SU's Work Study Programme offers students financial compensation for work done on University projects in departments and faculties. Students gain valuable work experience, which can be added to their CVs to increase their employability upon graduating.

According to Lizzie Witbooi, social worker at SU’s Centre for Student Counselling and Development, this programme gives students in financial need the opportunity to earn an income in a dignified manner. "Our Work Study Programme enables students to earn a monthly income to cover their basic needs such as food, toiletries and other necessities, which their families and/or bursaries are unable to provide," says Witbooi.

"In 2017, 40 students benefited from the programme. With this additional funding, we can increase the beneficiaries to 60 in 2018, place more students within faculties and departments, and enable them to be self-sufficient by relieving some of their financial strain," she adds.

The PPS Foundation, which was established in 2016 with the purpose of improving access to the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields, has a mandate to facilitate access to tertiary education, in particular for historically disadvantaged students and those pursuing studies in the STEM disciplines, says Vuyo Kobokoane, the executive head of the foundation.

"We do this in order to increase the graduate professional pipeline in the country, and to address the shortage of scarce and critical skills."

Kobokoane says the PPS Foundation works with universities, students and other partners to fulfil this mandate. While they understand that financial barriers are normally the biggest to overcome, they appreciate that there are also numerous other variables at play. “Issues such as food security as well as social and peer pressure have an equally negative impact, which sometimes result in poor academic performance and, ultimately, dropping out. This is something we all want to avoid. To the extent that we can, we support organisations that help minimise this risk.”

According to Kobokoane, SU's platform of employing students through the Work Study Programme "is in line with this objective and has the potential to contribute to students’ overall well-being. In addition, the work experience that students stand to gain is invaluable".

She adds: "We look forward to partnering with the University in pursuit of similar programmes, and to seeing the positive results from this programme in the coming year."