Course Subjects
Zimbabwe College of Forestry is a training institution under the Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe, which is a parastatal within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate. 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. The colleges are affiliated with Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE). The colleges offer training in Forestry, Wood Technology, Saw Doctoring at Diploma, Certificate and Short Courses.
In addition to the theoretical training dispensed, the Centre also has a fully fledged demonstration industrial plant to enable the students to get hands-on training during their tenure at the centre.
All courses have been designed in consultation with SADC forest products processing industries in order to make the student training relevant to the industry. As such, courses at the College are constantly updated in line with the needs and requirements of the national and region’s forest industries.
Subjects offered in Forestry
• Forest Mensuration
• Forest Tools
• Computer Skills
• Forest Inventory
• Road Engineering
• Timber Harvesting
• Forest & Wildlife Ecology Silviculture
• Entomology/Pathology in-depth Project
• Forest Management Forest Extension
• Agroforestry
• Wood Based Panels
• Forest Civils
• Personnel Management
• Entrepreneurship Development
• Botany & Dendrology
• Soil Science
• Motor Maintenance
• Fire Protection
• Forest Survey
• Forest Legislation
• Genetics & Tree Improvement
• Cost & Management Accounting
• Forest Economics & Marketing
• Sawmilling & Wood Preservation
• Research Methods & Project Planning
• Industrial Attachment (13 weeks)
• Entrepreneurship Development
Subjects offered in Saw Doctoring
• Introduction to Wood Technology
• Engineering Drawing and Calculations
• Circular Saw Maintenance Technology.
• Communication and Supervisory Skills
• Wood and Metal Cutting Tools Technology
• Wood Structure, Properties and Utilization
• Brazing and Welding Technology
• Wide Band saw Maintenance
• Frame saw Maintenance
• Saw shop Management;
• Machine Cutting Tools Set-up/Alignment
• Fundamental Maintenance
• Circular Saw Maintenance
Subjects offered in Wood Technology
• Computer Skills
• Sawmilling Machinery
• Technical Drawing
• Veneer Production
• Plywood and Blockboard
• Maintenance Fundamentals
• Independent Project Study
• Residue Utilization
• Sawn Timber Further Processing
• Production & Operations Management;
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Wood Structure & Properties
• Saw doctoring Fundamentals
• Particleboard and Fibreboard
•Timber Drying and Storage
• Wood Processing Practical
• Economics and Marketing
• Sawn Timber Production
• Mobile Sawmilling
• Wood-based Panels Further Processing
• Cost and Management Accounting
Further Training
The college organizes courses to upgrade the knowledge and skills of personnel in the forestry industry and runs short in-service courses. These courses are tailor made to suit the needs of the clients. They focus on addressing problems faced by the industry.
THESE CAN BE ANY AREA ON THE SUBJECTS OFFERED RANGING FROM ONE WEEK TO THREE MONTHS.
ZCF has fully-fledged conference facilities and practical training laboratories. Periodic surveys are carried out in order to establish the training needs of the industry and the community.
To date, the college has developed and provided training in the following areas: Saw doctoring; Total Quality Management; Industrial Safety; Timber Drying and Storage; Leadership Development; Sawmilling; Mobile Sawmilling; Wood Preservation; Glue Utilization; Communication Skills, Chainsaw Operators Course: Chainsaw Mechanics; Mobile Sawmill Operators’ Course; Road Pegging; Radio Communication; Forest Fire Control; Forest Inventory; Nursery Management; Marking for Thinning; Defensive Driving; Survey; Industrial Safety; Industrial Relations; Computers; Communications Skills; Leadership Development; Environmental Management; etc