Students Afikile Kamana and Stoto Mzwanele have landed a lifetime opportunity that will set them up for a career in the dairy industry.
The duo, who recently completed their BTech qualifications in the Department of Food Science and Technology, have been hand-picked to participate in I2FA, an international training programme in France.
An initiative of the Lactalis Group (a multi-national dairy products corporation) in partnership with Parmalat South Africa, I2FA is a fully sponsored MSc program which qualifies graduates to work in a French company in their home country while also acquiring a new language and culture.
Afikile and Stoto have been in France since February and have already conquered the first leg of the programme.
“We have both been immersed in learning French culture and the language, and since February we have been enrolled at the Centre International d’Études Francaise . We will commence with our studies at ESA ( Ecole Supéreure D’Agriculture) during the autumn semester month in September,” says Afikile.
He says they are both grateful for this opportunity, which will not only see them acquire a master’s qualification, but also employment at a reputable company in South Africa.
“I consider this experience as a stepping stone or a platform towards seeing my future endeavors and goals become a success,” he says.
Stoto says he is looking forward to commencing with the MSC programme, which will be co-supervised by Prof Jessy van Wyk, head of the Department of Food Science and Technology.
Stoto says the MSC programme is based on a work-integrated learning module, and over a two year period they will be required to work at a company and attend class.
* The program is managed by Groupe ESA Angers, a major institution of higher education in the field of Life Sciences in France.
