Gráinne Mcgrath Email and Phone Number

Research and analyse proposed regional employment growth areas and explore potential for Further Education & Training (FET) provision that promotes matching skills development in Laois & Offaly.Liaise with employers in the Laois & Offaly region to identify skills shortages and collaborate in the development of programme provision to meet these needs, with particular attention to Sustainable Agriculture.Developed and now implementing a national pilot programme based on an Agricultural Strategy for Further Education and Training Service.Work as a key member of LOETB’s Enterprise Support Services team and responsible for management, coordination and monitoring of LOETB’s agricultural provision as detailed in the agricultural strategy.Work with Centre Managers to ensure Contract Training is used as a tool for integration of service within LOETB, facilitating and supporting learner pathways. Prepare annual budgets in line with allocation, monitor budget and update projections to facilitate mid-year and end of year submissions to SOLAS

Course Director of a bespoke programme in sustainable agriculture working in conjunction with Laois Offaly Education Training Board and Bord na Mona. Programme is primarily directed towards current Bord na Mona staff, offering re-training in agriculture, gaining a specific purpose award in agriculture with a focus on sustainable agriculture and the environment. Along with course coordination, role involves preparing, delivering and assessing a range of modules on the course.

 Planning, delivering and assessing a variety of agriculture and horticulture modules on a range of Teagasc courses in both colleges and advisory offices around Ireland Educating part time, full time and distance students therefore flexible dealing with a very diverse student body Delivering modules as part of a variety of courses i.e. Level 5 Certificate in Agriculture, Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Agriculture and Honours Bachelor Degree in Agriculture level 8 Delivering both theory and practical elements of courses, this involves delivery of lectures and practicals in livestock husbandry, crop husbandry, grass management, fertiliser application, pesticide application, beef production, sheep production, dairy production, dairy herd management, farm business planning, succession and planning Preparation and delivery of modules under Teagasc specifications, effectively and efficiently while ensuring learning outcomes are met and maintaining standards in line with both Teagasc and QQI quality assurance policies Responsible for the formulating, assessing and marking of practical and theory exams as part of each module in accordance with QQI guidelines Dealing with student issues, queries and requests daily and giving feedback in a timely manner with focus on quality customer service and standards Identifying and dealing with students of diverse ability levels and making alternative accommodations or in some cases learner support for these students. Ensuring quality customer service by offering one to one tutorials with some students that may benefit from assistive technologies e.g. Claroread, Read & Write Gold.

Research Project Title:Determination of what is needed to enhance access and participation for learners with diverse ability levels in agricultural education programmes• Prepared & lectured a variety of modules including Animal & Drystock Production, Pesticide Application, Animal Breeding & Welfare and Sheep Production• Gained valuable experience in teaching both full and part time students from Kildalton and Waterford IT• Delivered modules to level 8 standard adhering to QQI module specifications and quality assurance policy• Developed and corrected examination papers adhering to QQI module specifications and quality assurance policy• Supported learners with Specific Learning Difficulties due to nature of masters’ research. • Editing, developing and locating course resource material for module specifications & workbooks as part of the Curriculum Development and Standards team• Identifying and dealing with students of diverse ability levels and making alternative accommodations or in some cases learner support for these students• Incorporating various teaching styles to ensure engagement from all styles of learners e.g. UDL & PBL• Managing and utilising resources e.g. Moodle• Supervising/invigilation of exams for large groups of students • Researching and sourcing literature for research project • Improved IT skills and proficient in the use of email, Internet, Microsoft Office programmes including; Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Access• Proficient in the use of statistical analysis software packages such as Nvivo and SPSS to collate results from field research therefore good analysis and numeracy skills• Presenting findings at numerous events i.e. Walsh Fellowship Annual Seminar therefore perfected communication and presentation skills • A member of Curriculum Development and Standards Unit• Under the QQI Standards and Teagasc Verifiers Standards duties include revision of QQI level 5 & 6 module specifications and workbooks in agriculture

Ballycommon House is a family run business and I have been working there part-time since I was sixteen years of age.In my parents absence I would have full management of both pub and apartments.

As part of my level 8 degree I had to partake in 16 weeks work experience. I carried out mine in Dunsandel, a small village in the south island of New Zealand.Duties carried out during my time here included using a rotary parlour to milk 1200+ cows, as well as maintaining and operating the parlour. I was fencing on a daily basis, spreading fertiliser, dosing cattle and general farm jobs.

I started working Saturdays in Kilrainey to gain experience in the running of a yard. At the beginning my duties included general care of the horses and preparing horses and riders for lessons. But as I gained more experience I was given more responsibilities. These included helping with the breaking of young horses, schooling young horses and horses that had been sent to Kilrainey for schooling. I also began giving riding lessons to adults, youths, children with disabilities and youth reach groups. Along with competing my own horses, I would have been given numerous horses to jump and I am therefore used to adapting to different horses.