The University of Johannesburg (UJ), a major national university located in South Africa’s economic hub, is conscious of the plight of thousands of students whose families cannot afford to fund their university education.
Socioeconomic circumstances could hamper the success of students, and UJ invests significant effort to mitigate these circumstances. Over and above annually topping up National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) resources through its operating budget and funds raised from public and private sectors, the university has found pragmatic solutions to help its students navigate the world of student life.
One such initiative, the Missing Middle Campaign launched in February this year, saw UJ supporting 3,500 academically deserving students – those “too rich” to qualify for NSFAS support but “too poor” to afford fees and qualify for commercial loans. Thus far, R75-million has been raised through the efforts of the UJ Council, alumni and convocation; the UJ Student Advisory Council and UJ SRC; and university leadership, staff, students, industry and the public sector.
UJ continues to support its students in the form of the SRC Trust Fund, which was increased significantly in 2016 to accommodate up to 3,175 students with bursary allocations.
The university realised that many students were attending classes hungry and this prompted the start of its Meal Support Programme in 2010. The programme, in partnership with Gift of the Givers, provides two balanced, cooked meals a day to more than 3,800 needy students. The university further subsidises a free inter-campus bus service that allows students to commute between UJ’s four campuses.
The UJ Future Walk fundraising initiative launched in 2015 will take place again on Sunday October 2 this year. Last year, just more than R1-million was raised from pledges, registrations and donations from sponsors for the Walk and Run event that saw almost 1,000 UJ students, staff, alumni and members of the public participating. With the goal to increase participation to exceed 5,000, the event is set to give a boost to the university’s funding needs.
Every year, UJ is proud to see first-generation students graduating, who will go on to have an immeasurable impact on their families and communities. It is in breaking the poverty cycle in thousands of South African families and becoming a powerful driver of socioeconomic development that UJ finds its passion.
Click here for the UJ Be The Solution page
This article was paid for by the University of Johannesburg. It does not involve Times Media journalists.
University of Johannesburg’s passion for students
The University of Johannesburg (UJ), a major national university located in South Africa’s economic hub, is conscious of the plight of thousands of students whose families cannot afford to fund their university education.
Socioeconomic circumstances could hamper the success of students, and UJ invests significant effort to mitigate these circumstances. Over and above annually topping up National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) resources through its operating budget and funds raised from public and private sectors, the university has found pragmatic solutions to help its students navigate the world of student life.
One such initiative, the Missing Middle Campaign launched in February this year, saw UJ supporting 3,500 academically deserving students – those “too rich” to qualify for NSFAS support but “too poor” to afford fees and qualify for commercial loans. Thus far, R75-million has been raised through the efforts of the UJ Council, alumni and convocation; the UJ Student Advisory Council and UJ SRC; and university leadership, staff, students, industry and the public sector.
UJ continues to support its students in the form of the SRC Trust Fund, which was increased significantly in 2016 to accommodate up to 3,175 students with bursary allocations.
The university realised that many students were attending classes hungry and this prompted the start of its Meal Support Programme in 2010. The programme, in partnership with Gift of the Givers, provides two balanced, cooked meals a day to more than 3,800 needy students. The university further subsidises a free inter-campus bus service that allows students to commute between UJ’s four campuses.
The UJ Future Walk fundraising initiative launched in 2015 will take place again on Sunday October 2 this year. Last year, just more than R1-million was raised from pledges, registrations and donations from sponsors for the Walk and Run event that saw almost 1,000 UJ students, staff, alumni and members of the public participating. With the goal to increase participation to exceed 5,000, the event is set to give a boost to the university’s funding needs.
Every year, UJ is proud to see first-generation students graduating, who will go on to have an immeasurable impact on their families and communities. It is in breaking the poverty cycle in thousands of South African families and becoming a powerful driver of socioeconomic development that UJ finds its passion.
Click here for the UJ Be The Solution page
This article was paid for by the University of Johannesburg. It does not involve Times Media journalists.
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