"Ags” centenary roadshow draws to a close

It will be the last in a series of events marking the centenary of the faculty from which over 5,500 Agricultural Science graduates emerged.

The debt of gratitude graduates owe to the UCD Faculty.

It all began when the new Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction called in its first report (1900-1901) for closer association between the Albert Agricultural College at Glasnevin and the new agricultural curriculum at the Royal College of Science in Merrion Street, now part of Government Buildings.

Ireland's first graduates in Agricultural Science (Associates of the Royal College of Science) were conferred in 1904 and the Faculty of General Agriculture at University College Dublin was established in 1926. In that year, both the Albert College and the College of Science passed to the control of UCD.

In the early days, the B Agr Sc degree was obtainable in agricultural science, horticulture or forestry. About 10 graduates were produced each year and most found employment in the public sector, either as agricultural or horticultural instructors or as inspectors with government departments.

From 1905 to 1909, 132 of the 137 students admitted to the faculty at Albert College were farmer's sons. One of the last dairying courses in Albert College was taken by 110 young women, before this type of training was taken over by the Munster Institute in 1902.

Today, about 200 B Agr Sc graduates are produced each year, and they find employment anywhere from international finance or rural development to landscape design and environmental planning.

Agriculture graduates are now 60% from a non-farming background, and almost half are female. Nine different degree options are available Food Science, Agriculture and Rural Development, Forestry, Landscape Horticulture, Agricultural and Environmental Science, Animal and Crop Production, Animal Science, Engineering Technology, Horticultural Science.

Professor James P Drew (1926-1957) was the first Dean in the UCD Faculty in the new era of the university education. He was also Professor of General Agriculture until he retired. In addition, he held administrative and other functions prior to the formation of the faculty.

His tenure was during the Economic War, Second World War and the difficult economic years of the 1950s. Lack of resources was a major problem, but he presided overmuch important research of international standing in animal nutrition, plant pathology, plant breeding.

Professor John Carroll (1958-1968), Professor Tom Clear (1968-1974), Dr John McCarthy (1974-1980), Professor Eamon Gallagher (1980-1986), Dr P. Leo Curran (1986-1989), Dr Jack Gardiner (1989-1995) and Professor Joe Mannion (1995-present) succeeded him. Each of them further developed the faculty.

In an article for the centenary, Dr Dermot Ruane of the faculty said maintaining undergraduate numbers is one of the future challenges in an environment where agriculture appears to be decreasing in importance. The numbers entering third level are also declining and competition from abroad for students is at an all-time high.

A new development is the opportunity for progression to the programmes of the faculty from the Institutes of Technology and other higher-level colleges.

The faculty is moving towards European wide accreditation and more developments, including strategic alliances with other bodies, are expected. The faculty was the first in UCD to have completed a Quality Assurance-Quality Improvement assessment.

"We have made very significant progress as a faculty over the past eight decades, but the challenges today in research, teaching and delivery of quality are even greater," said Dr Ruane.

The faculty has marked its centenary with a series of events throughout the 2001-2002 academic year. These began last November with the Inaugural Lecture by former Teagasc Director Dr Liam Downey, recently appointed Adjunct Professor.

He spoke about the future science and technology needs of the agriculture and food industries and rural communities and their implications for education and training.

In early February, the celebrations "took to the road", as Professor Jim Phelan and Dr Dermot Ruane attended a number of regional ASA meetings in Castlebar, Cavan, Tullamore and Cork.

Celebrations returned to Belfield in May, when a seminar was held, entitled "Third Level Teaching and Research: What Path for Agricultural Science?" Speakers included Dr Cess Karssen, Wageningen University and Research Centre. Fiona Cunnane, Faculty Marketing and Development Officer, said this AIB-sponsored event was attended by 200 graduates and interested professionals, and provided an excellent opportunity for former classmates and colleagues to catch up and debate the issues raised.

The staff held their own celebrations in the courtyard of the horticultural field station in Rosemount in June.

And tonight in Dublin, the Agricultural Science Association, whose annual conference takes place tomorrow, will celebrate the faculty's achievements.