“I have always enjoyed animals so when I heard I could do an Animal Management course at the College’s Newtownabbey campus, I went along to an Open Day and that was it, I was completely sold on it.”
Hannah, who already had Level 2 Diploma in Sports and 7 GCSEs under her belt, said she enjoyed all aspects of the course which combines theory with ‘hands on’ experience of handling animals.
Students cover a range of subjects including animal anatomy and physiology, animal welfare, managing animal accommodation, animal handling and safe working.
“We got a lot of practical experience of handling and grooming animals and also learned how to manage a business.”
Hannah continued: “Over the past two years, we worked with a variety of animals in class such as guinea pigs, rats and chinchillas, as well as more exotic animals like snakes, a bearded dragon and leopard gecko – which I had the job of looking after over the Christmas holidays.
“As part of the course, we had to complete 300 hours work experience and I did mine in Belfast Zoological Gardens where I shadowed zookeepers and had an opportunity to work with hundreds of different species of animals which was great.
“The Animal Management course really exceeded my expectations. I learnt so much over the past two years - even about things that I didn’t know I wanted to know!”
Looking ahead, while Hannah is still unsure what she wants to do when she completes her HND so although she is keeping her options open, she is certain that it will involve animals in one way or another.
“I’m undecided but at the minute, I’m going between an animal welfare officer or zookeeper.”