August 8, 2023
Ornua, Ireland’s largest exporter of dairy products and owner of the Kerrygold brand, in partnership with Cork University Business School, is now welcoming applications for a fully-funded postgraduate scholarship for the 2023/24 MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives programme.
A first-of-its-kind programme, the MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives integrates collaborative approaches into the study of sustainable development and agri-food. Through a combination of work placements and research-based learning, the programme equips students with the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to secure exciting roles across sustainable development and agri-food, in areas such as ESG, green energy, logistics, project management, agri-advisory and consultancy and research.
The Ornua Scholarship, which was launched for the first time in 2021, will support a postgraduate student in the upcoming academic year, in pursuing a career path towards sustainability leadership in agri-food. As part of their participation in the programme, the successful scholar will complete a work placement with Ornua in 2024.
Dave Fitzgerald, Sustainability Director, Ornua said: “At Ornua, we firmly believe that investing in education and developing talent is key to driving sustainable development and securing a prosperous future for the entire Irish agri-food sector, including our member co-operatives and the 14,000 Irish dairy farming families they represent. We are excited to continue our partnership with UCC in supporting the scholarship for the MSc in Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives for a third year. This scholarship will help participants further develop cutting-edge research, gain practical experience and contribute to the dairy industry’s collective effort in further embedding sustainability.”
Dr. Olive McCarthy, Programme Director of the MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives, UCC said: “The strategic vision of Cork University Business School focuses on creating responsible leaders to design and deliver sustainable business. The Ornua scholarship on the MSc Sustainable Development, Agri-Food and Co-operatives closely aligns to this vision in supporting and nurturing talented students to become the sustainability leaders of tomorrow. We wish to thank Ornua for their continued generous support of our students and helping to prepare them for their future careers.”
Celia Cremin, Ornua Scholar for 2022/23 said: “Working closely with Ornua has opened doors to a vast array of resources and opportunities. Through their mentorship and guidance, I have gained valuable insights into the dairy industry. My placement has offered an opportunity to witness first-hand the inner workings of a team dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change. I have experienced the great work being done, but also the reality of some of the challenges facing the industry today. This placement has also facilitated many opportunities to network and connect with numerous industry experts. Undertaking this MSc, along with the opportunity to complete my placement with Ornua, has afforded me a strong competitive edge as I embark on my future career. I am so grateful to Ornua and UCC for this very enriching and valuable experience.”
Applications for the Ornua Scholarship are now being accepted. The closing date for applications is Friday, August 21st, 2023. For further information and to apply, please visit, www.cubsucc.com/news /ornua-scholarship/