Potchefstroom: The Potchefstroom Agricultural College, which has grown to become one of the best and fully fledged accredited higher education institution offering specialised agricultural training in the North West province, will on Tuesday, 15 December 2009 reach the peak of its centenary celebrations by conferring National Qualification Framework (NQF) level 5 Higher Certificate and NQF level 6 Diploma in Agriculture to 45 graduates, during a ceremony to be held at the college premises.
To mark the college’s achievements since its establishment 100 years ago, the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development and the management of this renowned College, decided to turn the situation around and begin to confer Diplomas during the year of qualification. This, the department believes, will be advantageous on the part of graduates, as they will be in possession of their certified certificates by the end of their studies, instead of waiting for the ensuing year to graduate.
According to Mr Dipepeneneng Serage, Director for Structured Agricultural Training within the Department, the 30 Higher Certificates (NQF level 5) to be conferred during this ceremony will be the last batch, as this level has been phased out nationally. Serage says the College will from next year offer NQF level 6 Diploma in Agriculture only, in accordance with the revised Higher Education Qualification framework.
The college’s 100th graduation ceremony will be followed by a Centenary Gala Dinner which will also be attended by graduates, their parents, MEC for Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development Mr Boitumelo Tshwene and other dignitaries.
The Potchefstroom College of Agriculture has as its goal the training of farmers and agriculturalists in the theory and practice of agriculture in such a way that they (graduates), on the short and long term, can manage and sustain an economically viable farming enterprise. Students are equipped with practical knowledge and skills on the following, so as to prepare them to rise up to any agricultural eventuality: Agricultural Management and Information Technology, Plant Production; Livestock Husbandry and Agricultural Engineering.
Members of the media are invited to join this celebration and the details are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Time: 15h00 - Graduation Ceremony and
18h00 – Centenary Gala Dinner
Venue: Potchefstroom Agricultural College Main Hall
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation, Environment and Rural Development, North West Provincial Government
11 December 2009
