£30,000 worth of bursaries and scholarships were awarded to students enrolled on Ulster University validated bachelor’s honours degree courses at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).
The scholarships were awarded to exemplary students during a presentation event held at CAFRE’s Loughry Campus in Cookstown last week.
The occasion, attended by agriculture, equine, food and horticulture students and their supporters, welcomed industry partners to present the awards, which were funded by CAFRE’s ‘Industry Support Programme’ partners.
Head of food education at CAFRE, Fintan McCann, welcomed all those in attendance: “The combined event reflects the integration of the supply chains across the land-based industries.
“Today we recognise the significant scale of financial support from our industry partners across our four disciplines of agriculture, equine, food and horticulture at CAFRE, which is an impressive £96,000.”
Ten companies presented bursary awards to students, which included Dale Farm, Danske Bank, Fane Valley, Henderson Group, Kerry (Omagh), Lakeland Dairies, Leprino Foods, Mackle Petfoods, Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, and Tyrone Farming Society.
Ten first year students enrolled on food degree courses received a combined total of £15,000 in bursaries while an additional four second-year students secured scholarships supported by ABP Linden, Dunbia, Lakeland Dairies and Mackle Petfoods.
According to CAFRE, the scholarship competition combines a financial payment of £2,500 with the opportunity to complete a paid work placement year within the business.
Reiterating the need for entrants to work in the food industry, acting CAFRE director, Paul McHenry said:
“The agri-food industry is a cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s economy. It contributes significantly to the region’s productivity with total sales now exceeding £6 billion per year. The workforce in Northern Ireland stands at over 113,000 staff.
“The United Nations estimates that the global population passed 8 billion people in 2023 and will continue to grow to almost 10 billion by 2050. The NI agri-food industry exports almost 90% of its produce, so there are great opportunities for growth and careers into the future.
“Promoting sustainability, competitiveness, innovation and resilience within the sector are crucial for its success. There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead, but where there are challenges there are also opportunities.
“With the knowledge, skills and graduate attributes developed at CAFRE students can look forward to a rewarding career within the food industry,” he added.
According to CAFRE, the prestigious awards afford successful students the opportunity to better fulfil their potential, gain invaluable work experience, and contribute to the advancement of the industry through connection with businesses early in their academic journey.
“The generous support we receive from our industry partners better enables our students to focus on their studies, broaden their skills and ultimately, excel in their chosen fields. Today we encourage you all to reach your potential,” McHenry concluded.
