VODACOM Lesotho, has offered M2 million in bursaries to 10 students who will further their studies in Lesotho and South African universities.
business
Jan. 26, 2022
NEO SENOKO
3 min read
Vodacom gives M2 million in bursaries
Vodacom Lesotho Managing Director, Mohale Ralebitso
Story highlights
The academic merit bursaries are open to talented but economically disadvantaged students
Vodacom revealed the 10 beneficiaries of the progamme – including six females and four males
Vodacom Lesotho Managing Director, Mohale Ralebitso said the Vodacom bursary programme was a new initiative aimed at empowering the new generation with digital skills and capabilities.
He said the local economy should not just be stuck in the primary sectors if the country had to be on par with the global economic landscape.
It is an academic merit bursary open to talented but economically disadvantaged students intending to study in areas of science, engineering and technology field.
On Monday, the company revealed the 10 beneficiaries of the progamme – including six females and four males.
Among other programmes, the recipients will study in areas that include BSc in Actuarial Science, B.Eng. Mechatronics, BSc Computer Engineering as well as B.Com Investment Management.
All the students will study in South African universities for the above mentioned courses.
“We are contributing to the development of these skills because Lesotho’s economy cannot compete without them,” Mr Ralebitso said.
“We have to ensure that the structure of our economy is not just stuck in the primary sectors. We need other layers to the economy in order to be able to match what the broad global landscape looks like in terms of economic development. The world is becoming more digital and we are all part of the global digital community and societies are changing irreversibly to be more digital.
“And we also can’t be creating jobs, especially in our sector, which will have nobody to occupy in the information and communication technology ICT sector, although these young people do not have an obligation to work for Vodacom, they may go wherever they need to go.
“I also want to emphasise that these are the people who are at the forefront of the future of works because we know that people who are now software developers are the people who are going to define what the future of works looks like.”
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Mr Ralebitso said the emphasis was mainly on women and the disabled, although none of the candidates this year had any disability.
To qualify for the bursary, applicants were supposed to be Lesotho citizens by birth, must undertake full-time undergraduate studies in a Lesotho or South African tertiary institution for approved programmes of study, and should have obtained 70 percent or higher across all subjects in LGCSE final/matric exam or a minimum of 70 percent average or higher if in the first year of study.
Students who are already in the first, second or third year of study and meet all criteria are also eligible for the award.
The bursary covers full university accommodation, full registration and tuition, text book allocation as well as meal allowance. Other additional benefits include a laptop, orientation workshop for those that have been accepted, workplace exposure through Vodacom’s structured vacation work programme as well as access to the company’s Wellness Programme (ICAS) services.
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