Higher Education
Introduction
IPASA’s Higher Education Initiative supports funders who invest in South Africa’s tertiary education sector, providing a space to connect, share knowledge, and explore practical approaches to tackle the sector’s most pressing challenges.
Through seminars, workshops, and learning and sharing sessions, IPASA brings together funders, universities, and sector experts to exchange insights, explore best practices for strengthening bursary and scholarship support programmes. These gatherings also create opportunities for funders to collaborate, align efforts, and develop coordinated responses to shared challenges.
The lessons shared from these engagements equip funders with the insights and guidance they need to make informed decisions and work together to strengthen the impact of their funding in higher education.
Practical Tools and Insights for Funders Navigating Higher Education Bursary Funding in South Africa
Thousands of South African students with the potential to succeed in Higher Education are held back each year, often by financial constraints alone. As pressure on public funding mechanisms continues to grow, a strong, strategic group of private bursary funders has never been more essential – yet many funders are navigating this complex landscape without a shared body of knowledge and practical tools to guide them.
IPASA has compiled this consolidated resource collection to capture sector knowledge, practical considerations, and lessons learned from experienced funders – supporting existing, new, and emerging bursary providers alike.
This suite of materials was made possible through the generous support of The Carl & Emily Fuchs Foundation, The Doris Crossley Foundation, and the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust.
IPASA Higher Education Initiative Resources
- Higher Education Bursary Funding Toolkit
- Higher Education Bursary Knowledge Brief
- Quick Start Roadmap
- Memorandum of Understanding Template (WORD doc)
- Student Funding Agreement Template (WORD doc)
- Selection Rubric Template (Excel doc)
- Budget Model Template (Excel doc)
- KPI Dashboard Template (Excel doc)
This page has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of the Subgrantee and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.