AGCO, Your Agriculture Company, has signed a MoU to inaugurate a new agribusiness course aiming to fill junior management roles in African agriculture and the supply chain, thus upgrading the continent’s skill resources
AGCO has partnered with Strathmore Business School (SBS) in Kenya, Harper Adams University in the UK and Kenya-based The Bridge Africa for the AGCO Agribusiness Programme (AAP) which will prepare graduates for employment, said the company.
The demand for agriculture to produce more food is driving the pace of change in farming practices in Africa. The AAP is open to students throughout Africa and is expected to address the need to bring young talent into the agribusiness sector in the entire region.
Nuradin Osman, vice-president and general manager of AGCO Africa, said that this comprehensive new programme will focus on meeting the challenge to establish a long-term commitment to skill-development in the continent.
The programme is set to be started in March 2018, and will deliver an accredited two-year agribusiness program through SBS in Nairobi, Zambia and South Africa for up to 25 students aged 20-30, leading to potential job opportunities within AGCO Africa.
“Going forward, the aim is to extend the program and offer the course using remote and blended learning techniques,” said the company.
“This is a strong business-oriented program that will provide training in critical skills and develop leadership and strategic expertise to drive African agricultural prosperity,” stated Osman.
“It underlines our approach to ensure Africa is run from Africa. Upon completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to be placed within the AGCO Africa organisation, thus providing excellent job prospects. It’s a win-win situation for all those involved,” he explained.
Dr George Njenga, Dean of Strathmore Business School, added, “Through this partnership, we are confident that we have the capacity to meet the needs of the agricultural sector. The programme will integrate both theoretical and industrial relevance to address the current trends in the sector.”
