Chinese interns visit CAFRE Enniskillen Campus in the Year of the Horse

In the Chinese Year of the Horse, a group of 13 Chinese Interns recently visited CAFRE Enniskillen Campus as part of the Dubai International Thoroughbred Internship (DITI) programme. This programme was set up for recent Chinese graduates by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai.

The programme which runs over 10 months provides the interns with experience of caring for horses alongside a range of professional skills such as marketing, sales and business administration.

The Chinese interns are based in Newmarket, England and Kildangan Stud, Kildare. CAFRE Enniskillen Campus was delighted to host the DITI Interns and put together a varied programme aimed at giving them an insight into the equine industry in Northern Ireland and to the work of CAFRE at its three campuses. A range of talks on subjects such as rural diversification, technology transfer, the racing and the equine industry in Northern Ireland were provided alongside cultural visits to Enniskillen, Belfast and the Giant’s Causeway. A highlight for the interns was the opportunity to meet the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle O’Neill, MLA at Stormont where they also received a tour of Parliament Buildings.

The week concluded with presentations prepared by the interns on the topic of how to improve the Northern Ireland equine industry.

The suggestions put forward were of great interest to the audience which included Councillor Alex Baird, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, John Chambers from the College Advisory Group, Dr Sam Kennedy, Head of Education Service, CAFRE and Enniskillen Campus staff and students.

The interns left Enniskillen Campus with very positive experiences of the equine industry and our local community.

(Source – Farming Life – 05/04/2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo by Aaron McCracken/Harrisons