Tata Keeps Children Smiling

Nineteen postgraduate students from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) were awarded scholarships worth over R800 000 from Tata International Africa as part of their postgraduate scholarship programme on Thursday 7 November. The recipients graduated with Honours, Masters and Doctoral degrees in the disciplines of Commerce, Sciences and the Arts. “We are proud to be able to provide the necessary support to the students at WITS which has enabled them to further their studies. Our relationship with the university dates back to 2006 and we are committed to empowering and transforming lives through education which is one of the key components of the Tata business values and its belief system,” said Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa who presented the scholarships to the students at an awards ceremony held at the university. Scholarships are given to beneficiaries who have shown financial need and academic excellence in their chosen field of study and who have a proven academic track record during their graduate years. All fields of study and faculties are taken into consideration and students must be accepted via the respective university’s academic or development foundation and must pass the university’s academic criteria for acceptance. The amount that each student receives covers the student’s tuition fees, stipend (living costs), books and accommodation for the year of study. Tata postgraduate scholarships contribute to the country’s objective of increasing the number of postgraduate scholars primed to take up leadership positions in business, government, and civil society in the country. There is a strict ‘no strings’ attached policy regarding the Tata scholarships which means that students are not obligated in any way to ‘work back’ their scholarships to Tata International Africa after they have completed their studies. “I want to say thank you to the students and the parents who are here today and for allowing us to participate in making a difference in their lives. We invest in you in the hope that you become great leaders and go back to invest and uplift the communities you live and work in and pay it forward,” Brand added. The ceremony was officiated by WITS alumni, Mr. Lesiba Mothata who is the head of Strategic Clients at Alexander Forbes and holds a Bachelor of Commerce – Honours degree as well as a Master of Commerce in Financial Economics from the University of Johannesburg. Professor Robert Muponde, Director of Postgraduate Affairs represented the University on the day and gave Tata Management and the students a warm welcome. This year’s WITS scholarship recipients in the Honours category are: Kelly Ann Mawa (Bachelor of Arts Honours), Nikaelia Timothy (Bachelor of Arts with joint Honours), Basetsana Bridget Manoto (Bachelor of Accounting Science with Honours) and Mulamuleli Ishmael Simba (Bachelor of Science with Honours). Scholarship recipients in the Masters category are: Gracious Nyoni (Master of Economic Science), Lebogang Lydia Molema (Master of Science in Development Planning), Tshepo Chris Nokeri (Master of Commerce), Mfundo Praisegod Veerasamy (Master of Commerce), Siyasanga Gxaba (Master of Science – Dissertation), Nthabiseng Miranda Lekalakala (Master of Science – Dissertation), Mohlabani Masiu (Master of Science in Medicine), Pride Nombulelo Ngcobo (Master of Arts by Coursework and Research Report) and Nontokozo Masinga (Master of Arts by Research). WITS students who were awarded a scholarship in the Doctoral category are: Mandlakayise Lucky Nhleko (PhD Public Health), William Mokone (PhD Chemistry), Thobekile Dladla (PhD Physiology), Thabo Peme (PhD Chemistry), Lusanda Mapela (PhD Pharmacy) and Vidhya Sana (PhD Language and Literature). One of the students, Pride Nombulelo Ngcobo who is studying her Masters in Applied Drama and Theatre gave a heartfelt vote of thanks for the bursary, “I would like to thank Tata for giving me the opportunity to be able to further my studies. This thank-you does not only come from my heart alone, but from my single mother at home. My future says thank you, and the boys who attend my workshops in Hillbrow say thank you. My hope is that this initiative grows so that other students may also have the same chance and opportunity that I am so lucky to have,” she said.

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has launched an initiative to train under-privileged youth from Africa under the SkillPro program, in an effort to enhance employability for the African youth. Judas Tlou Kobo and Lesego Faith Banda were the two students selected under the programme and were invited to participate in the company’s intensive nine-month SkillPro training, in India. Attending the training programme, gave Judas and Faith the chance to build their skill set and advance their careers in the automotive industry. “After completing my studies, I did an apprenticeship programme at Tshwane Municipality for three years,” says Judas. “Here, they train students and offer them learner-ships in trade skills. I was at home for a while, and was looking for work; that is how I stumbled upon Tata Motors. It so happened that there was an opening for SkillPro students at the time, and I was the first candidate to be selected.” Faith Banda was one of only two girls from Africa to be selected to join the group of 24 trainees. “I always had an interest in cars, from a young age,” she says. I was applying for a job at the time, and Tata Motors reached out and informed me about the SkillPro programme. I was keen to partake because I wanted to grow my knowledge. I knew that Tata Motors manufactured cars, but I didn’t know that they also manufactured trucks and buses.” The Tata Motors SkillPro programme is a unique, all-expenses paid, skills development initiative, which involves both theory and practical knowledge on commercial vehicles, including different types of engines, gearboxes, axle systems, and repairing of trucks. It includes a 10-day visit to the dealer workshop, where students attend to actual problems of real customers as part of their training. “I really enjoyed the electrical training, because I went there with some knowledge of mechanical engineering. I knew nothing about electrical engineering, so I acquired a new skill,” says Judas. “We got a chance to train on all parts of the machinery – whether it was assembling an engine or working on a gearbox,” says Faith. “Everyone got a chance to work on everything. I really enjoyed the on-the-job practical training.” Over and above the technical knowledge acquired, students are also given language classes to improve their English, as well as yoga and music classes. There is also a weekly visit to one of Tata’s CSR projects in and around Jamshedpur, India. Once back in their home countries, the students join the local Tata distributor network for a further three to six months of training. Based on their performance during this period, they may be offered a job. The student is, however, not contractually bound to Tata once they complete their training, and is free to pursue their own career path. Faith and Judas are no strangers to adversity, and their advice to other young people eager to acquire marketable skills and enter the job market, is to keep believing and to never give up on one’s dreams. “For us as a company, this programme is a step towards delivering better customer satisfaction,” says Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa. “As our students become professionals, who have been trained on Tata’s latest products and technology, so they will become better equipped to handle our local customers’ needs. It is also a wonderful window to different cultures for the students. As a result, they become more receptive to different sets of people and situations, and more global in their outlook. These students also become our biggest brand ambassadors.”

Tata International in Africa recently awarded eight academically and financially deserving students at the University of the Free State (UFS) with scholarships totalling more than R300 000. This Postgraduate scholarship programme was created by Dr Johan van Zyl from the UFS Department of Business Management in 2012 in collaboration with Tata. The aim of the programme is to provide final year Strategic Marketing students an opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge, by developing practical marketing strategies for any one of the Tata Group companies operating in Africa. The students were tasked with presenting innovative marketing strategies with a goal of enhancing the business’ market share for Tata trucks and busses in South Africa as part of Tata’s Postgraduate Scholarship Programme. “In line with the business ethos and core values of Tata, with its strong culture of uplifting society and giving back, our objective is to help increase the number of young people primed to take up leadership roles in business, government, and civil society. The Tata Postgraduate Scholarship Programme is one of our flagship education initiatives,” said Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa. The amount that each student receives covers the student’s tuition fees, stipend (living costs), books and accommodation for the year of study. Tata postgraduate scholarships contribute to the country’s objective of increasing the number of postgraduate scholars primed to take up leadership positions in business, government, and civil society in the country. Scholarship recipients are not contractually bound to Tata once they complete their studies. “Education is extremely empowering and transformative,” says Brand. “It has an amazing ripple effect, with the potential to not only uplift individuals, but the communities in which they live and work, and ultimately society at large.” This year’s UFS scholarship recipients are: Carina Louw, Alroy Kriedemann, Sachintha Galhenage, Slindile Msweli, Megan Josephs, Mpho Mothab, Anthony Arlow and Lebo Tswala.

Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 October 2019: Fifteen academically and financially deserving postgraduate students from Nelson Mandela University (NMU) were recently given scholarships from Tata International in Africa worth more than R500 000. The recipients, who graduated with Honours, Masters and Doctoral Degrees in the disciplines of Business and Economics, Sciences, Information Technology and the Arts were selected on the basis of financial need and academic excellence in their chosen field of study. “Education is extremely empowering and transformative,” says Len Brand, CEO of Tata International Africa. “It has an amazing ripple effect, with the potential to not only uplift individuals, but the communities in which they live and work, and ultimately society at large.” Scholarship recipients are not contractually bound to Tata once they complete their studies. All fields of study and faculties are taken into consideration and students must be accepted via the respective university’s academic or development foundation. The students must also pass the university’s academic criteria for acceptance. The amount that each student receives covers the student’s tuition fees, stipend (living costs), books and accommodation for the year of study. Tata postgraduate scholarships contribute to the country’s objective of increasing the number of postgraduate scholars primed to take up leadership positions in business, government, and civil society in the country. “Tata is committed to making a significant and sustainable impact on the continent by nurturing South Africa’s rich pool of young talent and growing a culture of giving back,” concludes Brand. This year’s NMU scholarship recipients are: Jumba Ayabonga (BTech Honours – IT), Inga Jikwana (Honours – Business and Economic Sciences), Bidli Zenande (BTech – Public Relations), Buhle Mnyenyevu (BTech – Public Management), Chumani Dlabongo ((BTech – Public Management), Kali Noxolo (Honours – Business and Economic Sciences), Thandazani Nofingxana (BTech – Textile Design), Avukile Jeke (Masters – MA isiXhosa Research), Mphumzi Ngozi (Masters – Information Technology), Xolisile Dingiswayo (Masters – Agriculture), Tharollo Machili (Masters – Economics), Anelisa Pezisa (Masters – Development Studies), Prashana Ramjee (Doctors – Psychology), Sifiso Kanyo Santi (Doctors – Public Management) and Sinoyolo Ngongo (Doctors – Physics).