Glen College narrative

Glen College is one of the oldest and most respected agricultural training institutions in South Africa, with a proud history dating back more than a century. Archived records indicate that the greater portion of the 4 614-hectare farm on which the College is situated was purchased in 1912 to establish a training institution for young farmers.

In January 1919, twenty-one young men, many of whom were returning from World War I, enrolled for a two-year Diploma in Agriculture. The very first student registered at the College was Mr. E. J. Kemm from Tweespruit. From its inception, Glen College focused on combining theoretical agricultural education and practical exposure, laying a strong foundation for agricultural development in South Africa.

During the early years, the College expanded rapidly in both academic offerings and agricultural research. By 1920, disciplines such as Entomology, Botany, and Domestic Science had been introduced. Annual maize trials commenced during the same period, while the Afrikaner cattle herd expanded with the addition of a bull and ten cows. Research conducted between 1914 and 1921 by Mr. J. J. Jordaan was published, demonstrating the College’s growing contribution to agricultural science. A well-equipped dairy factory, complete with a pasteurizer, was also established to support practical training and dairy production.

In 1922, Glen College introduced annual sheep and wool short courses, which attracted farmers from across the country. During this time, the College also became an official weather station for the South African Weather Service, further strengthening its role in agricultural research and data collection.

The College continued to innovate throughout the 1920s. In 1923, a Factory Manager’s Course was introduced to train managers and senior butter and cheese makers. In 1924, the first Afrikaans handbook on poultry farming was published by Mr. J. J. Jordaan. By 1925, student enrolment had grown significantly, with fifty-five junior students and nineteen senior students registered, while more than 400 farmers attended short courses at the College.

In 1926, Glen imported its first Friesland bull and received more than 1 000 applications for short courses, reflecting the institution’s growing reputation. The following year, the farm Middelpunt was acquired to establish Glen’s own Merino sheep flock. During this period, the duration of the Diploma programme was reduced from two years to one year.

An interesting fact in the College’s history occurred in 1928 when the first recorded student strike took place after students complained about being required to make excessive numbers of bricks for the module that was called Engineer-Cum building. At the time, English was the primary language of instruction.

In 1929, the College reached another important milestone when the longstanding restriction on female enrolment was lifted through the efforts of Irish-born activist Bell Robinson. Ms. E. Boshoff became the first female student to enrol at Glen College, paving the way for greater inclusivity in agricultural education.

The 1930s saw further infrastructural and academic development. Additional staff houses and female staff residences were constructed, a clubhouse featuring a library, canteen, and billiard room became a central part of student life. Later on, the Glen village housing was established to accommodate the labour force for the Glen farm. In 1932, the Diploma in Agriculture reverted to a two-year qualification and grain grading short courses were introduced.

In 1933, the first cross-country race for students and staff was held. From the 1950s to the early 1960s, the College’s Olympic-size swimming pool served as a training venue for competitive swimmers, some of whom went on to represent the Republic of South Africa, reflecting the broader sporting culture of the institution during that era.

Over the decades, Glen College evolved in response to changes within the agricultural sector and the broader South African society. Towards the dawn of democratic dispensation, a handful of students from other race groups had already registered to study at the College. The very first black student to enrol at the Glen College in 1993 was Mr Joseph Moloi and the first black student to graduate in 1995 was Mr Ezekiel Sefotha. During the late 90’s the College appointed black lecturers and the medium of instruction was changed from Afrikaans to English. The first black Principal to be appointed for the College was Mr Challa Moahloli.

In 2001 the Diploma in Agriculture was expanded into a three-year qualification, allowing students to specialise in Animal Production or Crop Production. A key component of the programme is Work Integrated Learning (WIL), during which students spend five months gaining practical industry experience on farms and in agricultural enterprises.

In 2001, the College hosted the inaugural national Agricultural Colleges soccer tournament, later known as NACSANO Sports Week, where the Glen College soccer team achieved a bronze medal position.
In 2014, Glen College hosted one of the most successful NACSANO Sports Weeks, with both the soccer and netball teams emerging victorious in their respective finals. The College continued to strengthen its reputation not only in academics, but also in sport, culture and student development.
A major milestone was celebrated in 2019 when Glen College commemorated its centenary anniversary. During the celebrations, the College reflected on more than 100 years of agricultural education and the graduation of over 3 000 students. Although this number may appear modest compared to other institutions of higher learning, Agricultural Colleges traditionally maintain smaller class sizes to ensure intensive practical training and quality education. The Recognition of Prior Learning centre was officially opened in 2019 in partnership with AgriSETA and the centre plays a critical role in redress and access to education and training for individuals marginalized by apartheid.

Between 2020 and 2022, during the global Covid-19 pandemic, Glen College faced one of the most challenging periods in its history. Through strict adherence to health protocols, strong leadership, and cooperation between staff and students, the College successfully managed the safe return of students to campus, with no fatalities reported during the pandemic period.

Today, Glen College continues to offer a Diploma in Agriculture that combines academic excellence with hands-on practical training. Through partnerships with industry stakeholders, students participate in educational excursions, farm visits and major agricultural events such as NAMPO.

Students also actively participate in extracurricular activities including choir competitions, rugby tournaments and NACSANO Sports Week, contributing to the development of well-rounded agricultural professionals.

For more than a century, Glen College has remained committed to producing skilled agricultural graduates, advancing agricultural skills transfer and contributing to food security and rural development in South Africa.