The University of Pretoria (UP) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program recently hosted an event to launch Phase 2 of the partnership, which will run from 2024 to 2030, and to induct the 2024 cohort of scholars.

This phase will include a greater percentage of women, refugees, internally displaced individuals and people with disabilities from all over Africa. The total number of scholars has also increased to 600 – 300 undergraduate and 300 postgraduates – with 150 having been recruited annually over four years.

The first cohort of Phase 2, which consists of 45 scholars from eight African countries was welcomed by Dr Grace Ramafi, manager of the Mastercard Foundation’s Scholars Program; UP’s Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Themba Mosia; and faculty deans.

“UP is the first university in South Africa to partner with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, starting in 2013 with Phase I, which ended in June last year,” said Prof Mosia in his welcome address. “This has been a resounding success that we are proud of. It greatly pleases me that in Phase 2, the scholarship has expanded from STEM-focused degrees to include other disciplines, such as law, the humanities, and health sciences. We look forward to seeing you take up leadership positions as socially conscious Africans who will demonstrate the best training from the University of Pretoria.”

Manager of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Dr Grace Ramafi addresses the new cohort.

Phase 1 of the programme at UP marked a significant milestone for the University. This decade-long phase, from 2013 to 2023, positioned UP as the first South African institution to engage in this impactful initiative. The programme’s original objective was to provide comprehensive support to 347 scholars at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Upon conclusion of Phase 1 in 2023, the programme had not only met but exceeded its target, successfully supporting 397 scholars from various African countries. This achievement underscores the programme’s efficacy and UP’s commitment to fostering pan-African academic excellence.

The atmosphere at the launch was jovial as scholars interacted with one another, members of different faculties, support service staff and Prof Mosia.

“Our programme is dedicated to nurturing future transformational leaders through relevant academic training, comprehensive support systems, enriching community engagement activities and entrepreneurship skills,” said Dr Ramafi in her address. “We are here to support the journey of our new cohort and their dreams of becoming transformational leaders in their communities, on the continent and in the world. We are committed to ensuring that you develop into well-rounded graduates who are poised to initiate real change.”

Mastercard scholar Angela Kapato who’s studying towards a master’s degree in International Relations in UP’s Faculty of Humanities also addressed the new cohort, sharing with them how the different workshops that the programme hosts and facilitates have assisted her in becoming a more well-rounded scholar. She encouraged the scholars to make full use of the opportunities that UP and the programme will offer them.