Question NW3046 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
18 October 2022 - NW3046
Tambo, Mr S to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
In light of the annual problem of South African students who are left without funding through study abroad programmes which are initiated by provincial governments, what contingency plans does his department have in place in cases where provinces that initiate study abroad programmes, fail to meet their financial obligations towards students?
Reply:
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) coordinates several international scholarships that are offered by international partners, while others are managed by other international, national and provincial departments or government agencies or private entities. The project initiation, administration, budgeting and funding of scholarship programmes are the responsibility of each provincial or national department that embarks on and implements these programmes as per the provincial or national department objectives.
All funding resources for any project including international scholarships have to be secured by the responsible sponsoring department before students are recruited and sent abroad. However, despite this clear separation of financial responsibilities of project implementation and funding between provincial and national department, DHET has put in several structures to promote and strengthen good practice, coordination and management of international scholarships.
The DHET established the International Scholarships Intergovernmental Forum, which it chairs and serves as secretariat. The DHET plays a national oversight and advisory role on international scholarship programmes in which different government departments at both national and provincial levels are involved. The Forum includes all government departments that administer international scholarships and meets biannually.
To further strengthen the Implementation of International Scholarships by the different government entities, the Minister of Higher Education and Training developed a strategy to strengthen the coordination, management and implementation of international scholarships. These Guidelines are geared towards facilitating the effective coordination and to address a range of persisting issues and challenges that have emerged in the implementation of international scholarships by South African Government entities. Furthermore, in order to strengthen the application of International Scholarships Guidelines, the guidelines are currently being processed into a National Policy to strengthen scholarship coordination, implementation and good practice.