08 March 2023

Celebrating International Women’s Day – Meet Karen O’Connell

Today, Wednesday, March 8th, celebrates International Women’s Day – a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

To celebrate the day, Teagasc Daily spoke to a number of staff throughout the organisation to find out more about their roles and their career to date.

Karen O’Connell, is Assistant Principal in Teagasc Clonakilty Agricultural College. She completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Science in UCD in 2001, before taking up a PhD opportunity in Teagasc Moorepark with Dr. Brendan Lynch in the Pig Development Department (PDD). After successfully completing her PhD in 2005, she took up a role in research in the PDD, where she remained until 2007.

Karen continues her story:

I really enjoyed my time in the Pig Development Department and was reluctant to move on; but when the opportunity arose to move to west Cork, where I live, I couldn’t turn it down.

I started in Clonakilty Agricultural College in September 2007, with responsibility for the drystock unit. I began my teaching career in beef and sheep, with some farm safety and farm business included in the mix.

I’ve been in Clonakilty Agricultural College since 2007 and have taught on many modules, in countless different programmes. I moved from leading the drystock unit to leading the dairy unit, prior to the research programme coming to the college. As an educator in an agricultural college, you have to be fairly flexible and be able to stand in front of a class and explain about beef, sheep, dairy, grass, soils, the environment, business, safety etc.

My role

Over the years I gained a Position of Responsibility (POR) and a promotion and I am currently the Assistant Principal in the college. My role is to co-ordinate all of the education programmes on site. We have typically between 12-14 different cohorts of students each year. In this academic year, there are approximately 500 students who gain at least part of their agricultural education in Clonakilty. Our bread and butter courses are the Certificate in Agriculture at Level 5 and the Advanced Certificate in Agriculture at Level 6 in full time, part time or distance education formats. We are also involved in numerous degree programmes with MTU Cork, MTU Kerry and UCC, and some Veterinary Nurses from St. John College.

My day to day job revolves around co-ordinating our six teachers and three technicians in the numerous programmes and ensuring that resources are used effectively. I set out the plan for the academic year – the course calendars and timetables. I schedule the classes, lectures, practicals, assessments etc. Day to day timetables need to be updated on a weekly basis due to the tight constraints on staff and resources. Each week, during the academic year, is like spinning plates on sticks and trying to ensure that none of them fall. We have a great team in Clonakilty and it is no doubt that it is due to their enthusiasm, flexibility and professionalism that these plates keep spinning. 

I also oversee the quality assurance of all our programmes to ensure that content is being delivered and assessed to the highest standard by everyone involved. I am the liaison between the college and our third level collaborators and all the other colleagues in Teagasc Advisory and Research that also contribute to the programmes delivered and co-ordinated in Clonakilty.

My role also involves a lot of time individually with students with diverse needs and situations, which may or may not impact on their ability to achieve an agricultural education. Promoting the College by attending events, schools, open days, inviting groups in is also a really important feature of what I do.

The day to day aspect of my role is varied and interesting and it involves lots of decision making and problem solving with students and with staff.