Newsletter: 9 October 2026
For students considering a career in agriculture, the question is no longer simply where to study. It is where to gain the practical experience, industry exposure and skills needed to make a meaningful contribution to South Africa’s agricultural sector.
At Agri Skills Transfer, the answer is increasingly found where the theory meets the soil.
As the institution prepares for its 2027 intake, it is expanding its programmes, facilities and industry partnerships, with a clear focus on producing graduates who understand agriculture not only as a subject, but as a production system, a business and an industry filled with opportunity.
Based in Groenkloof, Pretoria, with its practical training environment at the Cullinan Farm Training Centre, Agri Skills Transfer offers National Diploma programmes in Animal Production and Plant Production. Students are exposed to practical farming activities alongside their academic studies, giving them an opportunity to see how production decisions work in real agricultural environments.
Building for the future
A major development ahead of the 2027 academic year is Agri Skills Transfer’s new building and residential facilities. The development is intended to strengthen the environment in which students live, learn and prepare for careers in agriculture.
The institution is also expanding its occupational training offering with a new QCTO Higher Occupational Certificate in Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming at NQF Level 5.
The programme reflects the realities of modern South African agriculture, where successful farming increasingly requires an understanding of crop and livestock production, resource management and the integration of different agricultural enterprises.
Another exciting addition to the programme portfolio is Game and Wildlife Management, opening another pathway for students interested in South Africa’s established and growing game-farming and wildlife sector.
“The future of agriculture belongs to people who can combine knowledge with practical ability and understand the realities of production.”
— Laurika du Bois, Marketing and Communication Manager, Agri Skills Transfer
From the classroom to commercial agriculture
For students entering the National Diploma programmes in Animal Production and Plant Production, practical exposure is an increasingly important part of the learning journey.
Agri Skills Transfer is introducing a placement guarantee for second-year students, supported by agreements and contracts with farms prepared to host students for relevant workplace exposure.
The objective is to place students in environments where they can gain meaningful industry experience related to their fields of study. This creates an opportunity for students to develop practical competence, professional networks and a better understanding of the expectations of employers and commercial farming operations.
It also means students can begin building their professional networks before they graduate.
A practical farm that functions as a learning laboratory
One of the greatest advantages of practical agricultural education is the ability to learn from projects while they are happening.
At the Cullinan training farm, students are exposed to crop-production activities, including maize and open-field planting. These projects provide an opportunity to observe agricultural production beyond the textbook — from preparation and planting through to crop development and management.
Livestock activities similarly provide opportunities to explore production systems and emerging agricultural practices.
Agri Skills Transfer is working with industry partners including Dan Bred in pig production and Design Biologix in beef cattle and dairy, while also developing relationships with organisations such as PICRSA and Bierman Poultry.
These relationships bring an important dimension to agricultural education. Students can see how genetics, technology, production systems, animal management and specialist knowledge are applied in real agricultural environments.
This is where a practical farm becomes more than a training facility. It becomes a learning laboratory where students can observe, question, experiment and develop the confidence to apply their knowledge.
Mega Open Day: Experience agriculture first-hand
On Saturday, 10 October 2026, Agri Skills Transfer will open its doors for its Mega Open Day, giving prospective students and parents the opportunity to experience the institution and its practical approach first-hand.
The event will showcase the training environment, programmes, facilities and opportunities available to students preparing for the 2027 academic year.
Industry partners and members of the media will also attend, providing an opportunity to showcase the growing network connecting Agri Skills Transfer with the agricultural sector.
For prospective students, the Open Day is about more than choosing a qualification. It is an opportunity to see the environment in which they could spend the next stage of their education — and to start imagining where that qualification could take them.
More than a qualification — a complete agricultural experience
For 2027, students joining Agri Skills Transfer receive far more than a qualification. The offering has been designed as a complete practical agricultural learning experience, combining academic studies with equipment, clothing, accommodation, meals, practical exposure and industry opportunities.
Students receive a PPE set consisting of a branded jacket and trousers, safety boots, gumboots, a field hat, safety goggles, gloves and dust masks, ensuring they are equipped for practical work on the farm.
Students will also receive an official branded field shirt for NAMPO and other industry events, as well as three branded work shirts for practical training.
The package includes all course material and practical learning opportunities, supported by guest lecturers who bring additional industry knowledge and experience into the learning environment.
Students will also receive a toolbox containing the essential farm tools required for their practical training, allowing them to develop hands-on skills using equipment relevant to agricultural working environments.
For residential students, accommodation forms an important part of the experience. Students will live in dormitory-style residential facilities with en-suite facilities and a kitchenette, supported by Wi-Fi and laundry facilities. Meals are provided Monday to Sunday, creating an environment where students can focus on their studies, practical training and personal development.
The 2027 package also includes short courses valued at more than R40 000, together with the new Game and Wildlife Management course, giving students the opportunity to broaden their skills beyond their core qualification.
Importantly, second-year National Diploma students will have access to a guaranteed practical placement in the agricultural industry, through farms with which Agri Skills Transfer has agreements and contracts. This provides students with an opportunity to gain relevant workplace experience and exposure to commercial farming practices before completing their studies.
Students will also participate in NAMPO visits and other industry exposure opportunities, connecting them with leading agricultural companies, technologies, equipment, production systems and best practices.
Agriculture as a career — not just a qualification
South Africa needs a new generation of agricultural professionals who understand production, technology, business and the changing demands of the sector.
Agri Skills Transfer’s 2027 offering is built around that principle:
Learn the theory. Experience the practical. Connect with industry. Build the confidence to create your future in agriculture.
The institution’s message to prospective students is simple: agriculture offers far more possibilities than many young people realise.
It can lead to careers in crop production, livestock, agribusiness, farm management, agricultural sales and services, game and wildlife management, entrepreneurship and many other areas across the agricultural value chain.
The opportunity is to start with a qualification — and grow it into a career, a business and a future.
At Agri Skills Transfer, the classroom is only the beginning. The farm is the laboratory, industry is the teacher, and the future is the destination.
Ready to build your future in agriculture?
Agri Skills Transfer
📞 012 002 3723
📱 WhatsApp: 076 203 3816
2027 enrolment enquiries are now open.
Get started with your Agriculture journey here: https://agriskills.net/national-diploma/