BOAT arranges an annual six week residential course in Institutional Management with participants from East Africa. This year they had seven participants from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi. The course takes place at Bicton College with professors and lecturers from the College. In total BOAT has during its 20 years of existence had 72 participants in the course.
The mission of BOAT is to “Improve agriculture and livelihoods in the developing world by teaching trainers to train more effectively and training institutes and organisations to deliver better quality training through improved management.” It is financed by charitable contributions from individuals and organisations and it was started by a group of Devon farmers.
This year BOAT held its Presentation Evening (the end of the course and the presentation of diplomas) at Knightstone Manor, and we were proud to provide the setting for this event. As the evening progressed it became colder for the African managers and we not only provided the venue but also lent them jackets to be able to withstand the English weather. Apart from the students the rector and several professors attended from the college and the trustees and several of the benefactors of the trust.
