PetroSA, South Africa's national oil company, has given the University of Johannesburg (UJ) a R9 million cash boost for the establishment of a scholarship programme for black and female postgraduate students. 

Announced on Monday, the Next Generation Scholarship Programme is aimed at increasing the number of black and female academics within technical and commercial sectors as well as addressing an anticipated dearth in academic research output in South Africa. 

According to UJ, most research at South African universities is currently being undertaken by mature, white academics with several universities relying on post-retirement contracts with senior researchers to maintain research outputs.

"Universities are the primary, but by no means the only, incubators of future leadership and the providers of a skilled professional workforce [in South Africa]. They are also a major source of new knowledge creation through research and innovation," says UJ's Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Ihron Rensburg,.

"This programme will provide a meaningful learning experience to the nation's brightest young minds [and] it will contribute significantly to the UJ's research capacity development of postgraduate students. It is encouraging to see PetroSA investing in the development of the nation's young researchers. This will translate our technological advances into socio-economic gains for the country," adds Prof Rensburg. 

The PetroSA donation is worth R3 million a year, over three years. Successful candidates for the Next Generation Scholarship Programme will be selected on the grounds of their academic record, their skills for and inclination towards an academic career, and whether their disciplines complement the UJ's research and academic niches.

Upon completion of their studies, candidates will be guaranteed employment at the University. 

For more information contact the University of Johannesburg

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