On International Women's Day, the Department of Land Sciences in SETU is proud to recognize and celebrate the contributions of female students [past and present], collaborators and stakeholders in the university's commitment to promoting and encouraging female participation in the Agri/Food/Forestry and Horticulture sectors.
In a video montage, women in the Land Sciences share their inspiring stories and the changes they see in the industry. The production of this video will contribute towards changing the stereotype of a traditionally male dominated industry and provide role models for aspiring females in this industry.
Eleanor Kent, Head of Land Sciences in SETU, says, “Nationally, there is a skills shortage in many sectors. Without a constant stream of well-educated and motivated people, targets for growth within these sectors will not be sustainable. We need to attract more women to the sector to fill this skills gap. The university wants to highlight the many opportunities available to women in the sector and promote SETU as a champion for attracting and including women in Land Sciences.”
Dr. Siobhán Walsh, Lecturer in Agricultural Science, says, “I’ve seen significant changes in the gender balance in both staff and students over the last 10 years on the Waterford Campus and it reflects the changes that we are seeing across the agri-food industry and more broadly in the area of Land Sciences.”
SETU is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in Land Sciences and encourages aspiring girls and women into this vibrant sector of our economy. SETU offers programmes in Agricultural Science, Agriculture, Sustainable Farm Management and AgriBusiness, Organic Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture and Food Science.