“Alumni should have a strong input into the academics, finances and philosophy of education at a university, as the quality of alumni has always been a group who hold the highest level of respect,” says Dr Johann Kritzinger. 

Dr Kritzinger has been running a bursary fund for first-year UP medical students. So far, 35 medical students have financially benefited from this initiative and the bursary is in its 36^th year running.

The 65-year-old medical doctor obtained his MBChB degree from the University of Pretoria in 1978, and an MMed in Internal Medicine from the University of the Free State in 1988. He also completed his Fellowship of the College of Physicians of South Africa in 1988.

Dr Kritzinger says the inspiration behind the fund was a lack of bursaries. “The bursary fund was initiated by myself, after winning a competition run by an international pharmaceutical company.”

“The prize money was made available for international study, research and or donation. I knew from personal experience as a first-year student that funds for assisting students were extremely limited for the beginner. I then decided to initiate a bursary fund with the money for any matriculant who was accepted to study medicine at the University of Pretoria. The recipient had to study at Tuks and had to pay back the money if he terminated his studies prematurely.”

“The choice of recipient would be finalised by the headmaster and myself. Fortunately, most years there have not been more than a few candidates to choose from. Academic performance, leadership qualities and monetary constraints would be considered as requirements to receive the bursary. Unfortunately, we have only had the financial means to help during the first year of study, but after the first-year, financial institutions and university bursaries are more readily available and usually have higher monetary value.

Dr Krtizinger says with this bursary they hope to instil a sense of philanthropy among more financially well-off South Africans. He says they have derived great pleasure from donating and assisting young students to fulfil their dreams. He also says there are many potentially big and small donors out there who should join in helping the millions who are prepared to work and achieve, but do not have the means to do so.

Dr Kritzinger’ says he chose to study medicine at UP because Tuks has always been a quality institution, and the top-notch reputation of the University is known all over the planet.

According to his son, Jacob Kritzinger, who holds a Masters in Architecture from UP, “The quality of the degrees we hold prepared us well for life after graduate studies, and the quality of the courses offered had always been excellent and are universally respected.”

Dr Kritzinger encourages other alumni to look and give back and quotes former US President John F Kennedy’s historic and inspiring words, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”