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Internship Programme Alexander Forbes

Careers

CREATE YOUR FUTURE WITH US

We believe in your potential – do you?

Become part of a leading financial services provider that takes pride in employing and nurturing the best talent. We’re committed to serving our clients and to help them secure their Financial Well-being through insurance, health, retirement and multimanager investment solutions.

Launch your career
Join our learnership or internship programmes for challenging and rewarding opportunities. Work with leading consultants, actuaries and experts in the best business units in the industry.

It all starts with you. Find the programme that suits you best and apply below.

Who is this for?

This programme is for new university graduates without honours degrees and is run in collaboration with the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (Inseta).

What will you achieve?

This programme aims to develop you as a specialist in a specific field. You’ll be placed in an area of the business where you hold a relevant degree.

Required application documents

  • Certified copy of your identity document (ID)
  • Certified copy of your matric certificate
  • Your curriculum vitae (CV)
  • Academic transcripts

Conditions of the programme

You must be:

  • a South African citizen
  • unemployed
  • a graduate with a degree in finance, commerce or law

Applications for 2016 are now open.
Send your application to graduates15@aforbes.co.za

CETA Learnership and Bursary Scam. Be Careful

Ceta WebsiteWe have observed misleading communications on various portals as well as fraudulent emails related to the Construction Education and Training Authority’s (“the CETA”) learnership and bursary programme appointment processes whereby potential learners are requested to pay a sum of R99 towards processing their learnership and/or bursary application forms.

Please note that the CETA is a public entity and learnership and/or bursary opportunities are at no cost to interested individuals.

Job seekers and/or potential CETA-funded programme learners are warned to beware of fraudulent entities placing adverts on the internet in the name of the CETA and skills development.

The public must please consider this the CETA’s formal disclaimer to the adverts entitled, “Telkom/CETA/Learnership Offer” and/or “Telkom/CETA/Learnership Offer” and any other adverts pertaining to the CETA employment opportunities and the CETA-funded programmes that were not advertised by the CETA.

For more information on the processes involved with both the CETA programmes, as well as the CETA employment opportunities, the CETA welcomes the public to contact its Head Office Contact details here http://www.vocational.co.za/cetaseta-construction-education-and-training-authority/

 

Economics Students and Graduates Can Get Educational Bursaries from Genesis Analytics

Genesis Analytics Educational Bursaries

Genesis-logoThe Genesis Analytics Educational Foundation Trust has been established to help “previously disadvantaged” economics students who need financial assistance finish their degrees or do their honours or masters.

Preference is given to “Indian, Coloured and African candidates,” but Genesis is an “equal opportunity employer” and so anyone who has achieved a consistent average result of at least 65 percent may apply. This complies with the Employment Equity Act of 1998.

Genesis Analytics, formed in 1998 (the same year the act was promulgated), is a consultancy that focuses on advising companies and governments in emerging markets on strategies, competition, development and regulation of, as well as the application of, what is termed behavioural economics. Their clients range from and governmental agencies to banks, law firms and corporations of various types. The educational trust was formed primarily to provide funding for “young, upcoming students from previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa”.

Most economic-based education opportunities are embraced by the workings of the Financial, Accounting, Management, Consulting and other Financial Services Sector Education and Training Authority – the FassetSETA. But there are other SETAs that fall into the realms of economics-related activities, including the Banking SETA – the BankSETA.

Bursaries and Graduate Opportunities from Genesis Analytics

Educational bursaries from Genesis are open to “the brightest and the best” students who are offered the opportunity to work on exciting projects with an extremely diverse scope of opportunities in terms of projects and clients. The company then works closely in teams and helps to provide clear, structured career paths for students that will enable them to forge a future in economics consulting.

The bursaries are open to students:

• Undertaking their last year of a bachelors degree in economics
• Wanting to do either an honours or a masters degree in economics
• Who plan to do a PPE Honours or a Master’s degree

Criteria for eligibility include an achievement pass rate of at least 65 percent for both undergraduate and honours degrees.

How to Apply for Educational Bursaries from Genesis

Genesis Analytics recruits graduates and assesses them for bursaries every August. However it’s not a bad idea for you to start getting your application together if you think that you might fit the mould they are looking for.

You will need:

• A letter of motivation to persuade them that you are a good choice for a bursary
• A resume or curriculum vitae (CV) that gives al the basic information about you and your current education and/or qualifications
• Two letters of reference from reputable people who know you well (a headmaster or headmistress for example)
• Certified copies of all academic records, for all years of study
• Certified copy of your South African identity document
• Copy of an assignment completed during the current academic year (in this case it will be one from 2015)

The Genesis Recruitment Process for Educational Bursaries

There are five stages in the Genesis Analytics recruitment process:

1. Once the application has been received, it is screened to ensure that the required skills, experience and competencies have been met.
2. Applicants are asked to complete a technical case study online.
3. Psychometric assessments of all suitable applicants are conducted online.
4. Promising applicants are interviewed in person.
5. Successful applicants are given an offer of employment with the firm.

While applicants still have nine months before the next set of students will be awarded bursaries, this gives each and every one of them the opportunity to work on the application and get it “right”.

How to Qualify for the Educational Bursaries?

Full details of application is available on its website.

Nedbank’s New Bursary Programme Opens in February

Nedbank_logoNedbank has announced that it’s bursary programme for 2015 applications will be open from 3rd of February until 30th April 2015. It will be open to Grade 12 learners; first year students registering in 2015; and students who have already registered with a recognised public South African university for either under-graduate or post-graduate studies.

Nedbank is one of the country’s oldest financial institutions, having been founded way back in 1845. Today Nedbank provides a wealth of services including savings, investments, asset management, banking, life assurance, property and casualty insurance in various parts of the world (Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe), and of course banking.

The company, which has several international and local brands including Nedbank, Old Mutual, and Mutual & Federal, has been listed on both the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchanges since 1999.

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Degrees and Diplomas Covered by the Nedbank Bursary Programme

Nedbank bursaries may be used to fund students in a wide variety of studies including:

• Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics; actuarial science; computer science; quantity surveying; agriculture; engineering; or property and construction studies.
• Bachelor of Commerce in accounting; banking; economics; business finance; business science; business management; marketing, human resources (HR); mathematics and statistics; or risk management.
• An LLB or other law degree.
• National Diploma in property-relat4ed studies; IT or B Tech IT; quantity surveying.
• Some arts qualifications.

This means that the interests of various Sector Education Training Authorities (SETAs) are covered, including the Agricultural SETA (AgriSETA), Banking SETA (BankSETA), Construction SETA (CetaSETA), Financial, Accounting, Management, Consulting and other Financial Services SETA (FassetSETA), and the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MerSETA).

Requirements for Acceptance to the Bursary Programme

All applicants must have achieved an average academic record of at least 65 percent, and the university entrance criteria set by the tertiary institution must be met. If applicants did not initially study for a degree after they matriculated, they will only be considered for a bursary if they matriculated at least two years prior to the year to be funded – for instance in 2014 if the bursary is granted for 2016.

Institutions that may be funded are either:

• Public South African universities that are registered with the Council of Higher Education, or
• Universities of Technology that offer courses in IT and property-related subjects.

Additional requirements specified by Nedbank are that students must have a “financial need”; they should be “smart with heart” and should show potential for leadership; they should want to study fulltime; and they must be South African citizens. No part-time studies or bridging programmes will be considered.

Nedbank’s Bursary Application Process

The process you need to follow to apply for a bursary is simple but specific:

1. The first step is to apply for a bursary. Your application may be faxed, posted, delivered to a Nedbank office by hand, or you can apply online.
2. Once you have applied, you will be notified that the application has been received and that it is “under review”.
3. Nedbank has a selection and screening process that it uses to shortlist successful applicants.
4. All applicants who have been shortlisted have to undergo a special means test to assess their need for financial assistance.
5. All applicants who have been shortlisted, and who pass the means test, will be invited to be interviewed by a Nedbank member of staff.
6. Applicants who get this far are shortlisted again and then assessed in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.
7. Successful applicants are offered bursaries, conditional on certain requirements including:
a. Proof of final Grade 12 results
b. Proof that they have been accepted at a registered institution for an under-graduate degree

Bursaries cover costs of registration, tuition fees, textbooks prescribed for various courses, examination and other compulsory charges, as well as accommodation and meals at the university residence.

Information about Application Forms are Available from the Nedbank Website

Information about the bursary programme for 2015 is available on its website.

Get a Bursary for 2015 and Become a Police Pilot

South Africa Police Service (SAPS) Bursary for 2015

SAPThe South African Police Service (SAPS) together with the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) is offering a bursary for 2015 to nine women who want to train to become police pilots, flying helicopters or fixed wing aircraft.

While the mission of SAPS is essentially to “create a safe and secure environment for all the people in South Africa,” TETA has been tasked with ensuring that students in the transport sector of South Africa get the very best training and therefore develop the best education and skills necessary to do their jobs.

TETA was only established as a SETA 15 years ago, two years after the promulgation of the Skills Development Act of 1998. At the time it took over the responsibilities of five training boards that were responsible for aerospace (flying), maritime (shipping), road passenger and road freight, and Transnet, which of course was in charge of the railways.

Additional sub-sectors have been added to the official demarcation of the transport sector – including forwarding and clearing and the taxi industry. Although SAPS does not fall primarily within the aerospace sub-sector, clearly this is a hugely important part of its function as a whole.

SAPS-banner

Bursaries From TETA and SAPS

The bursaries offered by TETA and SAPS are specifically for women, and even more specifically for those who are aged between 18 and 30 and unemployed. Each bursary for 2015 will include training and lecture material, a police uniform, license, accommodation and meals, and of course the examinations.

Applicants have until 16th January, 2015 to apply.

The minimum requirements for applicants are detailed, and again very specific. Applicants must be:

• Unemployed
• Well disciplined
• Patriotic, loyal citizens of South Africa
• Fluent in English and at least another official language of SA
• Without any criminal record or pending case against them
• In possession of a senior certificate (Grade 12) having passed Maths and Science with at least a Level 5
• Mentally and physically fit, and
• Without any height phobias

Applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the proferred bursary for 2015 will undergo a further vetting process. This will include a face-to-face interview that will help to determine whether they really are suitable or not. A number of tests will be carried out including fingerprint verification, security screening and also psychometric verification. There will also be medical examinations. Those people who are shortlisted with be interviewed and tested further to make sure that they are completely suitable for the helicopter and fixed-wing pilot bursary programme.

Those applicants who are accepted for pilot training will also have to do basic police training when required to do so.

How to Apply for a SAPS Pilot Bursary for 2015

Application forms – specifically the Z83 form – are available from all Public Service Government Departments. In addition to this form, applicants must attach a resume or curriculm vitae (CV) that shows personal, educational and any previous employment details; a certified copy of their identity document; as well as certified copies of their senior certificate (Grade 12) and the courses and/or diplomas that were obtained. If these documents are not supplied with the application form then the application will not be considered.

Enquiries to Colonel F.P. Blaauw – email or telephone 021-334 3721. Alternatively you can phone Lt Col De Wit on 012-334 3777.

Applications should be sent to Private Bag X177, Pretoria 0001 or 429 Helen Joseph Street, 7th Floor Shorburg Building, Pretoria. Mark them for the attention of Col Blaauw.

If you have not been contacted by 16th February (a month after the closing date of applications) then you know that your application was not successful.

Unique Bursary Opportunities from KPMG for Aspiring Chartered Accountants

KPMG-logoThe international professional services organisation KPMG, offers “unique bursary opportunities” for students aiming to become chartered accountants accredited with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

There are two options, a Pure Merit Bursary that is based only on academic achievements and examination results, and a Merit Bursary with Financial Needs that takes both results and financial needs into account. Both offer a three-year training contact that incorporates a good remuneration package and exciting professional challenges.

KPMG, which comprises a global network of firms that provide professional advisory, audit and tax services in 155 countries, is a Swiss-based cooperative. Its South African member is KPMG Services (Pty) Ltd, which operates from its Johannesburg head office.

Requirements for KPMG Audit Bursary Opportunities

Excellent academic results are a must for anyone applying for an audit bursary from KPMG. Those students who do not need “extensive funding” for studies are advised to apply for a Pure Merit Bursary; those who require financial assistance to be able to go to university to study are advised to apply for the other type of Merit Bursary that is specifically for people who have “financial needs”.

Whichever bursary is personally suitable, the criteria that must be met are the same:

• Students should be studying a degree that is recognised by SAICA at a suitable tertiary institution or university (these also need to be SAICA approved).
• Only fulltime students will be considered.
• The degree must be completed in the minimum time period allowed.
• Minimum academic results are specific:
o Academic average for financial accounting must be 65 Percent except in third year where 60 percent is acceptable and for CTA, in which case a 50 percent pass is the minimum
o Total average for the four major subjects – financial accounting, tax, management accounting, and auditing – must be 65 Percent except in third year where 60 percent is acceptable and for CTA, in which case a 55 percent pass is the minimum
• Academic achievement must be consistent throughout the period of study.

In addition, applicants must be able to meet very strict deadlines and they must be able to work under pressure.

Applying for a KPMG Audit Bursary

Only students who are accepted for a KPMG training contract will be considered for an audit bursary. Opportunities are posted on the KPMG website, and students may apply online.

There are currently more than 40 options, with programme starts dates ranging from early next year (2015) to 2020. All are for the External Audit Graduate Programme, with most offering positions as trainee accountant in one of the countries major cities including Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Polokwane, Nelspruit and Secunda.

Whichever option you choose, the firm promises to provide trainees with a diverse and exciting experience while they complete their articles. Support structures including in-house board examinations and a team that will do all it can to help make trainees the best possible chartered accountants.

KPMG bursaries are in line with South Africa’s Financial, Accounting, Management, Consulting and other Financial Services Section Education and Training Authority (FassetSETA)

Where to find the application form?

If you would like to take advantage of the bursary opportunities offered by KPMG, apply here for a trainee position.

LBOC Bursary Applications for 2015 Close Next Week

LBOC Bursary Applications for 2015

LBOCFund-logoLet’s Build Our Country Fund (the LBOC Fund) has bursaries available for study during 2015. Funding is available for school, college and university fees, however bursary applications close on 30th November, so you don’t have much time left to apply.

About The LBOC Fund

A non-profit company (NPC), the LBOC Fund aims to educate at least 1,000 students at high-level educational institutions each year. Their stated mission is to “educate, mentor and develop” South Africa’s youth “to be the best leaders of tomorrow”.
In keeping with the mission of the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (EtdpSETA), the company has a vision to initiate, develop and grow the education and skills of young people in this country. Recognising that education and skills development is pivotal to the successful growth and development of the country’s economy, the LBOC Fund has set out to address the serious problem of unemployment, and endeavours to close the ever-present skills gap that is present in South Africa.

Identifying a need to find “innovative solutions” for “pragmatic problems”, the LBOC Fund has identified five important objectives.

1. They will educate at least 1,000 students every year.
2. They will focus on capacity building using skills development and will provide educational resources for this exercise.
3. They will provide funding for tuition of students who are either enrolled, or in the process of gaining admission to “high learning institutions”.
4. They will help graduates by motivating strategic partnerships that have been initiated in the form of programmes that relate to a variety of economic spheres.
5. They aim to unite the people of South Africa in the realm of youth education.

The LBOC Fund has established a number of strategic partnerships in an endeavour to achieve the ambitious targets that they have set for the company. Recognising that both society and community funding need relationships that will be mutually beneficial, the company has invited organisations to help “capacitate and garner support for the initiative”. To encourage every citizen to get involve, they also have an SMS line where interested people can donate as little as R15 and in this way do their bit to improve the education and skills of South Africa’s youth.

How to Apply for a Bursary From the LBOC Fund

Bursary applications may be done online. The application forms are available from the LBOC Fund website and you can fill in the form and then fax or email it to them.

It is a simple application form that is self-explanatory, and which requires the usual information including identity number and contact details. All applicants are required to say what they are currently studying, or what they plan to study; how much funding is required; and to state reasons for the need for funding. They ask that relevant documents be attached, these would include a certified copy of your ID as well as proof of things like past results and admission to school, college or university.

The LBOC Fund also has a Facebook page where you can ask for further assistance or guidance.

Application Forms are Available from the LBOC Website.

Application form here.

Shoprite Has a Number of Bursary Opportunities Available for 2015

Shoprite Bursary Opportunities 2015

Shoprite currenShoprite_logotly has five bursary opportunities  available for 2015. The closing dates have not been specified, so if you are interested, send in your application as soon as possible.

Shoprite bursaries vary in value depending on the studies chosen as well as the institution. Generally they are worth anything from R30,000 to R60,000 and will cover tuition fees and books, and if there is money left over, accommodation as well. Extra-curricular and additional modules may also be covered if funds are available after everything else has been paid. However, any student who fails a module will be expected to repeat it at their own expense.

Pay-back comes in the form of working for Shoprite for every year the student has been awarded the bursary. Anyone who leaves the company before completing the work-back obligation will have to repay the company a pro rata amount of what is still “owed” for the bursary. Those who fulfil their commitment will have the opportunity to continue working for the Shoprite Group, which doubles with the opportunity to grow a career within the group.

The Shoprite bursary opportunities fall within the ambits of several different Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs). These include the Financial, Accounting, Management, Consulting and other Financial Services SETA (FassetSETA ) and the Wholesale and Retail SETA (W&RSETA)

The five bursary opportunities currently on offer are available to study:

1. Accounting (CA stream)
2. Retail business and hospitality management
3. Bachelor of Pharmacy or pharmacy technician
4. Information technology
5. Logistics and the supply chain

Internal applicants will be given preference over external applicants.

Accounting (CA Stream)

This bursary is worth between R55,000 and R60,000 and may be taken up anywhere in South Africa. The job category is accounting, and the bursary aims to attract talented chartered accounting students whom they hope will then become part of the company’s financial team once they have completed their studies. It is available for first, second, and third year students, as well as honours students.

The bursary requires successful completion of studies with an average pass of 60 percent during the first six months of a Bachelor of Accounting or Bachelor of Commerce degree that leads to a CTA that will qualify the student to register for articles.

Retail Business/Hospitality Management

This bursary is worth between R30,000 and R50,000 and is also available throughout the country. It aims to attract and fund students who will become trainee retail managers and follow lucrative management careers in the retail industry. It is also available for first, second, and third year students, as well as honours students.

The bursary requirements are the same as the previous one (a 60 percent average) but relate to a national diploma in retail business/hospitality management or an equivalent qualification.

Bachelor of Pharmacy/Pharmacy Technician

This bursary is worth between R30,000 and R60,000 and like the previous two is available throughout South Africa. It is hoped that the bursary will attract talented pharmacy technician and pharmacy students who are passionate about getting into health care within the retail industry. It is also available for first, second, and third year students, as well as honours students.

The bursary requirements are the same as the previous two but relate to a bachelors degree in pharmacy or relevant pharmacy technician or technical assistant qualification.

Information Technology

This bursary is worth between R45,000 and R60,000 but is only available in Brackenfell in the Western Cape. It is specifically for information technology (IT) students and the company hopes that it will attract innovative programmers with a vision and passion to ensure “dynamic outputs” in an industry that is well known for ongoing change. Like all the previous bursaries listed, it is available for first, second, and third year students, as well as honours students.

The bursary requirements are the same as the previous ones but relate to a relevant three-year IT-programming qualification.

Logistics/Supply Chain

This bursary is worth between R45,000 and R60,000. It available for study either in Brackenfell (Western Cape) or in Centurion (Gauteng).

The bursary is available for first, second, and third year students, as well as honours students, and the hope is that it will attract people who will become specialists in the supply chain or in logistics.

The bursary requires successful completion of the very first six months of the degree – a bachelor of commerce in logistics (quantitative management) and industrial engineering; or a bachelor of science majoring in operational research; or a related qualification or degree.

So if you’re keen, don’t delay, apply today. Good luck.

Application Forms are Available from the Shoprite Website

Shoprite has bursary application forms on its website.

Two Western Cape Province Learnership Programmes Available

Western Cape Province Learnership Programmes 2015

Western_Cape-logoWhilst all the Western Cape Government bursaries for next year (2015) have closed, there are still learnerships available. One is an exciting project that will help WC matriculants who want to get into the public service as a career; the other is for volunteers who want to make a difference in the field of education. Both are for a year.

PAY Learnership Programme

Applications for the Premier’s Advancement of Youth (PAY) Project will be open from 7th to 31st January 2015 and successful applicants will work for the Province for a year from April 2015 until the end of March 2016. This work experience will provide free training, and invaluable experience working for the public service.

The opportunities offered by the Western Cape Province are in keeping with the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority’s (EtdpSETA) stated mission to ensure that the South African workforce will be “better educated and informed”.

The idea of the PAY Learnership Programme is to help those wanting to start a career in the public service get a new set of skills and get experience that will ultimately make them more employable and more marketable in the sector. Ultimately the programme provides work experience and a year during which participants can make “informed career choices”.

The programme provides public sector, on-the-job training in the full range of provincial departments; specifically in the Department of:

  • the Premier
  • Agriculture
  • Community Safety
  • Cultural Affairs and Sport
  • Economic Development and Tourism
  • Environmental Affairs and Development Planning
  • Health
  • Human Settlements
  • Local Government
  • Social Development
  • Transport and Public Works

as well as in the

  • Provincial Treasury
  • Western Cape Education Department (WCED)

A total of about 750 matriculants from the class of 2014 will secure positions, providing they:

  • Have passed the Western Cape National Senior Certificate this year
  • Are not planning to study next year
  • Are South African citizens who live in the Western Cape
  • Do not have support or any form of network that will help with career choices
  • Are not sure what to do once they have left school
  • Are financially “constrained”
  • Are aged between 18 and 24

If you fit this profile, then bookmark the Western Cape website and diarise the opening and closing dates for applications (7th to 31st January 2015).

Year Beyond Programme

Another learnership opportunity currently being offered by the Western Cape Government is the Year Beyond Programme, an educational enrichment opportunity that involves dedicating 12 months to helping at schools in the province that are underperforming.

While volunteers give there time without remuneration, they get the chance to enhance their economic and social networks, and gain access to work experience. There are also bursary opportunities for the future.

Essentially the Year Beyond learnership programme involves tutoring both primary and secondary school pupils after school hours in subjects they are struggling with, primarily English, mathematics, technology and science. For this reason, it is essential for participants to be committed, motivated and to have been high-achievers at school. Important qualities include:

  • Excellent leadership capabilities
  • Good academic results, particularly in the subjects mentioned above
  • A proven track record that indicates community involvement
  • Good skills when it comes to solving problems
  • The ability to be able to work in an environment that is diverse
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • An innovative and creative flair

The Year Beyond Programme is open to local volunteers and to people from other countries who are no older than 24 years. Applicants must have achieved at least a 60 percent pass in English and maths in matric, and they must have good computer skills. Qualities that are required include personal initiative, leadership skills, courage and the ability to self manage. They must also be able to demonstrate a commitment that they will aim to make a difference and impact on the lives of other people.

Where to find the application form?

Applications for this exciting leadership programme, which runs from January to November 2015, close on 30th November. It is essential to complete the APPLICATION FORM, and then either email it to apply@yearbebyond.org.za or deliver to the Western Cape Government Contact Centre in Wale Street in the Cape Town city centre.

Wide Variety of Government Bursaries Available from KZN Province for Study in 2015

KZN 2015 Government Bursaries Available from KZN Province

KZN-logoStudents living in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) who want to get a tertiary qualification, but can’t afford to, now have the opportunity to get Government bursaries from the provincial administration. Funding is available only for public institutions and not for private institutions of higher learning. Applications opened on November 14th and they close on December 15th 2014.

Only students from “vulnerable groups” or previously disadvantaged backgrounds will be considered. Parents and/or guardians should not earn more than R60,000 per year if single. If both parents/guardians are working, then their total annual income should not be more than R120,000.

Disabled students are encouraged to apply for these bursaries, but all applicants must be aged between 18 and 35. All should be “high achievers”, and matriculants should have either a “CAO receipt” or a provisional letter of acceptance from the institution of higher learning where they plan to study.

KZN Province Bursary Opportunities for 2015

KZN_bursary_picThe bursary opportunities offered by KZN Province for Government bursaries are incredibly varied, and therefore in line with the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority’s (the EtdpSETA) vision to ensure that South Africa will ultimately have a much better educated and more informed workplace that has “valuable workplace experience and ethics”.

Further, bursaries are offered by a number of departments within the Province. A full list is included on the website, and includes the Departments of:

  • Office of The Premier that offers bursaries for students to study for a range of bachelor’s degrees or national diplomas including financial management, auditing, accounting, forestry, boiler making, aviation and metrology.
  • Agriculture and Rural Development that offers bursaries for students to study for a bachelor’s degree in agriculture (specifically a BSc in soil, crop and animal science), agriculture engineering (specifically a BSc in soil conservation, infrastructure and irrigation), or veterinary science (BVSc); or a national diploma (ND) in either animal health or to become a veterinary technologist.
  • Arts and Culture that offers bursaries for students to study for a range of bachelor’s degrees or national diplomas in African languages, drama, fine art, graphic design, jazz and popular music, jewellery design, performing and non-performing arts, practical music and public management.
  • Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs that offers bursaries for students to study for a range of quite different bachelor’s degrees or national diplomas including anthropology, built environment studies, photography/video technology or graphic design, civil/electrical engineering, town and regional planning, local economic development, local government law, local economic development, financial management, and even disaster management.
  • Human Settlements that offers bursaries for students to study for a range of bachelor’s degrees or national diplomas including property management, land surveying, quantity surveying, architecture, construction management, and civil engineering.
  • Provincial Treasury that offers bursaries for students to study for a bachelor’s degree majoring in accounting and economics; or a national diploma in financial management or cost and management accounting, and accounting.
  • Transport that offers bursaries for students to study for a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, transportation economics, or to become a technologist in civil or mechanical engineering; or for a national diploma in public transportation management.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to apply for admission to a tertiary institution and to the University’s residence if this is required.

How to Apply for KZN Government Bursaries

Application forms for these KZN bursaries are available from both the Department of Education and Operation Sukuma Sakhe district offices. Applications should also be submitted to one of these offices.

In addition to the application form that must obviously be filled out correctly, applicants must include a letter of motivation and several other documents, including:

  • A certified copy of their identity document
  • A certified copy of their parents’ or guardian’s identity document
  • A certified copy of their matriculation certificate
  • Proof of how much their parents or guardian(s) earn
  • Proof that they have either registered with, or been accepted by a public tertiary institution
  • Proof that their parents or guardians are unemployed – this must come from the Department of Labour
  • A certified copy of any household profiling certification (if the applicant has access to one of these)

The bursary covers all fees, accommodation and meals, prescribed books, and a stipend for the full period of study.

Successful bursars will contract with KZN Province for a length of time (in years) that is equivalent to the time period over which they will study at the tertiary institution. In addition, anyone holding a bursary may be required to work for the Province in the relevant Department for a period equivalent to the time period of the contract.

Application Forms are Available from the KZN Website

Details of application and a copy of application forms are available from its website.  APPLICATION FORM HERE

Department of Environmental Affairs has Internships for Students in Pretoria and Cape Town

Environmental_Affairs_logoDEA’s Internships for Students in Pretoria and Cape Town

There is nothing more soul destroying than spending years at university studying hard, getting a degree, and then finding that you cannot get a job. It’s the usual Catch 22: Companies generally employ people with experience rather than those who are newly qualified. But if you are studying, or have a degree in fields related to environmental affairs, there is hope ahead. The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) is offering internships for graduates who will get paid a R4,500 monthly stipend, and immediately boost their experience over a one-year period of time.

Applications for the 2015 DEA’s internships for students close on December 12, 2014. So if you are an unemployed post graduate, or even under graduate, and you’ve never been employed in an internship programme before, why not give it a try?

About Internship Opportunities from the Department of Environmental Affairs

Internships for students, whose interests fit the fields that relate directly to the DEA, are offered opportunities to enter the internship programme for a one-year (12 month) period of time. Those candidates who are accepted into the programme are obliged to sign a contract, and they must work for the Department for 12 months.

These internship opportunities are in keeping with the vision of the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority – the EtdpSETA which facilitates and promotes development and improvement with the education, training and development sector. However, as the DEA’s Environmental Sector Skills Plan for South Africa (published in 2010) points out, the environment sector itself does not have a dedicated SETA, instead, “environment needs to be integrated into all SETAs”.

All the current internship opportunities relate in some way to environmental issues, but there is a reasonably wide range of internships to choose from. They are all open to students and graduates aged between 18 and 35 years, and disabled people are encouraged to apply.

Each internship has its own particular requirement in terms of the qualification required, including specified subjects studied. A full list is available on the Department’s website.

Opportunities Available in Pretoria

There are eight openings in Pretoria, which is where the Department of Environment Affairs’ head office is located. In addition, three further positions are available in other parts of the country, via Pretoria:

1. Chemical and waste management
2. Biodiversity and conservation
3. Climate change and air quality
4. Chief operating office
5. Legal authorizations and compliance inspectorate Chief financial officer
6. Chief financial officer
7. Environmental advisory services
8. Environmental programme. While there is only one post available in Pretoria, there are an additional three posts on offer in Limpopo/Mpumalanga, the Western Cape, and the Free State.

All require a relevant three-year degree or national diploma. Specific subjects for the four environmental programme internships vary.

Opportunities Available in Cape Town

There are 12 openings in Cape Town, all linked to the Ocean & Coast and Environmental Programme:

1. ODDG
2. Supply chain and asset management
3. Human resource management (HRM)
4. Financial management and management accounting
5. Coastal biodiversity conservation
6. Ocean and coastal conservation strategies
7. Oceans research
8. Biodiversity and coastal research
9. Marine biodiversity and coastal research
10. Coastal pollution management
11. Southern oceans and Antarctica support
12. Communication

All of these also require a relevant three-year degree or national diploma.

All applications for these internships must be submitted on the relevant Z83 form. A CV (curriculum vitae), certified copies of certificates received (eg matric and university), any relevant academic records, and of course an identification document, must be included with the application. Note that all applications must be posted to the relevant person in either Pretoria or Cape Town. Addresses and telephone numbers for further enquiries are available on the Department’s website. Applications must be received by 12th December this year, so if the Post Office is still on strike, you should considered using a courier service to ensure there won’t be unnecessary delays.

Successful applicants will be notified within three months of 12th December (in other words by mid-March 2015).

The Department of Environmental Affairs also offers bursaries to fulltime students, however applications for the 2015 academic year closed on September 26th this year.

Details of application are available from the DEA website

Additional  details of application for the 2015 internship program for Pretoria and Cape Town students are available on their website.

IMPLATS Will Soon be Looking For Suitable Bursary Applicants for 2016

Implats-logoImplats Bursaries for 2016

Implats Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats), a leading Southern African platinum mining company, offers bursaries to suitable students ever year.

The company is primarily in the business of mining, but also refines platimum-group metals including cobalt, copper and nickel. The company which operates from the Bushveld region, as well as from the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe, employs about 57,000 people, some of whom are contractors.

Implats sees itself poised to become the world’s very best platinum-producing mining company, and is committed to safety and sustainability at all levels.

Bursaries Offered by Implats

Bursaries offered by Implats are in keeping with the principles of the MqaSETA, which was originally established to comply with the Mine, Health and Safety Act. The MqaSETA also supports the Mining Charter and facilitates the development of skills in the industry. It actively encourages females to enter the mining sector and helps to empower previously disadvantaged people within the mining industry. Applications from disabled students are welcomed, though Implats does point out that acceptance will be in keeping with whatever the demands of that particular occupation are, related to the degree itself.

Implats invites applications for bursaries annually, and covers the registration and fees for the course of all successful bursary applicants. The company also pays the cost of residence fees and gives students a cash allowance while they are studying. In addition, from the second year at university, students are provided with a personal computer allowance.

While engineering is an obvious field for applicants to want to study in, bursaries are also offered for study of:

  • Accounting – to honours level
  • Chemistry – to honours level
  • Geology – to honours level
  • Human Resources – from B.Com to honours level
  • Survey

Engineering degrees encompass a wide variety of courses, specifically:

  • Chemical
  • Electrical (specifically heavy current)
  • Mechanical
  • Metallurgy
  • Mining

Successful bursary applicants are required to work for Implats for the same period of time it took to study for their degree – in other words for “the full period of the bursary”. They are also obliged to work during vacations at the end of each year, after their studies for the year are complete.

Typical Profile of Bursary Applicants Likely to be Accepted for Study

Implats is looking for tenacious individuals who show leadership potential and an ability to work with other team players. In addition, those who are likely to succeed in getting bursaries will be able to work well under pressure, and will have good abilities when it comes to solving problems. Generally the type of student who is likely to be accepted will have good common sense, and will have an innate ability to think logically and make sensible decisions. It is essential for potential bursars to be self-motivated and vital for them to have excellent communication skills.

The application form is straightforward, but it is essential for applicants to answer all questions honestly and accurately.

Applications will not be considered if the student does not have a university exemption with a rating code of five or a pass of 60 percent in Maths, Science and English.

How to Apply for an Implats Bursary

There are application forms for bursaries on the Implats web site. These are in a portable document format (pdf) and can be printed out and then completed before being returned to the company. All applications must be accompanied with a complete resume or curriculum vitae (CV); a certified copy of the applicant’s South African identity document; and certified proof of their most recent school or university results.

Applications must be posted to The Training Manager, Impala Platinum Bursary Department, PO Box 5683, Rustenburg 0300, and all applications must be received no later than March 31, 2015. If your application is successful, they will respond within 30 days. If it is not successful you will not get a reply. All preliminary interviews are conducted in Rustenburg, North West Province.

Good luck.

BDO Offers Bursaries for Students Wanting to Become Chartered Accountants

Bursaries for Students Wanting to Become a Chartered Accountant by BDO

BDO-logo

BDO Spencer Steward South Africa is offering bursaries to Bachelor of Commerce students who are committed to studying chartered accounting. These are available at South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)-accredited universities in Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

The criteria set by the company include:

  • You must be a South African citizen.
  • You must have achieved at least 70 percent in matric for Accounting, Maths and English.
  • You must already be studying or at least registered for a B.Comm accounting degree at one of South Africa’s SAICA-accredited universities.
  • You must want to study chartered accounting, with majors in auditing and accounting.

The deal is that if you are granted a bursary by BDO Spencer Steward, you will join the company as a trainee accountant as soon as you get your degree. You will then continue your chartered accountant studies while employed by BDO.

During the period of the bursary, students must also be available to work for the firm during their holidays.

About BDO South Africa

BDO Spencer Steward, which operates in numerous countries internationally, is regarded as a mid-size company in South Africa. Essentially it offers professional accounting and auditing services, as well as business advice. The company prides itself on being able to compete with large firms while still being able to retain the ability to “care” about clients and their needs.

The company also prides itself on keeping advice simple and maintaining an open and transparent relationship with clients.

Corporate responsibility is also top of the list for BDO, and they constantly identify projects within local communities they can become involved in,primarily in terms of funding and support. One national project, Lapdesks, involves the distribution of lapdesks to underprivileged children. These are basically portable desks that can be used on the lap of a child. Thousands of these have been given away since 2007.

BDO Bursaries

Students that are studying or who are registered to study for a South African chartered accountant qualification are invited to apply for BDO bursaries. This means that you must either be registered for a Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent degree at a university that is recognised by the SAICA. They are awarded annually according to academic merit and are limited to fees and a specified allowance for books. There is not a standardised amount available for each student, and the figures differ according to the BDO firm covering the bursary.

Bursaries are renewable each year, but it does depend on academic results, and the pass rate achieved in exams.

Ultimately, the BDO offer is in keeping with the FassetSETA mission that aims to ensure everyone working in the financial, accounting, management, consulting and other financial services sector (FASSET) has the necessary education and training to function effectively within the industry.

How to Apply for Bursaries from BDO

Information that must be supplied includes details of both school and any tertiary education completed. Printouts of results and certified copies of any qualifications and matric results must be supplied.

The applicant is expected to motivate the application and give details of personal achievements and any leadership roles that might be relevant. In addition, the company asks for information about applicants’ interests, extra-curricular activities, as well as hobbies. They want to know how these interests and activities have impacted on different people, and been of benefit.

Applicants are also required to say why they need a bursary to study and why they want to work for BDO Spencer Steward. So if you are planning to apply, you will also need to explain why you are a good candidate for the company and why you are pursuing a career in chartered accounting.

Application forms are available from the BDO website.

BDO has bursary application forms on its website.

BDO Spencer Steward South Africa

Wholesale and Retail Learnerships by W&RSETA

 Wholesale and Retail Learnerships by W&RSETA

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The Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA), which has been operating in terms of the Skills Development Act for more than 14 years, implements strategies for national development in the huge wholesale and retail sector.

One of it’s most important roles is to initiate learnerships that enable “learners” to improve their knowledge, skills and ability in their chosen career. Learnerships also enable students to get a formal qualification that will enable them to get into the wholesale and retail industry quicker and more easily.

There is absolutely no doubt that people who take this route get increased employment opportunities once they have qualified. It is also an excellent route for learners who are already employed, but who are earning low wages because they do not have a proper qualification or the necessary experience to get ahead.

One of the most valuable aspects, as the W&RSETA points out, is that students are able to learn while they earn.

Benefits of Learnerships for Employers

Committed employers in the W&R sector agree that a learnership – which is essentially a “work-based education and training programme” linked to a valid registered National Qualifications Framework (NQF) qualification – is one of the best ways to facilitate empowerment of employees. It is also a brilliant way to develop a competent staff complement within businesses, and to ensure that workers get the relevant (very specific to an individual business) skills and experience.

Since employees who are qualified and experienced need less supervision, this will also improve the quality of work within the business, as well as overall productivity.

Employers also find that this is an ideal vehicle that may be used to address their employment equity targets, as well as to identify gaps that relate to skills and training.

Benefits for the W&R Industry as a Whole

The W&RSETA identifies three primary ways that learnerships benefit the industry:

1. They help to create a pool of skill personnel that is made up of more professional people.
2. They help to provide the W&R industry with direction so that it can develop according to general world standards.
3. The result of this programme is aimed to help the industry become more competitive in the global market as a whole.

The Role of the SETA in the Learnership Programme

While the W&RSETA facilitates and implements the programme, it does not recruit learners. This is the responsibility of the various employers and service providers, as well as training providers that specialise in industry-related learning opportunities.

To assist employers, service providers and training organisations and institutions, the SETA has formed partnerships with the Department of Labour (specifically the regional offices), the Centre for Youth Development (CYD), and the South African Graduates Association (SAGA) that provide databases of unemployed people who are looking for opportunities in the industry.

How to Register?

So if you are keen to forge a career in the wholesale and retail sector, make sure you are on at least one of these databases. There is also a list of registered qualifications and learnerships that is published by the W&RSETA. Currently all registration end dates are June 30, 2015. There is a Learnership Agreement on the W&RSETA website.

Mineral Education Trust Offers Bursary Funds for South African Universities in the MqaSETA Sector

Mineral Education Trust Fund for South African Universities

metf_logoThe Braamfontein-based Mineral Education Trust Fund (METF) promotes, supports and does all it can to advance education in the field of minerals. It does this by providing funding that is used to supplement the salaries of academics teaching in the various mining disciplines: geology, and metallurgy and chemical engineering. These funds are generated by donations and ensure that the METF is able to contribute toward “sustainable access to the economy”.

The Mining Qualifications Authority of South Africa, established nearly two decades ago, is the SETA for mining and minerals, and one of the most successful Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in the country. And it is the MqaSETA that sets the qualifications and unit standards for this particular educational sector.

Mining is, of course, an immensely critical industry and it is vital that people are well trained to teach those who will enter the industry as employees.

 

About the METF

Constituted 14 years ago, the METF’s main objective is to ensure that minerals education at tertiary level is sustainable within the country’s higher education institutions. Initially it grew from the previous Chamber of Mines Education Fund, but today it is not allied to the Chamber in any way, but has been constituted by its own Trust Deed.

It is recognised as an important funding body within the mining industry and in the sector to which the MqaSETA is allied.

The reality is that even though teachers of mining and metallurgical elements, geology, and minerals processing engineering are considered a vital part of the mining sector, salaries are considerably lower than those paid elsewhere in the industry. The METF therefore aims to increase salaries of MqaSETA-related teachers to within 66 percent to 80 percent of the industry norm. By doing this they are providing an incentive for teaching staff in the mining sector to continue teaching, and to encourage newcomers to the industry to consider academic careers teaching mining-related subjects.

Institutions Funded by METF

Universities in four of the country’s provinces are funded by the METF, and bursaries are available for a total of nine institutions, the:

  • University of Witwatersrand’s Schools of Mining Engineering, Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, and Geosciences
  • University of Pretoria’s Departments of Geology, Mining Engineering, and Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering
  • University of Johannesburg’s Departments of Geological Sciences, Extraction Metallurgy, and Mining Engineering
  • UNISA’s Department of Electrical and Mining Engineering
  • University of Stellenbosch’s Departments of Process Engineering, and Earth Sciences
  • University of Cape Town’s Departments of Geological Sciences, and Chemical Engineering
  • University of KwaZulu Natal’s School of Geological Sciences
  • University of the Free State’s Department of Geology
  • North West University’s School of Chemical and Minerals Engineering

How to Get Funding

Career Wise, a specialist company that manages scholarship and bursary programmes, handles all applications for funding by the METF, and they administrate the Fund.

Where to find the Application Form?

Applications forms are available from METF, but are sent to Career Wise.

Because the METF is registered as a public benefit organisation, those who donate to the fund are exempt from tax. The Fund also has a B-BBEE scorecard evaluation and contributions made can be claimed via socio-economic development.

SASOL has a Highly Competitive Bursary Scheme For Engineering, Science and Commerce Studies

SASOL Bursary Scheme

SASOL-header

SASOL-logosSASOL, established in 1950 and well known to be South Africa’s leading international integrated energy and chemicals company, is a premier source of learnership and bursary opportunities. The company also offers a large number of challenging opportunities relating to a range of different careers. The company is an employer of more than 35,000 people in more than 37 countries.

CAPTION: The SASOL logo was designed to show that the company is multi-faceted but has a stable core that is “a force greater than the sum of its parts”. Online the blue balls of the logo are constantly moving while the core remains solidly still.

The SASOL Bursary Scheme

SASOL bursaries are open to South African students who are studying engineering, commerce or science full time. Once students within the bursary scheme have completed their studies, and qualified, they may be given the opportunity to become an employee of the SASOL Group via the company’s Graduate Development Programme.

If students have already begun their studies, they must have passed all the courses for which they registered. The entry requirements specified by SASOL are specified for the three possible university degrees:

1. Bachelor of Engineering: chemical, electrical, electronic industrial, civil, mining, computer or mechanical. The required subjects and curriculum mark are maths (level 7), science (level 6), and English (level 5).

2. Bachelor of Science: chemistry (masters is compulsory), geology or metallurgy (honours is compulsory for both). The required subjects and curriculum mark are maths (level 7), science (level 6), and English (level 5).

3. Bachelor of Commerce: accounting (CA route). The required subjects and curriculum mark are maths and English (both level 5).

All students accepted into the SASOL Bursary scheme get their tuition fees, registration and examination fees, accommodation and books paid for. They also receive pocket money, meal allowances and get the opportunity to do work during vacations with a paid salary. In addition there are meal allowances and they also get a once-off PC allowance.

SASOL Learnerships

In addition to SASOL bursaries, the company also offers learnership opportunities. Learners joining this programme are trained in both safety standards and core skills that are associated with the operation and maintenance of SASOL plants. The aim of this scheme is to encourage job creation in South Africa and to promote the development of talent within the industry.

The company offers on-the-job learning opportunities that are backed by institutional or structural learning in the fields of boiler-making, chemical plant operations, electrical operations, fitting and turning, instrumentation, welding and rigging.

Entry requirements are:

  • Grade 12 with “pure maths” HG or SG
  • Grade 12 physical science HG or SG
  • Grade 12 English OR / N3
  • Certificate with maths, engineering science, business English and any two subjects passed

Anyone who receives a learnership from the company receives a monthly allowance together with workbooks, manuals, and all the necessary professional protective equipment (PPE). All applicants may apply online.

Most of the learners who participate in SASOL learnerships are given fulltime jobs at SASOL.

From School to Tertiary Studies

SASOL doesn’t only pay students to further their studies, the company is also supportive and offers advice. They know how difficult it can be – they also know that the skills that relate to engineering, science and commerce are covered by several of the country’s Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and not just one.

Advice offered by SASOL to those wanting to participate in the bursary scheme includes:

  • Taking things one step at a time.
  • Focusing on your strengths.
  • Learning to communicate with those around you – including fellow learners, students, teachers and others in the community.
  • Appreciating how important it is to learn from ones mistakes.

Where to find the Application Form?

Learnerships & bursary opportunities 

Applications for the next batch of SASOL bursaries open on January 1, 2015, and close on March 31, 2015. These will cover study in 2016.

Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme For Trainee Teachers

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Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme 2015

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme for basic teacher education is inviting bursary applications for 2015. These opened on 1st October and will close on 9th January, 2015.

The Department of Basic Education has announced that there will be about 3,500 new bursaries available next year. However the Department has advised that people applying to the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme for trainee teachers should also pursue other funding offers, because they cannot guarantee that every application will be successful. As they say, there are so many students who need financial assistance, it is important that applicants don’t pin their hopes on any single option.

About the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme

09-FunzaLushaka-logoThis is a programme that spans several years, allowing successful applicants to complete a full teaching qualification. Once bursary recipients have completed the course and obtained their teacher’s qualification, they will be expected to teach at a Government (public) school for as many years as the qualification took to complete. The Department of Basic Education points out that while graduates are allowed to choose in which province they work, they cannot choose specifically which school they will teach in.

The Funza Lushaka bursary is only awarded for single academic years, and then renewed if and when the student has passed. This means that even once an application has been approved, students need to continue applying annually, every October, until they have graduated. Re-applications for students already in the programme close on 15th November 2014 (before the new applications close).

Basic Education and Training in South Africa

Basic education and training is, of course, the backbone to skills development, which is a key requirement if there is to be any form of meaningful economic growth in South Africa any time soon. While the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) cover work sectors open to post school adults, it is the teachers of basic education who create the grounding for future employees to gain access to the country’s economic sector. This makes basic education and training a vital piece of the skills chain.

Funka Lushaka has published a booklet that explains just how teaching makes a difference in the lives of our children. Called Information Guide on Initial Teacher Education, (you can find the link at the bottom of the page) it emphasises that teaching is “a noble profession” that demands commitment, perseverance, passion, tolerance and dedication. Ultimately teaching, it says, offers an opportunity to mould and nurture the minds of young, growing children, and to help them develop life skills that will enable them to achieve success later on in life.

Who Can Become a Teacher

The Department has pinpointed a range of possibilities, from learners who about to complete Grade 12, to academically gifted people who have already left school but who are currently unemployed. Graduates who want to get a teaching qualification in addition to the degree they already have would also fit the bill, as would people who want to change their career and start teaching.

Generally they are looking for “young” people, and they are open about the fact that candidates from rural areas and/or those who want to teach in rural areas will be favoured. They are also more likely to award a bursary to an applicant whose financial status would, in other circumstances, exclude them from being able to study to become a teacher.
People who already have some sort of teaching qualification are not eligible to apply.

Where Successful Applicants of the Bursary Programme Will Study

There are a total of 22 higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa that currently offer courses that will result in recognised teacher qualifications. They are located in all of the eight provinces and include:

  • National institutes for higher education

  • Universities of technology

  • Universities

  • funza lushaka bursary

Applicants for the Funza Lushaka bursaries need to apply to an HEI before the closing date of applications (January 9). In other words they cannot wait to see if their bursary application was successful before applying to study.

A full list of relevant HEIs is given in the booklet, together with contact details and detailed information about programmes offered at the various institutions. It also specifies the qualification that will result from successful study.

Where to find the Application Form?

Funza Lushaka bursaries are only available to South Africans, and so proof of identity is required. Application forms are available from the Funza Lushaka website.
Link to document here Information Guide On Initial Teacher Education

Trudon Offers Bursaries to IT, Multimedia and Digital Media Students

Trudon Bursaries 2015

Trudon, the company that publishes South Africa’s Yellow Pages, is offering bursaries to IT and various design and media-related students who are currently studying for undergraduate degrees. The closing date is October 31, 2014.

Bursaries are open to:

  • Trudon employees who have worked for the company for more than 12 months.

  • The children of Trudon employees.

  • Previously disadvantaged external candidates who do not have existing links with the company.

The company also has a graduate programme that gives successful students who have participated in their bursary programme “a potential career start”. This involves external candidates working for Trudon for a year after graduation. In addition they offer “study funding” to employees who want to increase their knowledge and “expand their horizons”.

Job opportunities are also available on an ongoing basis.

Anyone who is successful in their bursary application will have both registration fees and tuition fees covered. They will receive a book allowance, and where applicable residence fees may be coverd.

SETA Backing

The Media Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (Mict SETA) is responsible for the skills development and accreditation standards set for all providers of education and training for the following sectors:

  • Advertising

  • Electronic media and film

  • Electronics

  • Information technology (IT)

  • Telecommunications

The Trudon Mission as an Employer

Trudon actively looks for “new media talent” and in return they can offer a dynamic and exciting work environment as well as substantial funding that will help learners in this field further their studies and complete their tertiary education.

From initially being an well-established and reputable print-media organisation, Trudon is now a leading multimedia company, opening the door to people with skills in this new work arena. Career opportunities the company offers spans a range of related areas including accounting, customer care, human resources, logistics, marketing and sales. Their focus though is on ecommerce, information management, multimedia design and what they term “online and search”.

Once in the employ of Truton, people are invited to write their won “career scripts”. And this is where the internal bursaries come in.

Undergraduate Degrees that Qualify Students

Second and third year students who are aiming for a degree in the following fields may apply for a bursary:

  • IT management, information management, economics and econometrics, or informatics

  • Informatics and computer science, or IT

  • Digital media studies

  • Multimedia design

The specific bachelor degrees covered are Information Science (in multimedia and publishing) and Graphic Design.

Applicants must have achieved an overall minimum result of 60 percent, and also a minimum 60 percent pass in their major subjects. This will apply to first year results for those applying for second year studies, and to second year results for those applying for funds for third year studies.

While all applications are decided on “merit”, Trudon does point out that it will give African, Coloured and Indian students preference.

For Those Who Qualify

Academic performance is important and the company reviews the situation after examinations, and bursaries are renewed annually.

Once a student has graduated, he or she must work for Trudon for a year. This does not include in-service periods of training. In the event of a graduate refusing to accept the employment contract, all money outlaid for study fees will have to be repaid.

Application forms are available from Trudon online

Side Note: cire trudon should not be confused with trudon South Africa, Trudin South African is the official reseller of advertising space for telkom’s yellow pages. cire trudon (cire trudon candles) is a french company who manufacture candles.

Trudon careers

Social Work Scholarships Available for Study Next Year

Social Work Scholarships 2015

Applications for 2015 scholarships are open for social work students and matriculants who are planning to enrol for a social work degree at university next year. So if you aspire to become a social worker, and you need some kind of bursary to get you through your studies, then don’t miss this opportunity. The closing date for applications is October 31, 2014.

Social Work is a Calling

One of the most important notifications in the social work Scholarship for Social Work Student Guide 2015 released by the National Department of Social Development, as programme manager of the Scholarship Programme, Moqeloa Mothopeng, points out, is that social work is a calling rather than just a profession. For this reason the department only want students who “REALLY want to pursue this noble profession” to apply for the social work scholarships that are currently available.

They stress that they really do want people who are “very passionate” about social work to apply. They also stress that they want students who will be happy to help in disadvantaged communities, “with all their problems regardless where they are.” Most of these communities are, nor surprisingly, in rural areas.

The social work profession falls under the SsdSETA that was established to incorporate all welfare-related sub-sectors in 2011. This makes it one of the newer SETAs in South Africa, representing the welfare sector that was previously part of a broader body, the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority (HWSETA).

What Social Work Scholarships Cover

The scholarships on offer for 2015 will cover registration costs, tuition fees, cost of books prescribed for the courses, and stipends for practical exams. If accommodation is provided by the applicants’ universities of choice, accommodation costs might be included in the scholarship.

The Department has a very clear policy in terms of how and when they pay. For example, when learners who get social work scholarships buy books, each and every item needs to be specified. Only prescribed books and other study material will be covered. They also only pay out “appropriate expenses” and will not ever pay students money that could have, but hasn’t, been used. Full study fees are paid after April in the relevant year (in this case April 2015).

The Departmental guide also draws attention to the fact that successful applicants cannot change their field of study once they have been accepted.

  • social work scholarships
    scholarships for social work
    social work graduate school scholarships

Important Details Required

In general, those who are applying for social work scholarships must be SA citizens and be happy to enter into an agreement with the Department. That’s about it… though of course all the necessary paperwork must be supplied – certified copies of Matric results, ID document, parent or guardian’s proof of income, academic record to date, and so on – and all entry requirements from the university must be complied with. All requirements are clearly laid out by the Department of Social Development.

Admission to University

Even though students are applying for scholarships, the Department emphasizes that it is imperative for them to apply to their university of choice for admission in due time. To help they have given a full list of relevant institutions throughout the country, together with names, contact details, and email information of heads of departments.

They have also provided information that will help prospective applicants get more information from provincial representatives in every province.

The Department also provides information that will help students explore additional financial assistance opportunities.

So you want to be a social worker and you need a bursary? What are you waiting for?

Where to find the Application Form.

The National Department of Social Development has released it’s student guidelines for social work scholarships; they are available for download from their website.

Fellowships and Internships Available in USA for South Africans

Applications for the prestigious international Mandela Washington Fellowship for 2015 are open until November 5 this year, the United States Embassy in South Africa has announced. There are also internship opportunities available & bursaries to study abroad.

Previously the programme was known as the Washington Fellowship but was renamed this year by President Barack Obama, in honour of the iconic President Nelson Mandela. It is considered to be a flagship programme that symbolizes and personifies President Obama’s commitment to initiate continued investment in the future of the African continent as a whole.

There are 500 fellowships available, and 100 of the successful “fellows” will be able to participate in internships, making this one of the most exciting bursaries available.

Mandela Washington Fellowships

While Washington Fellowships are available to all “young African leaders” from all parts of Africa, some of the most successful “fellows” to have been awarded fellowships in the past have come from South Africa. Celebrities, Faith Mangope (eTV), Candice Potgieter (CEO of the KZN Science Centre), and iNkosi Sbonelo Mkhize (Zulu chief) were all fellows this year (2014). Other less known participants were also involved in the fellowship this year, many of whom worked in rural communities (including several villages situated in the Eastern Cape and in Mpumalanga) where they could make an appreciable difference.

The way it works is that a total of 500 “young African leaders” get to spend a total of six weeks at a top United States university studying either:

Business and entrepreneurship
Civic leadership
Public management
bursaries to study abroad
study abroad scholarships
studying abroad
study abroad for free
study and work abroad

After completing their studies the fellows go to Washington, DC where President Obama hosts a summit that is also attended by government leaders, business leaders, and leaders that come from various NGO communities in the USA.

According to the US President’s office, the Fellowship has been designed to foster and encourage passion, confidence in the interests of the commitment of a new generation of leaders. It also offers participants a unique opportunity to meet some of the most dedicated American leaders who work in the community and report to President Obama, and share their ideas and approaches.

Internships

Internships are available to 100 of the fellows who stay on in the US for an extra six to eight weeks after the summit. The internships are varied, and include positions in private, public and in non-profit sectors in different parts of the country. They involve professional mentoring, and there is more than US$1-million in the form of seed money available for new initiatives and to grow brand new businesses.

While the organisers say that they do try to match fellows carefully with organisations, often the choice is based on broad interests rather than specific, as the internship opportunities are not intended to mimic experiences fellows will have at home. Instead it is intended that the experience will provide additional ideas, skills and even networks that they will be able to use later in life, to further their careers.

“The Fellowship internship is designed to offer a new perspective on the Fellow’s current position and prepare them for sector-wide leadership as they progress in their careers.”

Opportunities include all the sectors covered by South Africa’s SETAs, and it doesn’t end here. The United States Government will be offering an additional 200 professional placements and internships in major private-sector companies and in global non-government organisations. Millions of dollars worth of grants will be made available.

Who Can Apply for These Fellowships and Internships?

While the people who are accepted for this amazing initiative come from all walks of life and from very varied backgrounds, all applicants should be between 25 and 35 years of age. They must also have strong leadership skills and must be able to illustrate a good track record.

People who have been accepted previously include those who own small businesses, as well as environmental activists and those who are active in terms of education reform. Requirements are clearly stated on the Young African Leaders’ website.

President Obama said. “The Mandela Washington Fellowship will challenge preconceived ideas and open new horizons for those who embrace the experience.”