Masakh'iSizwe Centre of Excellence

The programme recruits learners through placing advertisements in newspapers and making presentations at universities and engineering-focused schools. They are selected to study towards a degree or higher diploma in the transport, built environment and engineering fields at universities and colleges in the Western Cape. The centre utilizes a multi-stake holder approach by partnering with municipalities, companies working in the industry, state-owned enterprises like PetroSA, the province’s higher education institutions and other organizations. This network contributes to the holistic development the centre offers through its bursaries. The students are serviced with a full academic and accommodation bursary. Retired engineers further support students with on-campus meetings with necessary mentoring, personal tuition and extra tutorials. Students develop leadership qualities through personality profiling and environmental awareness through wilderness camps. The cirriculum includes: modules on politics, culture and history are included in their curricula. Volunteer and service learning are strongly encouraged in the bursary package. Large companies are not the only ones benefiting from this project; SMMEs are also included. Student’s training is subsidized and students are encouraged to participate in experiential learning at the SMMEs.

Innovation
It is one of few bursary schemes in the country in which different engineering /construction companies co-operate in the funding and placement of students for work opportunities. They offer more than a bursary - the holistic development of the learner.

Effectiveness
The centre’s target for the year is to allocate 250 bursaries and so far 213 students have received bursaries. It is projected that by the end of the year two participating companies will add another 60 bursaries.

Poverty Impact
Successful bursary schemes like Masakh 'iSizwe are helping to fill South Africa's demand for skilled professionals. According to its project director, only 10% of the need for civil engineers is currently being met. By offering holistic educational support to students throughout their studies, ensures a well-rounded graduate for the marketplace.

Sustainability
The Provincial Government of the WC is the main sponsor (59.2%). Funding is secured from 2007/8-2010 from Treasury (R11 million) and the Dept of Transport and Public Works (R23 million) for a total of R23 million. R12.5 million was donated by the National Skills Fund (32.2%). 8.5% of the budget is funded by the private sector and state-owned enterprises to the value of R3.3 million. Funding to the value of R38 million has been secured from the provincial government for the period ending 2010.

Replication
The skills fund can be used to train engineers for a range of departments that need them.

Partnerships
•    Various state-owned enterprises, private sector,
•    National Skills Fund
•    The Provincial Treasury
•    Dept of Transport and Public Works
•    SALGA (managerial)
•    SACEC/ SAICE (managerial)