As South Africa looks to the future of its agricultural sector, AgriSETA (the Agriculture Sector Education and Training Authority) is playing a critical role in shaping skills development. Their 2026 Skills Planning & Research Internship Programme, with five (5) dedicated positions, offers a rare opportunity for graduates to gain practical experience, contribute to strategic decision-making, and build a solid foundation for a career in agricultural skills planning.
Why This Internship Is a Game-Changer
AgriSETA is at the heart of national agricultural skills strategy. Through its Skills Planning & Research Division, AgriSETA helps identify trends, assess skills gaps, and ensure that training interventions align with the sector’s needs. By joining as an intern, you’ll be supporting this mission firsthand — contributing to data collection, analysis, and reporting that influences how the agricultural workforce of the future is developed.
This is not just grunt work or administrative support; it’s a meaningful role that blends analytics, research, and administration in a real SETA environment. Over the 24-month programme, you’ll build skills that are highly relevant for careers in data management, policy planning, and sector research — all while being paid a market-related stipend.
Where You’ll Be Based & How You’ll Work
- Location: AgriSETA Head Office — Pretoria, Gauteng.
- Contract Duration: 24 months.
- Stipend: Market‑related (this means the pay is competitive for internships in this sector).
- Reference Code: AgriS1101/2025.
- Application Closing Date: 3 December 2025.
What You’ll Do: Key Responsibilities
As a Skills Planning & Research Intern, your work will be both varied and impactful. Here are the core areas where you’ll contribute:
- Data Capturing
- Maintain and update AgriSETA’s databases.
- Perform quality control checks on data to ensure accuracy.
- Generate weekly reports for different stakeholders.
- Retrieve stakeholder payment data from the Indicium system.
- Build quarterly reports for SETMIS (SETAs’ Management Information System) and DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training).
- Analyze trends in the data, spot patterns, and prepare data summaries.
- Verify, enrol, and authorise learner information as part of the skills-planning process.
- Maintain documented evidence of all captured data.
- Data Management
- Compile datasets as needed for reporting and planning.
- Maintain and manage various data sets for internal and management reporting.
- Administrative Support
- Assist with administrative duties in the Skills Planning & Research Division.
- Provide general office support, such as filing, coordinating meetings, and managing documents.
- Ad Hoc Tasks
- Perform extra tasks as assigned by the Assistant Manager: Skills Planning & Research.
- Support special projects or research initiatives that arise during the internship.
What You Need to Qualify
To be considered for this programme, AgriSETA requires:
- A qualification such as an N6 certificate, a National Diploma, or an equivalent qualification in Office Administration, Office Management, or a related field.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially advanced skills in Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Strong administrative skills, with high accuracy and attention to detail.
- Good teamwork ability, strong communication, and a proactive mindset when managing data and tasks.
Why This Is a Valuable Opportunity
1. Strategic Insight & Exposure
You’ll be immersed in a SETA that helps define South Africa’s agricultural skills priorities. This exposure gives you understanding of how national skills planning works, how data drives policy, and how research fuels transformation in agriculture.
2. Professional Development
Your role allows you to sharpen key professional skills — data analysis, report writing, stakeholder liaison, and administrative efficiency. Working closely with the Assistant Manager provides mentorship and real responsibility, not just “intern work.”
3. Career Potential
This internship could lay the foundation for a career in research, policy, or skills development within the agricultural sector — or within other SETAs, government agencies, or non-profits involved in skills planning.
4. Network Building
You’ll build relationships with professionals in government, education, and the agricultural sector. These networks may help you move into graduate roles, project-based work, or more senior research opportunities in the future.
How to Apply
To apply for one of the 5 internships:
- Prepare Your Documents
- Write a strong CV that highlights any relevant experience (academic projects, data work, admin roles).
- Write a cover letter explaining why you’re motivated to join AgriSETA and how you fit the role.
- Send Your Application
- Email your CV and cover letter to: sprinterns@agriseta.co.za.
- Use the correct subject line / reference code (AgriS1101/2025) to make sure your application is routed properly.
- Wait for Confirmation
- Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
- Be ready for possible assessments or interviews — prepare to talk about data work, your admin experience, and why skills planning interests you.
Challenges & Tips for Success
- Competition: With only five slots, this internship will be highly competitive — your application needs to stand out.
- Attention to Detail: Given the focus on data, demonstrating strong accuracy and analytical ability is critical.
- Time Commitment: A 24-month internship is a serious commitment — show that you are ready to invest, learn, and deliver long-term.
- Stay Informed: Learn more about AgriSETA’s Skills Planning Division and its goals by visiting their Skills Planning web pages.
- Follow Up: If you don’t hear back within a few weeks after the closing date, you can follow up politely via email.
Bigger Picture: Why Interning at AgriSETA Matters for South Africa
- Skills Development: AgriSETA’s mission is deeply tied to the National Skills Development Plan. This internship contributes directly to strengthening agricultural sector capacity.
- Informed Policy Making: Your work will help inform skills planning across the sector, influencing grant allocations, research studies, and training programmes.
- Transformation: By giving unemployed graduates meaningful experience, AgriSETA supports youth employment and builds the next generation of leaders in agricultural education and research.
- Long-Term Impact: The data and reports you help produce will feed into SETA strategies that guide where and how to develop new talent — making a real difference in how South Africa grows its agricultural workforce.
Final Thoughts
The 5 × AgriSETA Skills Planning & Research Internships 2026 are more than just a stepping stone — they are a strategic launchpad into a meaningful career at the intersection of agriculture, data, and national skills planning. If you have a background in admin or office management, strong Excel and data-handling skills, and a desire to help chart the future of South Africa’s agricultural sector, this internship could be your path forward.
Don’t miss the application deadline: 3 December 2025. Prepare your CV, write a compelling cover letter, and apply via email to sprinterns@agriseta.co.za. You could be part of the change-makers driving skills planning and research in one of the country’s most vital industries.
EMAIL APPLICATION
Good luck — and here’s to growing your future with AgriSETA!