COUNCIL STATEMENT

Our vision as a Council is to develop a Training Institute capable of enhancing knowledge and skills in sustainable agriculture and forestry through effective teaching and learning, applied research and extending our contribution to the community we serve. We do this in support of the Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform’s catalytic role is socio-economic transformation in the province and the rest of the country through our contribution to education and skill development.

The Vision 2030 of the National Development Plan puts access to education and training of the highest quality at the centre of confronting the triple challenges of poverty, social inequality, and unemployment. It further places agriculture as one of the engines for the promotion of an integrated and inclusive rural economy. The Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute is endowed with a rich history and experience of contributing towards the education and training of agriculture and forestry development that dates to the early 1930s. We intend using our wealth of experience to respond to the challenges that are clearly reflected in the NDP 2030 whilst modelling a future ideal Vocational Institution of Higher Learning in Agriculture and Forestry that will be a Centre of Excellence on the African Continent.

The Council has identified the following outcomes for the Institute in the medium-term:
 > Improved corporate governance and oversight within the Institute.
 > Effective and Efficient Human Capital Development and Management.
 > Relevant academic programme responsive to the needs of the industry on a multimedia platform that is in alignment with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
 > Enhanced teaching and learning, applied research, and community outreach and engagement programmes;
 > Improved students’ entrepreneurial competencies.
 > State of the art agriculture and forestry skills programmes that promote rural wealth creation; and
 > Improved agricultural production of the farming operations.

As a Council, we are confident that the Strategic Plan 2023 – 2026 takes cognisance of the transitional phase as the Institute is in a migration process, from being a Provincial Entity to a National Competency Entity; hence, it has taken into consideration all possible implications thereof. As the sector prepares itself for the impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on Higher Education and Training, research and innovation, the Institute stands ready to re-configure its mode of teaching and learning, applied research, and a vibrant community outreach and engagement programme.

We are confident that the implementation hereto, through the visionary leadership of our Principal and Chief Executive Officer, will ensure that our commitment to the predetermined outcomes are achieved. The Council would like to extend a special word of appreciation and gratitude to all those members of the Fort Cox Stakeholder Community who made it possible to produce this FCAFTI Strategic Plan: 2023 – 2026 against the backdrop of severe time constraints.

Dr. P Lupuwana
Council Chairperson