This generation will grasp global opportunities

Date published: 22 June 2017

You are the generation that will realise the emerging opportunities from the global market place, CAFRE students will be told this week during their graduation ceremonies.

DARD News

CAFRE Director Martin McKendry will also tell the 700 students graduating from more than 30 different courses from the college’s three campuses at Enniskillen, Greenmount and Loughry, that Brexit means they need a competitive edge.

“We live in a highly competitive world where the rate of change appears to be getting faster and new challenges abound. We have Brexit around the corner and the changes that will bring are not yet known, but one thing is sure and that is we need to be competitive”, he will say.

“There is now, more than ever, a greater need for people, like you, with the appropriate skills and knowledge to manage and grow our agriculture, rural business and food and drink industries.

“Workforce skills development underpins all economic development and I have no doubt that the education and training which you have received at our colleges will place you in a unique position to compete successfully in a tough marketplace. It will be your generation who will realise the emerging opportunities from the global market place."

Encouraging the students to ensure their learning is a lifelong experience Martin will add: “You must keep abreast of new technologies, new ideas and new skills in the workplace and remain open minded and receptive to developing yourself through further study and training. Your success, and indeed ours, is reflected by the fact that, despite the recession and difficulty in finding work, 92% of our students who graduated last year were in employment or were undertaking a higher level education course six months after graduation. I am confident that you, today’s graduates, will achieve similar success.”

Notes to editors: 

1. CAFRE is part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

2. There are four CAFRE graduation ceremonies:

  • Loughry Food Campus, Cookstown, Friday 23 June
  • Greenmount Horticulture Campus, Tuesday 27 June
  • Enniskillen Equine Campus, Wednesday 28 June
  • Greenmount Agricultural Campus, Thursday 29 June

3. Follow us on Twitter @daera_ni.

4. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or email DAERA Press Office. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07623 974 383 and your call will be returned.

Share this page

Back to top