Bursaries & Internship 

Undergraduate bursary scheme 

Time frame:  2009-2012

Identifying talent!

The Undergraduate Bursary scheme involves identifying talent within existing potato enterprises and developing  skills through tertiary education at agricultural colleges resulting in the acquisition of an agricultural diploma and the resultant skills.

The goals are:

1. to develop the technical capacity for the potato farming enterprise by offering bursaries to deserving talent from the enterprise who want to become farmers;
2. developing students from the farming enterprise to acquire technical tertiary education and come back to add value to the business
3. select outstanding second year students from agricultural colleges to pursue farming related potato careers and enhance their skills through internships and workplace experience programmes.
4. Develop skills on good and effective governance

Application guidelines:

1. Applications for financial support will be considered in accordance with the Tertiary Skills Development Pipeline Objectives.
2. All applications must have a relevance to and be applicable within/contribute towards the potato industry.
3. Priority will be to awarding financial assistance to previously disadvantaged groups to enable them to achieve the objectives of this policy
4. Only financial support applications for Bursaries through Council on Higher Education (CHE) accredited and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) approved tertiary institutions and programmes will be considered.
5. The decision on successful candidates will be done by the Bursary Committee for recommendation to the Potato Industry Development Trust (PIDT). 
6. Please read the information on the selection process for further information. 

Selection process

Advertising: Advertising shall be on a national scale, as and when necessary and will include advertising:

1. In national mass circulation newspaper
2. In regionally based newspapers
3. At schools and tertiary institutions

• Visits and motivation at universities

Applications: Application forms shall be lodged with tertiary institutions as well as supplied to applicants on demand.

Screening: Application forms shall be screened and potential bursars short listed for interviewing.

Interviewing: Short listed candidates shall be interviewed by the regional experts and rated.

Final selections

Award letters

Award contracts

Please read the selection criteria & guidelines for further information.  

Selection criteria & guidelines

1. Academic merit, the likelihood that the candidate completes his/her studies, support to the potato industry after the completion of the studies.
2. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the respective tertiary institution
3. Applicants must be prepared to undergo an interview, if required by the tertiary institution or Bursary Committee
4. Applicants must have the ability to communicate (verbally and written) in English
5. Preference may be given to candidates who have already passed their first or previous year of studies.
6. Preference will be given to candidates from previously disadvantaged communities
7. Should the beneficiary of the financial support fail in a particular academic year for which he/she has received the financial support, the financial support will not be granted for the year being repeated
8. Applicants must be South African citizens

For further information, please read the policies and procedures for undergraduate bursary programmes.  

Internship and workplace experience programme 

Time frame:  2009-2012

In terms of existing qualification requirements at certain tertiary educational institutions (especially Colleges and Technikons) students in specific study disciplines have to complete a practical work module in order to obtain a qualification (Internship). This is especially true for students in agricultural fields of study. The provision of internships and relevant experiential training opportunities forms the basis of this tertiary pipeline.

Scope for application

The following applicants will be considered for internships and workplace experience:

• Bursars funded through the Undergraduate Bursary programme of Potatoes South Africa
• Volunteers who have excelled academically and requiring working experience to improve their chances of employability

Before completing the application form please read the Policy & Procedures document for Internship and workplace experience.

Guidelines for evaluation

1. Internship training period shall be twelve months
2. Workplace Experience programme training period shall be twelve months following the Internship programme
3. Applications for financial support will be considered in accordance with the Transformation Objectives.
4. The final decision on successful candidates will be done by the Transformation committee.
5. The expected units of outcomes and performance are framed for mutual and optimal benefit to both the trainee and Potatoes South Africa
6. All applications must have a relevance to and be applicable within/contribute towards the potato industry. 
7. Potatoes South Africa shall consider partnering with other stakeholders for the purposes of delivering quality programmes and acquisition of relevant skills.

Post Graduate Bursary Scheme  

The PIDT, acknowledges its responsibility to the broader industry to make a contribution towards ensuring that sufficient post graduates are produced to address the relevant research areas affecting the industry.  It is for this reason that a policy and procedures have been developed to ensure that the Post Graduate Bursary Scheme has been instituted to enable the PIDT, through the Bursary Committee, to play a role in increasing the industry’s pool of appropriately qualified scientists, is managed equitably and in a transparent manner.

Policy and procedures

1. The policy will be referred to as the PIDT Bursary Scheme and will hereinafter and in general be referred to as the BURSARY.

2. Students enrolled for a post graduate  tertiary qualification in a field as determined by the Trust from time to time at a recognised tertiary institution will be eligible to be awarded the Bursary to obtain a post graduate degree.
3. After completion of a student’s course the student must work for an industry related company, organisation or institution in the RSA as approved by the Trust for a period equivalent to the Bursary award period.
4. Failure to work for an industry related organisation or institution as approved by the Trust will effect an immediate repayment by the student to the Trust such amount as the student had received as Bursary from the Trust.  Interest at prime overdraft rate will be calculated as from the date of non-compliance.  The student will be exempt from repayment pro rata to the period for which the student  has been employed.
5. Students in receipt of the Bursary will receive mentorship from a person approved by the Trust.
6. Participation in the mentorship program is compulsory for all students in receipt of the Bursary.
7. All recipients of the Bursary must submit verified six monthly results and progress report in co-operation with the approved mentor from the relevant tertiary institution to the Trust. 
8. Failure to pass a semester or year course can result in the cancellation of the Bursary.
9. Such failure as referred to in paragraph 8 will result in the student repaying the full amount of the Bursary as awarded.  Interest at prime overdraft rate will be calculated as from the date of failure.
10. It is recommended that recipients of the Bursary will work for 50% of yearly holiday breaks or do an internship at institutions, companies or organisations related to the potato industry approved by the Trust, provided that appropriate employment is available.
11. The students may apply for numeration in respect of the work done during holiday breaks or internships at institutions, companies or organisations related to the potato industry as determined by the Trust from time to time.
12. The Bursary makes provision for tuition fees, books, living costs and any other material as required by the student to successfully complete the post graduate degree.
13. The Trust reserves the right as custodian of the Bursary to change the policy as and when it deems it necessary, with prior notice.
14. The evaluation of applications for bursaries will be handled by the Bursary Committee of the Trust and advised by the NPRC and Technical Potato Research Advisory Committee.
15. Approval of Bursaries will be handled by the Board of Trustees.
16. Progress results will be reported to the Board of Trustees after evaluation by the National Potato Research Committee and the Technical Potato Research Advisory Committee.
17. Bursaries will be allocated on a basis of at least 50% to students from previously disadvantaged sectors. If such applications are not received, application could be made to Trust for the bursary in deserving cases by any other student

For more information contact diale@potatoes.co.za