For young people considering a career in agriculture, the question of choosing an educational institution is giving way to the search for practical experience, industry exposure, and acquiring skills needed by the sector. Agri Skills Transfer believes the answer lies at the intersection of theory and practice.
Ahead of the 2027 intake, the institution is expanding its programs, infrastructure, and partnerships with industry. The goal of this expansion is to graduate specialists who understand farming as a production system and as a business.
Laurika du Bois, Marketing and Communications Manager at Agri Skills Transfer, notes that the future of agriculture belongs to those who can combine knowledge with practical ability and understand the real aspects of production.
The institution is located in Groenkloof, Pretoria, and offers National Diploma programs in Animal Husbandry and Crop Production. Practical training takes place at the Kallinan Farm Training Centre, where students personally observe how production decisions are made on an active farm.
A significant change before the start of the 2027 academic year is the construction of a new building with residential facilities. It is intended to improve the educational environment for students who require accommodation during their studies.
Furthermore, the institution is adding a QCTO Higher Professional Qualification certificate in mixed crop and animal production at NQF Level 5. This program considers the specificities of South African agriculture, where successful farmers increasingly need to understand crop and livestock production, resource management, and the interrelation of various enterprises.
A new course in wildlife and game management is opening, providing an additional pathway for students interested in the country's growing farming and wildlife sectors.
Starting in 2027, second-year National Diploma students will be guaranteed employment through agreements and contracts with host farms. The objective is to place students where they can gain meaningful experience related to their studies, while developing practical competence, professional networks, and a clearer understanding of employer and commercial farm requirements.
In Kallinan, students study crop cultivation from preparation and planting to harvest development, including maize and open-field crops. Regarding animal husbandry, Agri Skills Transfer collaborates with industry partners such as Dan Bred in swine production and Design Biologix in beef and dairy. The institution is also establishing contacts with organizations like PICRSA and Bierman Poultry. Through these partnerships, students see the application of technology, genetics, production systems, and specialized knowledge outside the classroom.
The institution describes its offering for 2027 as comprehensive practical agricultural training, rather than just qualification attainment. Every student receives a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kit, including a branded jacket and trousers, protective footwear, boots, a field hat, safety glasses, gloves, and respirators. Students also receive an official branded field shirt for participation in Nampo and other industry events, three branded work shirts, and a box of essential farming tools for practical training.
All learning materials are included in the package, and guest lecturers bring additional industry knowledge into the classroom. The package also includes short courses valued over 40,000 Rand, as well as the new wildlife and game management course.
Students living in the dormitory benefit from hostel-style accommodation with an en-suite bathroom, mini-kitchen, Wi-Fi, laundry, and seven-day-a-week meals. Additionally, students will participate in trips to Nampo and other industry events, allowing them to connect with leading agricultural companies, technologies, equipment, and best practices.
Agri Skills Transfer asserts that South Africa needs a new generation of agricultural specialists who understand production, technology, business, and the changing demands of the sector. The 2027 offering is built on this principle: studying theory, gaining practical experience, networking with the industry, and building confidence to shape the future of agriculture.
The institution's message to youth is that agriculture offers far more opportunities than many realize, and that qualifications can transform into careers, businesses, and futures. Agri Skills Transfer states: 'The classroom is just the beginning: the farm is the laboratory, the industry is the teacher, and the future is the destination.'