South Africa faces a critical shortage
South Africa is currently facing a significant shortage of engineers, scientists, and technical specialists. At the same time, the country is struggling with high youth unemployment, leaving many graduates unable to secure entry-level positions.
Engineers are the hardest professionals to recruit, with only 15% of South Africa’s bachelor’s degree graduates coming from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
While challenges exist throughout the skills pipeline, including weaknesses in high school maths and science education, one of the most pressing issues is ensuring that STEM students not only graduate but also pursue successful careers in their fields.
Sasol’s Graduate Centre and Development Programme Manager, Monica Luwes, said that bursary programmes help make STEM studies more affordable for promising young South Africans, but they are not enough to build the STEM skills pipeline needed to grow the economy.
“The country’s ambitions in the energy transition, industrialisation and digital transformation depend on a pipeline of technically skilled people who remain, develop and contribute,” said Luwes.
“This underscores the need for companies to invest in structured graduate development beyond bursaries.”
One important factor in addressing South Africa’s concerning university dropout rate is ensuring that students complete their degrees.
Currently, 35% of first-year students fail to progress, and the overall dropout rate stands at 52%.
Top corporate employers recognise that their bursary programmes should not be viewed solely as financial assistance.
While easing the financial burden on students, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, is crucial, these bursaries should also provide access to professional networks, practical experience, and career pathways that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Luwes said that such opportunities should begin while the bursary holder is still in school.
Vacation work, site visits, and industry-linked projects enable bursary holders to familiarise themselves with real operating environments.
This experience connects academic theory with workplace expectations, effectively preparing them for their first job in the industry.
A way forward
Interactions with professionals, alumni, and fellow bursary holders help students build relationships that support both their learning and career advancement.
“The sense of community the Sasol graduate programme creates for bursars and graduates is a highlight of the initiative, along with the early exposure to the realities of the workplace,” said Sasol Synfuels Process Engineer-in-Training, Haneefah Malik.
In most cases, bursary programmes are linked to graduate placements or development programmes that facilitate a smooth transition for bursary holders into industry roles.
To ensure that STEM graduates can transition into sustainable careers, Sasol emphasises three key pillars when they start with their first employer:
- Rotational programmes, project-based assignments, and cross-functional experiences enable graduates to apply their academic knowledge in a structured and practical environment.
- Mentors provide technical guidance and professional insights, helping young talent navigate workplace culture, build their professional identities, and manage the demands of working life.
- Graduates should be assigned meaningful responsibilities within clearly defined frameworks, allowing them to build confidence, competence, and a sense of belonging.
“At Sasol, we recognise that securing critical STEM skills long-term requires developing talent within an organisation’s own culture and context,” said Sasol.
“This is why we have established deliberate pathways from qualification to professional practice for our bursary holders.”
Sasol said that its Graduate Development Programme for engineers and scientists serves as both a talent pipeline and a strategic investment in the future of the business.
South African chemical giant Sasol offers bursaries through its Graduate Development Programme, having awarded over 500 bursaries since 2020 and provided employment to over 300 engineers and scientists.
Sasol is offering bursaries for various levels of study and disciplines for the 2027 academic year. The application deadline is May 17.
The group’s undergraduate university bursaries cover registration fees, tuition fees, books, pocket money, a meal allowance, accommodation expenses, and a one-time allowance for a computer and calculator.
Additionally, students will have access to development opportunities, including potential vacation work after completing their second and third years of study.
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