Celebrating the recipients of the Postgraduate Merit Scholarships
- Wits University
The Wits Postgraduate Merit Scholarship (PMS) was launched in 2023 with funding from a generous alumnus of Wits.
Over the last 2 years, a total of 90 students registered for research Masters or a PhD degree have been funded through this donation. Students were selected from amongst those with the strongest academic credentials who were in financial need due to not having received a bursary from the National Research Foundation (NRF).
A lunch event celebrating students who were awarded a PMS was held on Monday 4th November at the Matrix e-hub. In her address, Prof Lynn Morris, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation stressed the importance of students continuing to apply for funding which helps to develop good proposal writing skills. “If you plan to stay in research, you need to be able to communicate clearly what problem you are trying to solve, how you will solve it and who you are trying to help with your research” she said. Dr Yolanda Davids, the Deputy Director in the Research Office and who manages the program spoke about the selection criteria and complimented the group on their high success rate including the submission of outstanding progress reports and encouraged them to continue to strive for academic excellence.
Some of the latest developments in postgraduate education were highlighted by Prof Brett Bowman who spoke about the ways in which postgraduate education is shifting across the world, and how Wits is reshaping its vision and architectures of support accordingly. He emphasised Wits’ recognition of its postgraduate students as pioneers in the production of next-generation knowledge in and for the global South that would have global impact and pointed to several ways in which the university was gearing its postgraduate students to realise this research mandate. These included new forms of curriculum support such as the re-designed Graduate Online Learning and Development (GOLD) programme and Wits Doctoral Academy (WDA), both of which will be piloted in 2025; the roll out of the Graduate Research management System (GRM); identifying funding opportunities through the funding portal and facilitating the growth of a vibrant postgraduate research culture at the University.
Two outstanding recipients, Leandrie Pienaar and Faranani Gethe, shared how this funding shaped their academic journeys. Both students underscored the transformative impact of the Wits Postgraduate Merit Scholarships in enabling access to world-class education and supporting their ambitions to contribute meaningfully in their respective fields.
Leandrie who is currently pursuing her Master’s in Medicine in the Department of Physiology, highlighted how the scholarship has been instrumental in covering her fees, accommodation, and living expenses. This financial support enabled her to fully dedicate herself to her research without the burden of financial stress. As part of her studies, Leandrie had the opportunity to travel to Uppsala University to complete a portion of her experiments, gaining valuable international experience. Her dedication has already led to the publication of two research papers, and she plans to upgrade to a PhD in 2025, continuing her promising academic trajectory.
Faranani a PhD candidate in the Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, expressed his gratitude for the scholarship, which allowed him to pursue his studies full-time. This focus and support have enabled Faranani to secure a position within the department, taking a significant step toward his dream of becoming an academic and a leader in his field. The funding not only facilitated his enrolment but also empowered him to focus on achieving his goals without financial constraints.
The event was enjoyed by all, with students from different faculties interacting and sharing their experiences over a delicious snack lunch. In attendance were Peter Bezuidenhout and Yael Horowitz from the Development and Fundraising Office (DFO) as well as by Dr Robin Drennan, Director of Research Development and other members of the Research Office.