This month, Elsenburg Agricultural Training Institute, a cornerstone in South Africa’s agricultural education landscape, celebrated its 125th anniversary, showcasing a rich history of excellence and a significant impact on the South African wine industry.
Phil Bowes, industry transformation advisory manager at South Africa Wine, provided key insights into the enduring legacy of Elsenburg and its role in shaping the future of the country’s wine sector.
One key measure of Elsenburg’s success lies in the career paths of its alumni, argues Bowes. In an industry where employers prioritise risk mitigation and revenue generation, the quality and standard of education play a pivotal role.
Elsenburg has historically focused on providing hands-on training, aligning with the industry’s preference for recruits with practical experience. However, as Bowes highlights, the challenge arises when students face difficulty securing opportunities for hands-on experience.
Raising the education bar
“Employers need to believe in the quality and standard of the qualifications offered. Given the perception that sections of our education system are broken, employers in the wine sector tend to seek out personnel who mitigate risk rather than pose a risk to their enterprises,” he says.
Addressing this challenge, Elsenburg has strived to ensure that its teaching methods and standards are trusted by the labour market. The institution expanded its offerings in 2006, introducing bachelor’s degree programmes accredited by Stellenbosch University.
Currently, over 60% of cellar masters and winemakers in the country are graduates of Elsenburg’s cellar management course, a testament to the institute’s success in producing industry-ready professionals.
Bowes adds, “Perhaps, the best way to cater to such cases is to ensure that the teaching methods and standards of the institution are sufficiently trusted by the labour market for young graduates to find employment before obtaining experience.”
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