An internationally-recognized college that offers specialist training in forest industries – a unique offering not only in Zimbabwe but the SADC region.
The College offers a wide range of programmes — short courses, foundation certificates, certificates, diplomas and degree programmes — in forestry, wood technology and saw doctoring, together with short courses in areas of specialization which include chainsaw operations, supervisory skills, and forest fire management, among others.
Over 2,000 students have passed through the expert mentorship of our highly experienced and dedicated lecturers. Most graduates from the college are employed in commercial forestry, timber industry, NGOs, Forestry Research, Sawmilling Management, Panels Manufacturing, and Pulp & Paper industries just to name a few.
The forestry sector of Zimbabwe is mainly located in the Eastern Highlands, where the climate is suitable for the growth of exotic tree species. These species include the Pinus, Eucalyptus, and Acacias. About 95{5d9ad9f009fddf3e0fe048a627e24d3dae4a8d0b9e1a388c6f47a6dac1f9c8a9} of plantation forests are therefore located within this region in Manicaland.
It is with such a background that we find the unique Zimbabwe College of Forestry (ZCF) located in the Eastern Highlands. ZCF is a unique institution in Zimbabwe if not in all the SADC region. The institution specializes in forest industry training requirements.
This specialization in forest industry training creates unprecedented expertise and experience in the forest industries field. This is evidenced by the demand for graduates from the institution in Zimbabwe and abroad. ZCF graduates hold high positions in timber companies in Zimbabwe, the SADC region, and beyond.
ZCF has been in existence since 1946 and never looked back when it comes to training foresters. It started with a certificate course for forest rangers until it expanded and now offers a diploma in Forestry for forest supervisors and managers. More than 2,000 foresters have graduated with certificates and diplomas from the institution, of which about 20{5d9ad9f009fddf3e0fe048a627e24d3dae4a8d0b9e1a388c6f47a6dac1f9c8a9} are females. Another 500 or so have left the institution with short course certificates in various disciplines which include chainsaw operations, supervisory skills, and forest fire management, among others.
As an internationally recognized institution, the college thrives on continual improvement in an endeavor to meet the ever-changing environment of the forest industry. One move in this direction is the semesterisation program. In partnership with the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), the institution has changed from the trimester system (three terms per year) to semesterisation (two terms per year). This was necessitated by the review of curricula carried in 2009 resulting in the introduction of new courses to keep the programs offered relevant. Areas such as environmental management and computer science have been added in line with the ICT and environmental drive in the country and the entire world.
Zimbabwe College of Forestry (ZCF) is a training institution under the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, which is a parastatal within the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife. ZCF offers practically-oriented, quality long and short-term training in forestry, wood technology, and saw doctoring fields as required by clients.
Trainees are recruited throughout the SADC region to train within a multi-cultural environment which enables them to share their varied experiences.
In addition to the theoretical training dispensed, the College also has a fully-fledged demonstration industrial plant to enable the students to get hands-on training during their tenure at the College.