-chip boilers, which were installed in 2010. Met Eireann opened an automatic weather station within the grounds of the college in 2008.
In 2012, Gurteen College students were crowned annual Colleges Challenge Day Champions. Famous past-pupils include the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Marine & Defence Simon Coveney, former IFA president and TD Tom Parlon and broadcaster and ex-politician Ivan Yates.
While Gurteen attracts students from all parts of Ireland – especially to its equine courses – most hail from the midland counties.
A native of Middlesborough in the UK, Mike Pearson has been Gurteen College principal for the past 15 years. He concludes by saying: “We have very good practical courses and assure our students of the best possible practical experience.
“Farming continues to play a huge role in Ireland. It is still a way of life for many, but has become a business. Farmers are the custodians of the countryside and this is something our students are acutely aware of. The quality education we provide at Gurteen College is all part of an ongoing learning process for young farmers.”
Gurteen College
Ballingarry,
Roscrea,
Co. Tipperary.
Telephone: 067 21282
Fax: 067 21290
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gurteencollege.ie
Taken from Irish Tractor & Agri magazine Vol 3 No 1, January/February 2015
