The Energy Mobility Education Trust (EM Education Trust) conducted a site visit to the Vanderbijlpark Campus on Friday, 9 October as part of their ongoing partnership with the Development and Fundraising department of the NWU. 

The site visit featured a breakfast meeting with campus management, which was chaired by Andiswa Msi, campus chief director of the Vanderbijlpark Campus, and Balisa Mancayi, senior fundraising specialist. The EM Education Trust delegation comprised CEO Vuyo Mwase and Nolubabalo Mokoena, who is the operations and business services manager. 

The EM Education Trust empowers young, marginalised black South Africans and people living with disabilities with access to education, skills development and formal qualifications for the green and digital sectors. 

The EM Education Trust and the Development and Fundraising department of the NWU joined forces in 2025, signing a sponsorship administrative agreement effective until the end of 2027. This partnership is an investment to equip the leaders of tomorrow by sparking innovation, fuelling economic growth and driving social progress. 

In 2025 the EM Education Trust sponsored 14 postgraduate students from the NWU, including 12 pursuing commerce qualifications. The NWU beneficiaries delivered a 100% pass rate, with women representing 64% of the intake. 

To date, the EM Education Trust has funded approximately 30 postgraduate students and funded assistive devices to the Disability Rights Units across all three campuses. The trust provides opportunities for the beneficiaries to thrive in the green economy through targeted skills that are in high demand in the emerging renewable energy sector.  

The breakfast meeting was followed by the NWU student beneficiaries connecting with Vuyo Mwase and Nolubabalo Mokoena – the people behind their success. During their engagement, the students discussed future opportunities and gained skills in how to carry their confidence and become competitive in the corporate world. 

According to Balisa the site visit was an important step in strengthening the existing partnership. “The engagement provided the trust with an opportunity to interact directly with the beneficiaries of its bursary programme, while also gaining a deeper understanding of the institutional realities and challenges we navigate as a university.”

She added, “We believe that engagements of this nature foster greater mutual understanding, strengthen collaboration and position us to expand and sustain our collective impact. This is particularly important in the context of the South African employment market, where postgraduate qualifications can play a significant role in enhancing graduates’ opportunities and prospects. Supporting postgraduate education is therefore more important than ever.”

Thandoluhle Lukhele, a BCom Hons student in Financial Accountancy, shared how the EM Education Trust changed her life: 

“The financial support changed my life by allowing me to focus on my studies without worrying about outstanding fees, or whether I would have food the next day. Beyond financial assistance, I also receive emotional support through having access to professional counselling services that help me navigate difficult times and take care of my mental well-being.”

Speaking on the evolution of the trust’s impact since its inception over a decade ago, Vuyo Mwase said: “In 2023 we exited the high school model to focus on skills development with a focus on the green economy. This included postgraduate tertiary scholarships to equip students with the skills required for success in the future of work and developing a landscape that catapults leadership skills for these young people.” 

Applications for the 2027 scholarships of the EM Education Trust are still open to postgraduate students in commerce, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The application deadline is 30 October 2026.If you meet the requirements, submit your application as soon as possible and take advantage of the support available to achieve your academic goals. 

Apply now:  https://lnkd.in/dmjjnZwW

The EM Education Trust site visit featured a breakfast meeting with campus management led by the Vanderbijlpark Campus chief director, Andiswa Msi, and Balisa Mancayi, senior fundraising specialist. 

Vuyo Mwase, CEO of EM Education Trust, engaging with the NWU EM Education Trust bursary beneficiaries. 

The EM Education Trust ensures that its skills programmes will align with the skills demand of the green economy.