17th September 1997

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The University of Ulster, in collaboration with the Enniskillen College of Agriculture, today officially launched a new BSc Honours degree in Equine Studies. The course will be delivered in Enniskillen and is the first one of its kind in Northern Ireland.

The course is the latest in a series of projects by the Fermanagh University Partnership Board which includes the University of Ulster, Fermanagh District Council, Fermanagh Training, Fermanagh College of Further and Higher Education, Enniskillen College of Agriculture, the Western Education and Library Board and representatives from the private and voluntary sector. It builds on the success of the HND in Equine Studies which has been delivered at Enniskillen College over the past five years and will allow students to complete their studies within Northern Ireland.

It is expected that the course will bring higher levels of expertise, particularly in research, to the Northern Ireland equine industry and support the Equine Breeding Project which is funded by the European Union's Peace and Reconciliation and the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland.

The equine industry in Northern Ireland provides direct employment for 3,328 people while there are 4,700 employed in the Republic of Ireland. Most of those currently involved in the industry have no formal qualifications. Recent surveys have shown that breeders and others in the equine industry are aware of this and believe that further training would make their businesses more profitable.

Professor Gerry McKenna, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Ulster commented:

"The University is pleased to be joining in partnership with Enniskillen Agricultural College to offer this new honours degree programme in Equine Studies. This represents an exciting development of our outreach programme in Fermanagh and it is a recognition of the importance of the sports horse and thoroughbred industries to the Northern Ireland economy. The new programme will underpin the development of this sector."

Said Mr Peter Small, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland:

"The overall aim of the course, which is unique within Northern Ireland, is to produce motivated graduates who can understand and apply modern scientific and management principles to pursue successfully a wide range of careers within the equine and associated industries. The latter include tourism which is very pertinent to Northern Ireland and to County Fermanagh in particular."

For further information, please contact:

Press Office Department of Communication and Development
Telephone: 028 9036 6178
Email: pressoffice@ulster.ac.uk