The 'She Is Forestry' competition celebrates excellence, leadership, and milestones achieved by women across diverse forestry working environments. It provides a platform to highlight the vital role women play in shaping sustainable forestry practices while inspiring the next generation of female forestry professionals.
In anticipation of the 2026 competition, the UMP Forestry programme seeks to nominate capable, focused, and highly motivated female students from across all four academic year levels. These students will compete against peers from other higher education institutions offering forestry qualifications, including Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute, Stellenbosch University, the University of Venda, and Nelson Mandela University.
The University of Mpumalanga has already demonstrated its strength in this prestigious competition. In 2024, a UMP student emerged as the overall winner, marking a historic achievement for the institution. Building on this success, Ms Moratwa Mbali Hlabane, the 2024 competition winner, expressed confidence that the institution's female forestry students have the determination, capability, and academic grounding to claim victory once again.
“UMP female students have proven that they can compete at the highest level,” said Ms Hlabane. “With the right support and commitment, I believe the university has what it takes to win the competition again.”
Speaking on the programme readiness for the 2026 'She Is Forestry' undergraduate competition nominations, Forestry Lecturer at the University of Mpumalanga, Dr Ratsodo Tshidzumba, said, “Our female students consistently demonstrate resilience, academic excellence, and professional maturity.”
He added. “We are confident that UMP is once again well-positioned to compete at the national level and showcase the strength of our training.”
Participation in the 'She Is Forestry' competition aligns with the University of Mpumalanga’s commitment to gender equity, student empowerment, and inclusive excellence within the forestry sector. It further reinforces the institution’s mission to cultivate graduates who are not only academically strong but also confident leaders ready to contribute meaningfully to the transformation and sustainability of the forestry industry.
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