High profile entrepreneurs to deliver part-time course at the Galway campus
GMIT is offering a Certificate in Food Innovation and Entrepreneurship course under the Government-Higher Education Springboard programme.
This funded, part-time course is aimed at those working in the agri-food sector who would like to enhance their business skills and enable those with food or product ideas to develop them into viable businesses.
The course is delivered by Brendan Allen, Castlemine Farms, JP McMahon, Galway restaurateur, and Ronan Byrne, The Friendly Farmer. The course has had great success over recent years but was previously only available to the unemployed. However, this year GMIT is delighted that Springboard has awarded funding to make places available for both the employed and unemployed.
The course attracts a wide audience of people including local and regional food producers, the wider agricultural community, rural farmers, and food entrepreneurs, where entrepreneurial training has not typically been prioritised. Many of the participants that attend the course have a food product or an idea in mind that they would like to develop and some may be trading at local markets but are unsure how to expand. For many it may be just an idea and they are unsure what to do next.
Dr Lisa Ryan, head of the GMIT Department of Natural Sciences, says: “The course has been developed by a combination of qualified staff in food science and nutrition together with a panel of food entrepreneurs and promotes work-based learning ie 'learning by doing'. Interacting with food entrepreneurs provides participants with the opportunity to network and be inspired by their success and learn the reality of setting up and growing a food business. The industry leaders provide mentoring and support to participants throughout the course. Our graduates of the course found the experiential learning environment and interaction with industry an extremely beneficial and rewarding experience."
This part-time Certificate (Level 9 ) will be delivered via blended learning over two days per week for 16 weeks. One day will be classroom-based and the other will be delivered online.
The course commences at GMIT’s Galway campus on Monday, October 22.
The course is funded by the Springboard Higher Education programme and is FREE to unemployed applicants. The fee for employed applicants is €255 (normally €2,550 ). With limited places on offer, applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid disappointment.
Applicants must apply for this course through www.springboardcourses.ie .The closing date for applications is the 19th October, 2018. For further details on this course in GMIT, email [email protected], call 091-742510 or visit https://www.gmit.ie/science/certificate-food-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-springboard.
