GMIT offers free part-time course in Food Innovation & Entrepreneurship

GMIT is delighted to offer the highly sought-after Certificate in Food Innovation and Entrepreneurship course under the Government- funded Higher Education Springboard initiative.  This free, part-time course will be delivered by high-profile entrepreneurs such as Brendan Allen, Castlemine Farms, JP McMahon, Galway Restaurateur and Ronan Byrne, The Friendly Farmer. After a highly successful run of this course in 2016, Springboard has awarded funding to deliver the course again.

Graduates of the course who are now established Food Entrepreneurs will also contribute to the delivery of the course, detailing their start up journey and how they effectively implemented the knowledge and skills they gained from completing this course. 

The course is designed for those involved in the Agri-Food sector including local/regional food producers, the wider agricultural community, rural farmers and food entrepreneurs, where entrepreneurial training has not typically been prioritised. The course will provide participants with the knowledge and work-based skills required to foster and develop their food ideas into successful businesses, encouraging participants to consider food entrepreneurship as a viable alternative to employment.

Dr Lisa Ryan, Head of the GMIT Dept of Natural Sciences, says: “The course has been developed by a combination of qualified staff in Food Science and Nutrition together with a panel of food entrepreneurs and promotes work-based learning ie “learning by doing”. Interacting with food entrepreneurs provides participants with the opportunity to network with like-minded people, be inspired by their success and learn the reality of setting up and growing a food business. The industry leaders provide mentoring and support to participants throughout the course. Our graduates of the course found the experiential learning environment and interaction with industry an extremely beneficial and rewarding experience.”



“The Certificate in Food Innovation and Entrepreneurship has been an amazing experience. It is deeply practical, promotes a fantastic entrepreneurial attitude and is taught by the most committed, hands on, experienced and knowledgeable industry experts who genuinely care about the well-being of the students”, says Ciara Daly, Graduate and Food Blogger (Getting Fed Up https://gettingfedup.com/).



“I thoroughly enjoyed the course. It was challenging and motivating throughout. The teaching methods and group work enabled me to get the most out of the course. For anyone considering embarking on their own food business this course is a must,” says graduate Susan Clancy.

This part-time Certificate (Level 9) will be delivered via blended learning over two days per week for 18 weeks. One day will be classroom based and the other will be delivered online. The course commences at GMIT’s Galway campus on Tuesday, 27 February, 2018. The course is fully funded by the Springboard Higher Education programme. With only thirty-five places on offer applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid disappointment.

Successful applicants will have access to high-level support and mentoring throughout the course together with the opportunity of gaining practical support for business start-ups that will emerge from the programme. Moving away from the traditional style of teaching, this course will take a practice-based, real-world, collaborative approach in its delivery methods.

Graduates of this programme will possess the skillsets to develop and execute on a business concept. They will have a unique awareness of the business creation dynamics and also the personal traits required to establish a business in the food or any other sector.

Applicants must apply for this course through www.springboardcourses.ie .The closing date for applications is the 23 February, 2018.  For further details on this course in GMIT, please email maria.mcdonagh@gmit.ie or telephone 091-742510 or visit https://www.gmit.ie/science/certificate-food-innovation-and-entrepreneu…