UCD and FDC Group launch exciting new €50,000 annual scholarship programme for MSc in Agricultural Extension and Innovation students
Thursday, 25 November 2021 – UCD, Ireland’s Global University, and FDC Group this evening announced details of an exciting new annual scholarship programme available to students enrolled on the MSc in Agricultural Extension and Innovation programme at one of UCD’s top performing schools; the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.
The scholarships valued at €50,000 euro per annum were awarded, following competition, to four students enrolled on the MSc in Agricultural Extension and Innovation programme. This year’s recipients are Thea Broderick (Limerick), Grainne Aherne (Limerick), Eimear Tobin (Meath) and Jack Kennedy (Kilkenny). The scholarships valued at €12,500 per student will be paid as a stipend to support living costs and the successful scholars will also have an opportunity to complete the placement and research component of their programme with the FDC Group.
The 2021 FDC Group/UCD scholarship recipients from left to right are: Grainne Aherne; Jack Kennedy; Eimear Tobin and Thea Broderick.
Commenting on the new scholarship programme and collaboration with FDC Group, UCD Dean of Agriculture and Head of the School of Agriculture and Food Science, Professor Frank Monahan said “We are delighted to announce details of this exciting new collaboration with FDC Group. FDC Group’s ambitious growth strategy and commitment to delivering a full service nationally will require a continuous pipeline of talented UCD graduates. The FDC Group scholarship programme will make a significant contribution to students enrolled on our flagship MSc in Agricultural Extension and Innovation programme annually and highlights the recognition and continued demand for highly sought after UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science graduates.”
Pictured at the launch of the FDC Group scholarship with UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science are from left to right: Jack Murphy, Managing Director, FDC Group; Dr Monica Gorman, Programme Director, UCD MSc Agricultural Extension and Innovation; Liam Dillion, Regional Manager FDC Group and, Professor Karina Pierce, Director of External Relations, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.
The FDC/UCD scholarships were announced as part of the prestigious annual UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science Awards Ceremony which took place virtually on Thursday, 25th November at 6pm. Jack Murphy, Managing Director, FDC Group was delighted to attend the ceremony on behalf of FDC Group and said “FDC Group is delighted to launch this exciting new scholarship programme with the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science. The scholarship programme will support the continued expansion of FDC Group and enable FDC Group to create new knowledge and opportunities for our clients across every county in Ireland. We look forward to welcoming Thea, Grainne, Eimear and Jack to complete their placement and research dissertation with FDC Group and to expanding our geographical network and client base to meet the service needs of our business and farming clients, throughout rural Ireland.”
Dr Monica Gorman, Programme Director of the MSc in Ag Extension and Innovation Programme is confident the collaboration between FDC Group and the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science will be rewarding for all parties “Agricultural Sciences at University College Dublin was recently ranked number one in Ireland, 5th in Europe an 20th globally based on the latest US News and World Report Subject rankings. The partnership with FDC Group aligns well to the UCD Rising to the Future strategy 2020-2024 and in particular Theme 1; Creating a sustainable global society. The Masters in Agricultural Extension and Innovation team at UCD look forward to developing our relationship with FDC Group and to embracing the principles of sustainability in everything that we do.”
The FDC/UCD scholarships were launched at the annual UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science Awards Ceremony. The ceremony is one of the highlights of the School’s academic year and a total of 65 awards were presented to students and graduates at this year’s virtual ceremony including medals, certificates and monetary awards.
About UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science:
The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science is one of UCD’s largest and most successful schools. The School of Agriculture and Food Science offers a broad range of exciting undergraduate, graduate taught, research and executive education programmes spanning the entire food and health chain.
Agriculture, Food Science and Human Nutrition is one of UCD’s most highly ranked disciplines and, Agricultural Sciences at UCD was ranked number one in Ireland, 5th in Europe and 20th Globally based on the 2022 US News and World Report Subject Rankings reflecting the level of expertise underpinning programmes and research activity.
Graduates of UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science programmes go on to achieve at the highest levels and a diverse range of career opportunities are possible from the programmes available. As the first destination of choice in Ireland for the programmes that it offers, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science graduates are highly regarded among employers across many sectors.
About FDC Group:
The FDC (Farm Development Co-Op) was founded in 1973 in Dunmanway, West Cork by Mr Jack Murphy, General Manager. Today, the FDC Group is headquartered in Wellington Road, Cork city.
The group now employs in excess of 450 people across 39 different locations nationwide. As a decentralised multi-disciplined professional services provider, FDC espouses the unique values of rural Ireland and continue our delivery of a full service offering via a local presence to the farming and business communities we serve. The company is committed to having a strong presence where their clients are located.
FDC Group is now placed within the top 10 accountancy firms in Ireland. As advisors of choice in rural Ireland across a diverse client base of farmers, SMEs, family businesses, commercial agribusiness, self-employed professionals and contractors, FDC’s strength and depth is spread across the company’s key services: Accounting, Tax and Legal, Financial Services, Agri Consultancy, Management Accounting, Advisory, Banking, Audit, Training and Client Business IT Solutions.