A primarily non-academic organisation (can be for profit or not for profit) that is engaged in the provision of holistic (i.e. not just financial) support to financially disadvantaged students in post-school education in South Africa.
Aims & Objectives
To create an open and collegial space for leaders of member organisations to: -
Share good practice and learn from each other.
Wrestle with common problems and challenges.
Share sectoral based intelligence and helpful information.
Identify common issues affecting our students on which we may wish to advocate jointly.
Offer personal support and encouragement to each other.
Engage as a forum with relevant peak bodies or agencies such as USAf, DHET and NSFAS.
Commission and contribute to research on agreed topics of mutual interest and importance, including providing access to our data, our staff and our students.
Organise events where practitioners within our organisations can learn from each other.
Create a conducive platform for other bilateral or multilateral initiatives to emerge.
Way of working
Quarterly forum meetings for senior leadership (limit of two per organisation) focused on strategic and management issues. Venue rotates between Cape Town and Johannesburg. Members volunteer to host and bear catering costs. Members bear their own individual travel and accommodation costs.
More frequent virtual interactions when circumstances dictate.
Annual practice- based conference to be held in Johannesburg open to all relevant staff, priced to be affordable to member organisations and encouraging of multiple staff attendance. Other shorter practice-based events may be organised from time to time as need arises.
Forum website to be established with information and weblinks to all member organisations. Includes a membership portal where relevant documents and information can be accessed. The website will also have a functionality for conference information and applications.
Membership Fee
Current membership fee structure:
R10 000 annually - Large Organizations i.e. 10 or more staff directly or indirectly supporting tertiary students.
R5 000 annually - Medium Organizations i.e. 5 - 10 staff directly or indirectly supporting tertiary students.
R2 000 annually - Small Organizations i.e. 1 - 5 staff directly or indirectly supporting tertiary students.
