A contribution that could be replicated by smaller companies is being made to Cida's mentoring programme by UTi, a provider of supply chain management and logistics services. CEO Tiger Wessels has struck an agreement with Cida to fund an initial 15 students for their tuition costs and R600 for accommodation, meals, recreation and extramural study facilities.
Each student will be mentored by a senior UTi manager or director as an extension of the mentorship programme that UTi already provides for its own trainees and trainee managers.
As well as guiding and advising the students, mentors will identify holiday jobs at UTi for each student, and monitor progress.
For this holiday employment, which could open a door to a career in a rapidly expanding field, UTi will pay R50/day and will carry the cost of transporting students to its operations on the North, East and West Rand.
"In early 2003 UTi will decide whether the original 15 students are making the grade," says the company's Fergus Sexton. "Those who don't will lose their bursaries. This doesn't necessarily mean losing their place at Cida.
"Mistakes and mismatches will happen, but these will not be allowed to affect business relationships and students' belief in themselves," says Sexton. Also in January 2003, another 15 students will be selected for the funding, mentoring and other joint Cida/UTi monitoring and development processes.
In 2004 the selection process will be repeated, bringing the number of students funded by UTi up to 45. At current values this will amount to a contribution of well over R750 000/year.
UTi information technology director Malcolm Sainsbury, who is a visiting professor of information systems at Rhodes University, is contributing his knowledge and teaching skills to Cida.
UTi and Ted Sceales, one of Cida's fundraising and marketing associates, have pioneered a partnership scheme for the business community and students. Companies can identify future potential managers by becoming a Cida partner.
They will be able to train and assess students during Cida holidays and regular mentorship sessions, while benefiting from government's section 18A tax breaks. Sceales' group helped mobilise a multilanguage literacy campaign in the early 1970s for more than 500 000 adults by persuading government to introduce significant tax incentives for corporates.
Cida is an extension of the 30-year history of corporate constructive involvement in development. The difference now is that business and government are united on the issue on a potentially vast scale.
- Companies wanting to set up a Cida student bursary and mentorship programme can call Ted Sceales at (011) 293-9298 or e-mail him at cida@directchannel.co.za.
