Six students studying occupational hygiene at the campus of the North-West University (NWU) in Potchefstroom each received a study bursary from Select PPE.

Select PPE is a leader in the acquisition and distribution of quality and application-specific products that protect people’s health and safety. The undertaking awarded only 22 bursaries countrywide, six of which went to NWU students.

 “We are overjoyed about the bursaries – they show that Select PPE also notices the quality of our students,” say Prof Anja Franken, a lecturer in occupational hygiene. “We are proud of these hardworking and deserving students, and we believe that they will benefit from the internship programme.”

As part of the bursary the students must complete an internship programme at Select PPE’s head office in Randfontein for three weeks in the June/July holidays. Here they will not only acquire valuable practical experience, but will also be exposed to the labour market.

Peet Pieterse, chief executive officer of Select PPE, says that the PPE team is privileged to be able to help students broaden their horizons. “Through this initiative we provide extremely talented, innovative, motivated and hardworking South African students with the financial boost to promote their academic studies,” he says.

The degree course in occupational hygiene is relatively new to the NWU. It can be defined as the multidisciplinary science that involves the anticipation, identification, assessment and control of hazards in and around the workplace that are detrimental to the health of workers and the community. The first intake of students for the degree registered in 2016.

These students each received a study bursary from Select PPE: Carol-Mari Schulz (fourth year), Ipeleng Valerie Modisakeng (fourth year), Cindy Werner (third year), Simnikiwe Reve (second year), Tumelo Thebe Onkaetse (fourth year) and Petrus Johannes Botes (fourth year).