Campus
The Institute's campus is located in the scenic village of Twee Riviere, Langkloof, within the Southern Cape coastal region of the Eastern Cape Province.
Location
The Institute's 15 hectare campus is located in the scenic village of Twee Riviere (pop. 440), Langkloof, within the Southern Cape coastal region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. Twee Riviere, which recently celebrated its 250th year, is one of several communities dotted along the length of this 150km long, fruit-growing valley. Twee Riviere's location within this secluded, rural setting, places it halfway between Port Elizabeth and George – a distance of approximately 180km in either direction.
At an elevation of 530m, and located only 20km inland from the Indian Ocean coastline (60km by road), Twee Riviere enjoys a Mediterranean climate with a predominantly winter rainfall (June – August) and sunny, hot and dry summers (December – February).
Air travellers are advised to select Port Elizabeth Airport, which enjoys convenient, direct connections from all of South Africa's major airports. Since public transport is absent, conveyance from Port Elizabeth Airport will generally require either a car rental or a special collection arranged through the Institute's Administration Office. Enquire about transport.
Twee Riviere is located on Route 62, at GPS co-ordinates: S 33° 50'25.65" E 23° 53'40.92". These co-ordinates mark the grounds cafeteria and campus' reception point, The Belfry Kitchen.
History
The founding of Twee Riviere is traced to 14 February 1765, when the loan farm of that name was registered by the V.O.C. in the name of one Jacobus Scheepers.
During the course of the 1800's, this sprawling and water-rich tract of land was passed into prominent ownership of the Olivier and Schreiber families, among others.
The Institute's present-day campus encompasses land previously owned by German immigrant “Meester” Denis Samson Schreiber, who – in addition to agricultural and commercial exploits – had variously served the town as schoolmaster, postmaster and local notary between the years 1869 and 1921.
Over the course of the most recent decades, the variously adjoining land deeds were incrementally acquired by the Institute's present-day founder and re-consolidated to form the campus grounds.
Today, the original, mid-17th century buildings do duty alongside newer, faculty structures and remain in daily use.
The campus cafeteria, The Belfry Kitchen, (the former dealership of the selfsame Meester Schreiber) is an example of one such building, dating from the 1850's.
Life on Campus...
The postgraduate programme admits an intake limited to a maximum of ten postgraduate students annually.
For this highly selected student cohort, the Institute's attractively landscaped Twee Riviere campus constitutes a milieu and study environment naturally secluded to the purposes of research and learning.
Styled as a residential campus, the general living environment permits students to enjoy an immersive spell of learning and research, encouraging of dedication and high attainment, all within highly conducive surroundings. This context will appeal to the serious student of conservation...
Having said that, the serious student also needs good coffee, not so?
Good coffee, and even better pastries. Thanks to spirited on-campus cultivation and production, The Belfry Kitchen imbues scholarly life with reassuring comforts!
Student housing
The grounds offer spacious, furnished, two- and three bedroomed student cottages. Irrespective of the unit selected or allocated, arrangements invariably permit each student a private bedroom, often with a shared bathroom. On occasion, non-sharing student housing may also be extended - or specifically shared student housing be requested (variously attracting a surcharge or a rebate).
Cottages/homes are equipped to permit self-catering.
Student housing fees cover the combined duration of the postgraduate programme's three trimesters. A nightly housing fee (inclusive of supper) is charged to students enrolled in the blended learning programme during practical, on-campus block sessions. However, all students residing in campus housing qualify for the award of a Strimling Study Bursary. This bursary award effectively subsidizes the recipient student's programme fees. Strimling Bursaries are awarded to foster and support the institution's collegial character.
Campus facilities
Situated within the village of Twee Riviere, the Institute's campus facilities comprise a total of 21 buildings and structures, set within a rural campus grounds, 150 000m² in extent.
The built amenities serve - variously - the requirements for faculty facilities, campus services, staff & student housing and general, supporting infrastructure.
The campus's outermost grounds and food gardens are productively engaged in food cultivation, harvested for preparation and consumption on the grounds. This lends an inspiring degree of self-provisioning to the campus.
A 30 000m², ancillary section of the campus grounds lies 700m south-east of the main campus, comprising additional student housing at a comfortable walking distance.