Why is it important to give bursaries to talented and deserving students and what difference do Stellenbosch University's preparation programmes make in these students' lives? These were just some of the questions answered at a recent event held in Stellenbosch.

The event, attended by various business professionals, showcased two of SU's flagship university preparation programmes, SciMathUS (Science and Mathematics at the University of Stellenbosch) and Hope@Maties. Also on hand were two former students, Nathan Williams and Adrian Samuels, who shared their stories of hope, opportunity and ultimately academic success.

The highly successful SciMathUS programme offers talented and motivated students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds who did not qualify to be admitted to university programmes a second chance to improve their marks in Mathematics, Physical Science and Accounting. The programme also teaches the students life skills, study skills, computer literacy, academic language skills as well as thinking skills.

HOPE@Maties is a first opportunity programme and prepares Grade 12 learners for successful university study. In essence this initiative is a supplementary tuition programme in which learners with an average of 70% at the end of Grade 11 are invited to become part of the programme in their Grade 12 year. The learners are then tutored by the best tutors in Mathemathics, Physical Sciences and Accounting.

According to former SciMathUS student, Nathan Williams, the year-long programme definitely put him on his path of success. Williams, who hails from Keimoes in the Northern Cape, said the guidance he received in his SciMathUS-year prepared him for his undergraduate studies and although there were times when he struggled with his academic work in his first year as a engineering student, he stuck with it and worked extra hard. Today he is a mechanical engineer in the Western Cape Government and makes sure that he "pays it forward" by helping other struggling students.

Adrian Samuels, in turn, was part of the HOPE@Maties programme. Samuels passed his matric in 2012 with a 81% average and went on to complete his BAccounting degree at SU. He is currently doing an honnours degree in accounting and has also completed a leadership course to help mentor other students. Samuels may also soon become a junior lecturer at Maties.

Dr Trevor Louw, director of SUNCEP, said University preparation programmes play a pivotal role in ensuring that educationally disadvantaged students get the best possible chance to access higher education, but he stressed that without funding they cannot make a success of their studies.

Would you like to make a difference? Contact [email protected] to find out how your organisation's bursary support and/or application of the new opportunities presented by the B-BBEE Amended Codes of Good Practice can help to shape the next generation of our country's leaders, entrepreneurs, and technical experts.

On the web:

• SciMathUS 
• HOPE@Maties