A day in the life at the University of Pretoria. 13 February 1940

13 February 1940: On this "Day in the life of the University of Pretoria" the University Council approved the name of the “Landbounavorsingsinstituut” or the Agricultural research institute.

Prof. H.B. Davel © UP Archives

Initially the Faculty of Agricultural was subsidized by the Government Department of Agriculture Several discussions took place between UP and the Department and on January 1940 it was decided to incorporate faculty of the Agriculture with the government department. The Faculty of Agricultural thus begin to serve a double role both as an academics and as a government department with the field work associated with that. Lectures at the newly approved Agricultural Research Institute was appointed as  state officials,  at a higher salary than UP staff given their additional responsibilities. Prof. H. B. Davel (pictured above), the dean of the Faculty, was appointed as the first director of  the Agricultural Research Institute.

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