Applications for 2021 cohort of the AAQ programme close on 11 June

Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 June 2021: AGCO Africa is making a final call for applications for its skills development initiative under the banner of ‘Advancement in Agricultural Education’. Fully-funded by the AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF), the initial intake for the Africa Agribusiness Qualification (AAQ) will comprise 20 participants.

Applicants who meet the following requirements are encouraged to apply for the programme:

• Minimum Matric or equivalent (NQF Level 4) with a proficiency in English and maths, and computer literacy
• Must hold a South African ID or Work Permit
• Minimum of three years’ work experience in the agricultural or an allied industry, including involvement with agricultural projects through NGOs and government projects.
• Work experience within a sales or technical environment will be an advantage
• Commitment to the part-time one-year programme

Applicants will be selected by a committee based on the listed criteria and the quality of the answers provided to each question. The selection process also includes interviews and other necessary background checks. The 20 finalists selected will be invited to participate in the 2021 cohort of the AAQ programme in South Africa.

Commencing on 1 September 2021, the AAQ programme will provide successful participants with quality agro-industry training, technical and sales skills, leadership development, agro-entrepreneurship management and work experience.

AGCO Africa Managing Director Dr Dominik Reus

Fully-funded by AAF, and implemented through the AGCO Africa Head Office in Johannesburg, the AAQ programme is facilitated through the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), together with Harper Adams University in the UK. Furthermore, technical expertise and support are provided by AGCO South Africa and Cerealis Technology Institute in South Africa.

The AAQ is a 12-month, part-time accelerated programme targeting participants from across the continent. Activities will be hosted in South Africa and include virtual lectures (theory), field training (practical) and workplace experience. The 12-month programme will be delivered in six modules.

“The main objective of the AAQ programme is to empower participants with technical and sales skills, knowledge, training and opportunities needed to create a robust agribusiness sector for Africa,” says AGCO Managing Director: Africa Dr Dominik Reus.

This will contribute to Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 of the United Nations: Goal 1: No Poverty, Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender Equality and Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

The AAF is a private foundation committed to ending hunger through sustainable agricultural development. In order to extend the coverage of the AAQ programme and make it accessible to even more people, AAF and AGCO in Africa are inviting organisations and stakeholders in the agri-food value chains to support, collaborate and contribute to the programme.

Online applications for the September 2021 intake are now open. Apply online today at https://www.agcofoundation.org/aaq//. Applications close on 11 June 2021.

For more enquiries about the Africa Agribusiness Qualification (AAQ) programme, please contactAAQ@agcocorp.com

Learn more about the AGCO Agriculture Foundation (AAF) at https://www.agcofoundation.org/