2015 Press Releases
Growing success for UCC postgrad courses
UCC’s MSc Organic Horticulture and MSc Information Systems for Business Performance have both been shortlisted at the forthcoming Postgraduate Course of the Year Awards 2015.
The MSc Organic Horticulture course is delivered in West Cork and is the only one of its type in Europe. It has been shortlisted for Postgraduate Course of the Year (Science) and Best New Course at the annual Postgraduate Course of the Year Awards taking place later this month.
Also shortlisted in two categories is the MSc Information Systems for Business Performance (ISBP) for Best IT Course and Best Business Course. A hat trick will be on the cards if the course wins Best IT Course, having already received the accolade in 2013 and 2014.
The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), UCC delivers the MSc Organic Horticulture programme, running since 2012, at a teaching and research base at Liss Ard Estate, just outside Skibbereen in West Cork. It provides students with the scientific principles and practical applications of organic horticulture. A panel of industry experts compiled the shortlist with a particular focus on the employability of graduates, tangible links to industry and innovative forms of delivery.
The MSc ISBP integrates core business and IT skills to give students a thorough understanding of how organisations can leverage technology to reduce costs, create value, and deliver better products and services to customers. Through a collaborative industry project, students also get hands-on experience of solving real business problems using IT. This year alone vice-presidents, directors and managers from 12 multinationals and SME’s across the financial, technology, manufacturing, security, health and consulting sectors are mentoring ISBP students for their industry project.
Co-ordinator of the MSc Organic Horticulture, Dr Eoin Lettice of the School of BEES said the course teams were delighted with the shortlisting:
“People are really interested in where their food comes from and how it is produced. We’re particularly happy that the MSc programme has been recognised at a national level as providing an important qualification for the horticulture sector in Ireland and abroad. The success of the course is due to its unique delivery in the heart of west Cork by expert lecturers. We focus on training employable graduates who leave with a deep understanding of the scientific basis for organic and sustainable crop production techniques.”
Applications are now open for the MSc Organic Horticulture starting September 2015. See cohr.ucc.ie for more information or contact Dr Eoin Lettice e.lettice@ucc.ie
Applications now being accepted for our MSc Organic Horticulture. Starting in September 2015. http://t.co/p99caRtUYZ #organic #food #plants
— COHR UCC (@COHRucc)
March 4, 2015
Commenting on the shortlisting of the MSc ISBP, Co-Director of the programme Dr Karen Neville said:
"This is an IT course with a business focus. Having won 'Postgraduate Course of the Year - IT' in 2013 and again in 2014, we are delighted that our emphasis on business has finally been recognised, as we have been shortlisted in both the Business and IT categories this year."
The Postgraduate Course of the Year Awards are organised by Postgrad Ireland and take place in Dublin’s Mansion House on 30 April 2015. For the full shortlist, click here.
MSc ISBP shortlisted for PGIrelands Best Business Course Award mixing Business & IT to meet Industry graduate demands http://t.co/pZZ0RPX8yM
— BIS UCC (@BIS_UCC)
April 8, 2015
MSc ISBP shortlisted for PGIreland’s Best IT Course Award, winning in 2014 & 2013 with virtually 100% Employment. http://t.co/RadkBvMlSA
— UCC Graduate Studies (@UCCGSO)
April 2, 2015