Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) and Greyhound Racing Ireland have launched two accredited programmes to enhance education, professional standards and animal welfare across Ireland’s greyhound industry. 

The programmes include the Special Purpose Award in Greyhound Welfare and Husbandry and the Special Purpose Award in Greyhound Health, Injuries & Drug Analysis. 

Participants gain skills in breeding, whelping, rearing, racing, retirement, legislation, nutrition, exercise, kennel design, rehoming, injury prevention, pharmacology, medication use and drug control, through both classroom and applied learning.

The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding at TUS’s Moylish campus, creating a long-term collaboration between the university and the sport’s governing body. The courses serve more than 5,500 owners and trainers in an industry estimated to be worth €132 million to the Irish economy.

Professor Vincent Cunnane, President of TUS, said the programmes equip participants with “the scientific understanding and practical competence necessary to uphold the highest standards of care and integrity.” 

Pat Flanagan, Chair of the Irish Greyhound Board, added that the courses “build on the strong standards of care and welfare already achieved across the industry and will serve as an exemplar for canine welfare more broadly.”

The initiative reflects a growing trend in industry-linked education, linking third-level learning directly with sector-specific professional standards and regulatory expectations. 

By embedding accredited learning within the greyhound sector, TUS and Greyhound Racing Ireland enhance workforce skills, reinforce integrity and improve transparency, while contributing to the economic and social sustainability of the sector.

See the full article to understand how TUS and Greyhound Racing Ireland are advancing professional standards and education across the greyhound industry.

(Photo credits to Technological University of the Shannon official website)