R500-million in academic funding distributed to 8 000 UP students
“We will do everything we can to ensure that no under-resourced students are left behind.”
About 8 000 University of Pretoria (UP) students have been allocated an estimated R500-million in the form of university-managed and external bursaries.
The R500-million was allocated to the students in 2021 said UP vice-chancellor and principal Professor Tawana Kupe.
Kupe said due to the historic debts and financial challenges, many students found themselves having to abandon their studies, while prospective students were often unable to access higher education.
“UP believes that academically deserving students should not be prevented from accessing a higher education institution owing to financial reasons,” said Kupe.
Kupe said within the parameters set by the university’s policies and available funding, students with academic abilities had to be assisted with funding.
“UP does this by working through its fundraising office, a division of the department of institutional advancement (DIA), and hand-in-hand with stakeholders.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that no under-resourced students are left behind.”
Kupe said a degree or any other form of education remained a dream for many in South Africa and donors were essential to assist non-privileged students.
“Donating in various ways to the establishment in the form of grants and bursaries has been the perfect example of leading from the front to contribute to solving the student funding crisis,” Kupe said.
He said between 2019 and 2021, about 244 staff donors contributed to various projects on campus.
He said the contributions amounted to more than R1-million.
“The DIA focuses its efforts on securing bursaries from external donors to supplement university loans and bursaries.
“These grants vary in amount and duration, and donors usually set the criteria for eligibility.”
He said the requirements for academic and financial eligibility were determined by funders and tend to vary according to the programme of study.
He said every financial aid sponsor, including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, UP, corporates and non-governmental organisations, had minimum standards that students had to meet to be guaranteed continued funding.
Kupe reminded students that for them to be considered for a bursary, they needed to register for financial aid on UP’s PeopleSoft student portal.
Deputy director of relationship management, Hernan Finkel said the UP’s DIA fundraising office worked closely with donors and senior development officers, who had good working relationships with various donors and fundraisers.
“We also work with the financial aid office to find students that meet the specific criteria of a particular donor.”
Finkel said it was “pleasing and amazing” to realise that UP had helped so many students over the past three years.
“We are also grateful to our vice-chancellor and principal, Prof Kupe who is our chief fundraiser.”
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