The Banking Sector Education and Training Authority (BANKSETA) this week visited 66 Rhodes University Commerce Faculty and Information Systems and Computer Science students who are beneficiaries of the R8.1 million funding from the sector. The work-readiness programme was conducted in conjunction with the Department of Employment and Labour at St Peters room on Tuesday.

According to BANKSETA’s Nobuzwe Mangcu, they partnered with the Department of Employment and Labour because employers are looking for students that are work-ready. “We need to teach the students about ethics, integrity, morals, honesty and how to be emotionally intelligent, because they will be handling the people’s finances,” she said.

Mangcu said the programme coincided with their monitoring and evaluation of the bursary recipients. The students were taught about a ‘preferred’ way of thinking and were taught that they should not feel entitled in life.

According to the University’s Development Fundraiser, Luyanda Bheyile, this is the second year BANKSETA funds Rhodes University students. He said: “They have increased their allocation from last year’s 5.8 million and they were funding 49 students last year.” He said BANKSETA is the biggest contributor to bbin宝盈集团 fundraising campaign for the 2019 academic year. “What’s amazing about their funding is that it covers full fees including books and study materials. Their funding is purely based on merit and they also assist our ‘missing middle’ students. This is something we truly appreciate as a university.”

A 20-year-old second year student, Adriaan Rossouw, said the bursary helped him to focus on his studies, rather than to worry about finances. “I do not have to always wonder where I will find money at the end of the year. I can just focus on getting my degree,” he said.

Nineteen-year-old Tshegofatso Tema, who is doing her second year, said the bursary lifted the financial burden off her parents. “My parents have done so much for our family and it was difficult for them to have two children in University at the same time.  I can now channel all my energy towards getting my degree, so that I can help my parents as well,” she said.

The work-readiness programme takes place annually at the University and is organised by the Rhodes University Communication and Advancement Division and BANKSETA.