Seed Analytics has awarded a full annual tuition bursary to two female students in the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, thereby giving them the opportunity to venture into the field of data analytics. 

Ms Thandeka Biyela, a student in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering, and Ms Keitumetse Molefe, a student in the Department of Computer Science, were overwhelmed with joy when they received the news that they were the recipients of these bursaries. 

Thandeka said, “Receiving this bursary means that I am a step closer to achieving my dream of becoming an electronic engineer. This bursary gives me the unique opportunity to meet people in the industry and be inspired by their success stories. It is a deeply encouraging experience.”

Keitumetse responded to this gesture as follows: “This bursary is close to my heart and hits home because it is important to me to contribute to innovative solutions. As the world embraces the digital age, technology is becoming essential in many, if not all industries. I am grateful to receive such a bursary to study for a degree that is so lucrative. It is the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and I am at the forefront of change! Thank you for the opportunity!”

Seed Analytics assists wealth managers and financial advisors in finding solutions for key problems when it comes to consolidated client statements, business intelligence, and identifying clients that are at risk. CEO and UP alumnus, Tim Vieyra, commented as follows: “The level of experience and skill needed to back up our client promise is hard to come by.  That is why we are committed to developing young professionals who may see data analytics and our company as a career opportunity. The Seed Analytics Bursary Scheme was identified to assist committed and dedicated students who are struggling financially to fund their studies, and who are open to the idea of a career in this market sector.”

The specialised skill set of Seed Analytics’ team of actuaries, investment specialists, system architects, database analysts, and Java developers will offer the students a wealth of learning experiences. The company’s commitment to the upliftment of black students who have been previously disadvantaged is something in which Seed Analytics takes pride. It intends to make this an annual award. “More importantly, we hope to stimulate students’ interest in our company through vacation work, where they will be exposed to data science and the tools used to extract client insights, which can be used for client wealth creation and preservation. This will help them jumpstart their careers and offer us a much-needed talent pipeline,” added Derek Gardiner, Seed Analytics’ Chief Technology Officer, who is also an alumnus of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.

Prof Sunil Maharaj, Acting Vice-Principal: Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Education, commented that “the 17 industry-supported research chairs in the EBIT faculty is witness to the important role our industry partners play.  It is through partnerships like these that we are able to reinvent and reposition ourselves to be globally competitive through smart strategies.”