Graduate Development Programme - Diploma in Leadership for the Agri Food Sector

Graduate training is a vital part of the development of young professionals for the modern workplace. Many sectors have well established graduate training programmes that support early career professionals with the vital tansition from education to the commercial workplace. The SME Food sector is a vital driver or Ireland’s economic prosperity. Talent is a key element in supporting SME success but SME do not always have the resources that the larger food companies can draw in for dedicated graduate training programmes, In response to this, here in UCC, we offer an exceptional, graduate programme. This food and agriculture sectors targeted graduated development programme which leads to a Level 7 Diploma in Leadership offers a valuable bridge between University and working life and will provide relevant business, management, leadership and professional development skills to young graduates in SME companies, without burdening the companies with the expense of developing an in-house programme.

Aims and Objectives

This programme is designed to meet the management and leadership development needs of graduates in the Irish food and
agriculture sectors in the early years of their working lives. Alongside the core technical business skills and best practice
tools, the programme will equip participants with motivation and coaching skills that will enhance their professional
identity and capability. As a result of this programme, participants will be able to embrace new challenges within their
organisation and help to grow and have a lasting impact on their company in these fast-paced industries.

Who should attend?

Graduates who are working in an SME food or agriculture related company and have the ambition and motivation to develop their core management skills.
Graduates of Food Science, Agriculture or related disciplines who have graduated in recent years, ideally.
For applicants without a Level 8 Degree, prior experiential learning and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) will be taken into account.

What our Current Students Say

“The Diploma in Leadership course is a fantastic opportunity to gain some formal education behind the aspects of management and leadership that are so integral to career development in the food industry. A great insight into all aspects of leadership and management from the importance of communication, project management, time management and financial information”

Ms Léan O’Connor BSc, MSc Food Science & Technology, Business Development Manager, Drover Foods Ltd.

“The Diploma is very relevant for anyone seeking to move towards a more supervisory or management role, with real references and scenarios. It gave me the opportunity to learn and work alongside future leaders of the agri-food sector”

Mr Tennyson Egar B.Agr.Sc, Operations and Strategic Account Manager, Irish Hereford Prime

Programme Design and Delivery

The Programme design facilitates individuals who wish to study on a part-time basis and integrate their studies with their careers. Participants will attend ten two-day interactive workshops which will be held in a blended format between UCC and our online Virtual Learning Platforms.

An in-company project, applying advanced project management tools, is undertaken by each student which enables course participants to gain an in-depth appreciation of a topic of their choice within their company. In addition, the in-company project affords each participant an opportunity to apply, test and integrate the theories, concepts and frameworks presented throughout the whole course. The incompany project will be based on research conducted in the participant’s company, or within the market served by the company, or with stakeholders relevant to the participant’s company. Participants will be mentored by FITU and also by an in-company mentor in the development and implementation of the project. This offers a unique opportunity for the company and the learner to derive substantial direct benefit from the programme in addition to the talent developemnt,.

Programme Modules

VENUE: UCC/Centrally located hotel venue / Online (Covid dependent)

Module	Date
1. Introduction to Management Different management styles & structures Models of management in successful agri-food businesses Own management/leadership style evolution, how may vary with situation	TBC
2. Performance Management Models for Performance Measurement Understanding and harnessing the varying performance drivers in people Toolkit for getting the best out of both oneself & individuals; managing conflict	TBC
3. Business Planning From Mission Statement to Business Plan Defining steps to finalised business plan, from feasibility to product/service launch Swot analysis; KPI selection for measuring actuals	TBC
4. Time Management Principles of effective Time Management Toolkit for prioritising work, delegation, ranking, scheduling Building awareness of own daily pattern of energy levels and working around same	TBC
5. Project Management & Team working Project frameworks Project planning, implementation, follow up Behaviour in teams, team building, getting the best from your team	TBC
6. LEAN Introduction to Six Sigma Lean methodology Practical tools to help ease embedding of Lean in organisation	TBC
7. Communication & Presentation skills Effective communication skills, learning to read non-verbal communication Effective influencing Keys to successful presentations	TBC
8. Decision Making and Critical Thinking Main Decision making models explained, their optimal usage How personal & group think impacts decision making Critical thinking skills, to aid effective decision making	TBC
9. Finance for Non Financial Managers Basics of accounting : P&L, Balance Sheet, Cashflow Budgets, forecasts, actuals reporting Product costing, pricing, receivables and debt management	TBC
10. Innovation, Sales & Marketing What is Innovation, how to nurture it in oneself & others Brainstorming, creativity, idea generation Effective selling, negotiating, making a pitch	TBC

Why Choose this Diploma

This Diploma structure is based on over 30 experience training young professionals through the Food Industry Training Unit, University College Cork (www.ucc.ie/en/fitu) in the agri-food sector.
A dedicated, experienced and tested team of a programme manager, lecturers and administration staff run this programme. The programme manager will ensure ongoing mentoring and coaching and this is complemented by the presence of lecturers and presenters.
The UCC team will work closely with participants and their companies in order to address individual and
company needs..
This proposed programme is a completely bespoke graduate development programme designed specifically to meet the needs of graduates in the SME food and agriculture sectors.
The FITU provides ready access to national and international networks of subject matter experts who contribute on an ongoing basis to our programmes.
The programme has a University status to provide academic integrity to the programme as well as access to teaching methodologies, locations and facilities.
This programme will be accredited by University College Cork at Level 7 in the National Framework of
Qualifications.

Registration and Cost

Click here for further information and registration

Cost: The net cost to the company is €7,800 per student, payable in two instalments in September 2023 and January 2024. Places are limited to a maximum number of twenty.

The brochure for the 2021/2022 academic year is available here: Diploma in Leadership for the Agri Food Sector Brochure November 2021

If you are interested in registering for this programme, please complete the expression of interest at

https://forms.office.com/e/YXgnQZqVds

For further information please contact:

Dr Joanne Uí Chrualaoich

Manager Food Industry Training Unit

School of Food and Nutritional Sciences College of Science,

Engineering and Food Science University College Cork

Tel: 086 3840587 email: j.uichruaoich@ucc.ie