Students at MTU Kerry protested as the Minister for Higher Education officially opened the new STEM building on campus.
Agricultural engineering students voiced their frustration over recent changes that mean their qualification is no longer recognised as prior learning towards achieving the Green Cert.
The Green Cert, formally known as the Certificate in Agriculture, is a qualification required by those taking over family farms in the coming years.
Holding the Green Cert allows newly qualified young farmers to avail of tax relief when inheriting family farms, as well as access various Department of Agriculture schemes and grants.
The Green Cert is a FETAC Level 6 course, verified by QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland).
Previously, graduates with relevant Level 7 and Level 8 qualifications, such as agricultural science or agricultural engineering, were deemed to have met the necessary educational requirements to receive the Green Cert.
However, MTU Kerry’s agricultural engineering students claim that this arrangement has broken down since the merger of IT Tralee and CIT to form Munster Technological University in 2021.
Students raised the issue directly with several government officials attending the Tralee campus today including Minister for Higher Education James Lawless, Children's Minister Norma Foley, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Michael Healy-Rae.
