The lives of fourteen UKZN undergraduate, honours and master’s students were made easier when they were awarded full bursaries to cover their tuition, accommodation, books, as well as a living stipend.
At a function held on campus, at the UKZN Foundation Board Room Huawei Technologies South Africa handed over bursaries to the value of R1 530 000 to students they identified as academically deserving.
The bursary programme is part of a new partnership between UKZN and Huawei Technologies South Africa which will see more students being awarded full bursaries, internship and employment on satisfactory completion of their studies.
At the presentation, Senior Recruitment and Allocation Manager Huawei, Ms Jacqueline Ford gave the students a brief history of the China-based company which has an annual turnover of $105.1 billion, before highlighting Huawei`s global footprint and technical advancement. ‘’ We are committed to transferring skill In SA being mindful of the shortage of exceptional IT Students in our country. Our unwavering commitment to the 4IR will only contribute positively to transformation of our youth especially with the high unemployment rate in the country.’’ said Ms. Jacqueline Ford
Bursary and Graduate coordinator at Huawei, Mr Mohammed Bismilla said: ‘We are very pleased with the outstanding talent we have found at UKZN, which we know will add value to Huawei by bringing your skills to the company once you have completed your studies.’
Executive Director of the UKZN Foundation Professor Anesh Singh, pointed out that while some students receive loans through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), ‘NSFAS cannot support all students to access higher education. Lack of funds is a major, if not the most prevalent, barrier to education for students in South Africa. It is thanks to contributions such as that from Huawei, that the University can fulfil its mandate to provide financial support to deserving individuals. We are very grateful to Huawei for the support they have given the University,’ said Singh.
He added that it was owing to the ‘generosity of organisations like Huawei we are able to enable greatness at the University.’
Scholarship recipient, Ms Magdelene Munsammy, a third-year computer science and information technology student, speaking on behalf of the bursary recipients, said: ‘I am beyond grateful to Huawei who have made these opportunities possible for me and the other students. Their generosity has given me an opportunity in my life, turning a dream into a reality. Having the financial burden of education lifted from our shoulders has given all of us the freedom to focus on what is important: our coursework, and of course being able to work in such a highly sought after company as Huawei on completion of our studies.’
UKZN Foundation Donor Relationship Manager, Mr Steve Camp congratulated the scholarship recipients and thanked Huawei for their ongoing support.
Author: Steve Camp
Picture: L-R Steve Camp, Prof Anesh Singh, Recipients of bursaries, Mohammed Bismilla and Jacqueline Ford