Technical and Institutional Capacities of AET Institutions in Southern Africa: Are there Lessons for the Rest of Africa?
DOWNLOADMay 1, 2014 - Casper Madakadze, Tane Masamvu, Fanie Terreblanche and Isaac Minde
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This paper takes an inventory of technical and institutional capacities of some selected
tertiary agricultural education and training institutions (AET) in southern Africa. Data were
gathered on key selected areas such as student enrolment, physical infrastructure, teaching
staff, curricula, level of research and outreach, and relationship between these institutions and
the communities and private sector. The objective was to learn about best practices in the
management of the AET institutions which can then potentially be applied to other AET
institutions. South Africa demonstrated the greatest degree of diversity in their AET
institutions. What is even more remarkable is that South Africa arguably has the most market
driven, demand oriented AET-sensitive curricula in southern Africa. Different institutions
target different segments in the job market. This is a great lesson for many African countries
who are vying to increase job opportunities for their graduates.
A region-wide quality control approach is picking up substantially in the southern African
AET institutions. However, it remains to be seen how seriously these standards are being
domesticated in the various institutions. Linkages with the private sector and communities are
areas where the AET istitutions are continuing to improve. Challenges remain in some of the
institutions which are experiencing dwindling of resources and decreasing enrolments.
