Let’s Build the Nation

W. Cape: Supply of EBE Professionals as % of Demand

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

Civil

Electri

cal

Mec

hanic

al

Archit

ecture

Land

surv

eying

Quant

ity su

rvey

ing

Total

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

The Masakh’ iSizwe Response

• The DT&PW launched the Masakh’ iSizwe (Let’s Build the Nation) bursary programme in February 2006 for study towards a degree or diploma in the transport, engineering and built environment fields at the HEIs in the WCape.

• The core values of the programme are to develop a cadre of “nation builders” committed to: economic development, social justice, environmental sustainability

Vision• The vision of the Centre is to make available

to the province, the country and the continent of Africa, cohorts of professionals in engineering and built environment fields critical for the growth of the economy.

• These professionals will be characterised by excellence in: – Learning measured by formal academic results as

well as a commitment to ‘lifelong learning’;

– Citizenship through developing an ethos of nonracialism, social justice and environmental awareness; and,

– Service through learners participating in development of under-resourced communities.

Objectives

• To award bursaries in EBE fields, prioritising financially disadvantaged learners especially women and learners from rural communities.

• To develop an attitude of service in learners by involving them in voluntary work in under-resourced communities

• To develop professional identity in learners by offering them life-skills and leadership training and by establishing mentoring partnerships with professionals.

• To contribute to a collective identity amongst learners by facilitating networking across cohorts of learners.

Advisory Board• Membership

– Chairperson: Dr Ramphele– Deans of Faculties of Engineering in

W.Cape HEIs– Industry bodies (SAFCEC)– Professional bodies (ECSA, SAICE)– Municipalities (SALGA, City of CT)– SOEs (SARCC)

Bursaries Awarded

• 2006 – 127 bursaries, 34 % women• 2007 – 213 bursaries, 45% women• 2008 – 296 bursaries, 41% women• 2009 – 299 bursaries, 42% women

Learner Enrichment• Lifeskills: Profiles

– 1st year

• Leadership: wilderness camps– Exiting students

• Mentors– Buddies (senior students > 1st year)– Personal ( > 2/3 yr at UCT & US)– Professional (> final yr students)

• Volunteer work– Maths tutorials @ 9 schools

Achievements

• Student throughput rates

• Bursary Collaboration Venture

• Employment uptake

Throughput Rate Degree Min + 1 year + 2 yearsUCT Masakh' 79% 90%? 95%?UCT EBE 38% 56% 61%US Masakh' 65% 80%?  95%?US Ing  58%  81% 88%US Ing (Black)  25%  25%  25%

     

 Diploma Min + I year + 2 yearsCPUT Masakh' 70% 90%?  95%?

UTs (national)   47% 55%

Bursary Collaboration Venture

• Benefits– Database– Experiential learning– Graduate employment– Cost sharing

• Membership– SOE’s (SARCC)– Construction (12)– Municipalities? (City, Stellenbosch, Eden)

Graduate Employment

Year Grad. Dept BCV Partners

Mun. Rel./(other)

2006 26 18 8

2007 56 40 11 2(3)

2008 59 19 22 16 (2)

TOTAL 141 77 41 16 2(5)

Recognition• Premier’s Service Excellence Award

– Finalist• Impumelelo

– Gold

Challenges

• Professional development of graduates• Sustainable numbers of school leavers with

university entrance• Service learning• Financial sustainability

Professional Devpt

• Govt (at all levels) doesn’t have the workplace opportunities and in some cases the professional staff to oversee the professional development of graduates

• Solution: Developing a programme with private sector companies and SAICE to provide resources and programme

School Leavers

• Mathematics competency• Test of current cohort of university entrants

as a local university: only 30 % of those with mathematics meet the basic requirements of engineering and science courses

• Interim solution: extra year on the degree to include science, maths & basic academic literacy

Service Learning

• Volunteer work the weakest aspect of programme because of lack of personnel and financial resources

• Solution: service learning a requirement for graduation.

Financial Model09/10(R’000)

10/11(R’000)

11/12 (R’000)

12/13 (R’000)

13/14(R’000)

Bursaries 300 300 300 300 300

Budget 13,500 14,580 15,746 17,000 18,360

Province 9,000 9,450 9,922 -

NSF 3,100 3,200 - - -

Industry 2,000 2,120 2,247 - -

Balance 600 190 3,577 - -

• Cost per student p.a. = R50 000

Student Comments

• I’m very impressed (with Masakh’ iSizwe). I told my family about it. They thought it’s just a bursary who wanted my results but I told my dad, especially my brother he was very surprised there are people that are there to help you they not just there for the money part of it. They are there for the whole package. That’s’ what I like about it.

Student Comments …

• Masakh’ iSizwe is a very good support system to me, especially the mentorship workshop and the life skills programme. I think for Masakh’ it’s not just about the money that they pay to the students. Masakh’ is really busy making a difference in one’s life

Student Comments …

• I must say everyone I know who has a bursary, this program is way more helpful and then more in tune with what the students are going through. And they actually listen. They don’t just stay aside and expect you to do well. We get together and have programs to build yourself up and stuff. I think in that way it is a brilliant program.