Elmwood College Creating Opportunities

Elmwood College recently hosted an important Golf and Greenkeeping seminar that gave students a chance to see the benefits of studying abroad.

Guest speaker, Michael O’Keeffe, Program Manager from The Ohio State University, USA, visits Elmwood annually to promote the Universities International Exchange Programme, which specialises in Internships for Horticulture, Agriculture and Turf Grass students.

The one-year programme aims to provide the best opportunities for hands-on training and internships for specially selected foreign golf, agricultural and horticultural students. The students have the chance to experience all aspects of golf course maintenance, including how grass develops in different climates as well as weed, insect and disease management.

Thirty people attended the event including International students and College staff. The event offered students the chance to hear a wealth of information about the programme and the opportunities it can provide.

Mike Clarke, Course Leader for Greenkeeping & Horticulture at Elmwood, said, “We are constantly seeking input from specialist organisations in the golf related field to make sure our students receive the very best education possible.  The Ohio State University is dedicated to enhancing the professional reputation of greenkeeping education. The seminar provided an excellent opportunity for our students to ask questions about their future career opportunities.”

Michael O’Keeffe, said, “We have built a good relationship with Elmwood over the past 15 years, enrolling over 25 students into the programme, many of whom are now managing golf clubs across the globe. The University works with hundreds of companies to provide the best possible placements. The programme enrols between 300 to 400 trainees from over 40 countries each year. I myself was a participant many years ago!”

For more information regarding The Ohio State Programme, log-on to www.ohioprogram.org