2006/2007 - University of Swaziland

Faculty of Agriculture - ContinuedFIELD ATTACHMENT PROGRAMMEDuring the 2006/2007 academic year, a total of 165students presented themselves for field attachment andsuccessfully completed their internship programme.This was an additional 10 students over the previousyear’s number. The major industries/sectors to whichthe they were attached were agricultural estates, engineeringfirms, hotels, textile firms, ranches and consultingfirms. As expected of field attachment, studentswere exposed to large and unique machinery and equipmentas well as to techniques and practices. Essentially,students achieved the major objectives of the programme.In 2006/2007 the following firms agreed totake Faculty of Agriculture students for the first time:Simunye Sugar Mill; TechnoServe; Lusip (SWADE);SAPPI; Canterbury Estates and the World Food Programme.It is also gratifying to note that some of theinterns from the previous year have already been recruitedfor employment by the establishments theywere attached to.programs, the first of these is theoretical while thesecond is practical.A revolving fund, though limited, was created to provideloans to purchase the required resources andfacilities. Students repay their loans to the revolvingfund but keep profit. The development of entrepreneurialacumen has become a major concern in higher educationto enable graduates to become job creators andemployers.The vision is that a relevant, high quality human resourcewith “added value” ensures success in employmentor business ventures, and can generate job opportunitiesand foreign exchange that will contribute greatlyto national stability and prosperity with participationin the global economy. The University also becomesmore in touch with availing teaching, research andcommunity service opportunities. Some entrepreneurialprojects by students are shown in pictures below.Students at the Luyengo Campus harnessing a span ofoxen for draught powerNEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE FACULTYDuring the current year, the Faculty of Agriculturerevised its programmes to ensure relevance to thepresent manpower needs in the agricultural sector.Entrepreneurial training was introduced in the newprogrammes with two entrepreneurship courses establishedduring in the third year for all four-year degreeParty pansbusiness projectParty pans inpreparation formarketing24REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR 2006-2007