Bank SETA together with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) held a Bursary Orientation Programme launch, last Friday, 09 July 2021 via MS Teams.  

Dr Maliga Reddy, from DUT’s Bank SETA Bursary Programme introduced the DUT team working on the project and explained what Bank SETA is all about.  

“Bank SETA is different from other bursary programmes. The primary aim is to ensure that all beneficiaries who are students, are provided with a ray of opportunities to support and promote their personal moral, improve academic performance and conquer the world of work,” she said.  

Providing more feedback on Bank SETA was Busisiwe Budulwayo, Bank SETA. She relayed that Bank SETA is one of 21 SETA’s.  

“Every SETA sector has got different functions. Bank SETA issues bursaries annually to different universities for eligible students to apply. There will not be any direct communication between students and Bank SETA, however Bank SETA communicates with the university. The current criteria require applicants to be a South African citizen, from the ages between 18 to 35 years. They must have achieved 65% pass aggregate and in terms of qualifications, we support students who are studying towards a Diploma in Information and Communications Technology in Applications Development, Diploma in Management Accounting, Diploma in Marketing, Diploma in Information and Communications Technology in Business Analysis, Diploma in Business and Information Management and Bachelors’ Degree in Information and Communications Technology” she said.  

DUT’s Professor Fulufhelo Netswera and Prof Oludayo  Olugbara also delivered their messages of support.  

“On behalf of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, Management Sciences and the whole university, I would like to extend our gratitude to Bank SETA for accepting and approving the funding proposal for DUT,” said Prof Olugbara.  

Mr Takalani Nethengwe from the Institute of Business Partnerships (IBP) outlined the students support programmes and highlighted the importance of these programmes for students.  

“In the student’s Industrial Programme, students are going to be provided with a mentor from the industry which is related to the field of qualification that they are doing. We have gone to an extent of getting people that are working at the banks and students are going to have sessions with these mentors and have a personal development plan. Mentors will be responsible for helping them to reach whatever objectives they might have set for themselves, teaching students to have a plan to help them in reaching their personal objectives. There is also the work readiness programme which is to ensure that when you(students) go out to look for a job, you stand a better chance in terms of how you communicate with people,” he said.  

A question and answer session ensued which was followed by a vote of thanks and closing remarks given by DUT’s Prof Surendra Thakur, Director of the Short Course Unit. 

Pictured: One of the speakers, Mr Takalani Nethengwe from the Institute of Business Partnerships, speaking at the webinar.

Nikiwe Sukazi