Veon, Ireland’s premier forest management and ecology consultancy, is proud to introduce the Veon Excellence in Forest Management Scholarship, in association with South East Technological University (SETU).
This annual scholarship is designed to foster academic and professional excellence and will be awarded to a third-year forestry undergraduate studying at SETU. This scholarship not only recognises academic achievement but also provides invaluable work experience within Ireland’s leading forest management consultancy.
Open to third-year students studying forestry at SETU, the Veon Excellence in Forest Management Scholarship is awarded on the merit of the student’s forest management plan as submitted as a part of their studies. It is designed with a focus on promoting excellence, by supporting the scholarship awardee.
Capstone project
The forest management plan is the capstone project every forestry student completes to demonstrate their mastery of all aspects of sustainable forest management of a particular forest property. The Society of Irish Foresters, the professional body for forestry in Ireland, use the forest management plan as the key metric of professionalism. Graduates of the BSc in Forestry at SETU automatically meet this professional standard.
Successful recipients will benefit from a comprehensive scholarship package covering the academic fees of the one-year Level 8 BSc in Land Management in Forestry at SETU. The scholarship will include a paid professional summer internship with Veon’s forestry team. The scholarship aims to provide students with valuable industry experience at the end of their studies which will underpin what they have learned from the undergraduate programme. The recipient will be encouraged to drive their professional development a stage further through a collaborative research project facilitated by Veon, forming the topic of the student’s elective research project for the Level 8 degree.
A vote of recognition
Commenting on the VEON Scholarship, Tom Kent, Programme Leader of the BSc in Forestry at SETU, stated, “I am delighted that Veon has offered this valuable and worthwhile opportunity to our undergraduate forestry students. It is a vote of recognition and confidence in our students and the high level of academic excellence that our faculty at SETU provides for the Irish forest industry. We value the forest management plan as a challenging, integrated professional assessment of all the student has learned. It is very welcome that our confidence in this assessment is matched by this industry recognition.”
Daragh Little, Managing Director - Forestry at Veon, emphasised the significance of the Veon Excellence in Forest Management Scholarship, stating, “This scholarship represents a groundbreaking initiative in Ireland, underscoring Veon’s fundamental belief in the future of the Irish forestry sector. We are proud to contribute to the development of the next generation of forestry professionals. Working with Veon, the successful candidates will learn from experienced professionals and be exposed to all aspects of forest management.”
Trevor McHugh, Managing Director – Commercial at Veon noted that, “A career in forestry offers an extraordinarily broad range of opportunities and Veon is committed to encouraging many more people to start their journey in this sector. Forestry graduates can pursue careers in everything from sustainable forest management to advanced data analysis, utilising cutting-edge technologies to deliver ever greater knowledge of what is happening in the world’s forests. Opportunities abound in research and development that will enable society to maximise the benefits of wood and timber-based products while managing forests for environmental and societal benefits. By launching this scholarship, it is our hope and intent that we will improve the accessibility of forestry as a career choice to future generations.”
For more information about the Veon Excellence in Forest Management Scholarship, tap here.
About Forestry at SETU: The Level 7 BSc in Forestry prepares students for a professional career in sustainable forest management through a multi-disciplinary programme, where students gain knowledge in a wide range of areas including biology, engineering, economics, ecology, silviculture and management. Graduates may commence their professional careers or continue their studies for one year on the Level 8 BSc in Land Management in Forestry. For more information, tap here.
