2009
South Africa Youth Day : 16th June
CIDA City Campus supports South Africa Youth Day as young people continue to strive for decent education and opportunity
On the 16th of June 1976, more than 20,000 pupils from Soweto in Johannesburg began a protest march against the inferior ‘bantu’ education for black children under the apartheid laws. The march was the culmination of increasing chaos in schools across the whole country. In the wake of clashes with the police and the violence that ensued approximately 700 people, many of the youths, were shot and killed. Thousands left the country to join political movements against apartheid. Many never returned. South Africa Youth Day commemorates these events, honouring the young people who lost their lives in the struggle against the injustice of racist policies.
A now annual celebration, South Africa Youth Day encompasses the passion, inspiration, tenacity and hopefulness of young people to overcome the legacy of a poor education system, giving a powerful focus for the potential of education to change both individual lives and whole villages. Between 1976 and 1994, there was no functional education in South Africa’s townships and rebuilding an education system from scratch is perhaps our greatest challenge for this young democracy.
At CIDA City Campus the goal is simple: to transform potential into achievement and offer opportunities to make an outstanding contribution to society. We offer a specialised Business Administration degree to chosen students at a fraction of the cost, thanks to sponsors and donors who want to invest in South Africa’s human capital. For most students, they are the very first in their families to reach tertiary education.
Right now in downtown Johannesburg, dedicated students are working towards their degree with majors in investments, finance, marketing or technology. Students come from some of the most rural and poverty-stricken areas of South Africa. Without the birth of CIDA City Campus in 2000 that is where they would still be now, with no prospects for furthering their education.
Graduates of CIDA City Campus are now working in every major sector of business and have brought honour to their country, their families, and those young people from ’76 whose sacrifices paved the way to a better and inclusive South Africa where there are opportunities for every young person to make a difference.
CIDA City Campus is launching this inaugural campaign of collaboration and support with South Africa Youth Day to raise awareness of the lack of chances because of financial difficulties to gain tertiary education among black South Africans. By commemorating a day rich in historical and social significance we can all help CIDA City Campus reach its goal to bring prosperity and peace through education.
CIDA supporter, Nelson Mandela said: ‘CIDA has opened our eyes to new ways of thinking and supporting our young people in education. I am inspired by its extraordinary reach across our nation, and am proud to be associated with its vision.’
Colin Maphuta, a CIDA student added: ‘This is a dream come true for me. Without CIDA I'd be home involved in crime, or doing nothing constructive. Here I am able to be somebody.’
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Cambridge University Press selects CIDA Empowerment as its BEE partner
Friday, 12 June 2009 - Cambridge University Press (CUP), one of the largest academic publishers in the world, has introduced CIDA Empowerment as a 25.1% shareholder into its South African business.
Cambridge University Press publishes the finest academic and educational writing from around the world. As a department of the University of Cambridge, its purpose is to further the University’s objective of advancing knowledge, education, learning and research. Cambridge is not only a leading British publisher; it is the oldest printer and publisher in the world, celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
In concluding this transaction Cambridge University Press is making a real and significant contribution to the empowerment and transformation of South African people.
CIDA Empowerment is a 100% broad-based and a black-owned investment trust, established with the sole objective of building an endowment fund to finance the delivery of quality tertiary education to the previously disadvantaged youth through the acclaimed tertiary education innovator CIDA City Campus (CIDA).
CUPSA will vendor finance the transaction enabling CIDA to initiate bursary funding from implementation date. The dividends flowing from this investment will be used to fund the tertiary education of financially deserving students through CIDA City Campus into perpetuity.
Colleen McCallum, CEO of CUPSA, says that the introduction of CIDA as a BEE partner, “Encapsulates the spirit of the entire broad based BEE process, and is Black Economic Empowerment you want to tell the world about. We are a perfect fit…CUP itself will look at sourcing future quality staff from CIDA in skill sharing and staff retention programs.”
Commenting on the deal, Tracey Chiappini-Young, CEO of CIDA Empowerment said, “We are over the moon to be partnering with such a prestigious, academically-focused, global publishing house. CUP is determined to achieve authentic and sustainable empowerment by providing South Africa’s youth with the ability to transcend poverty through education. This is BEE South Africa can be proud of.”
Executive Dean of CIDA City Campus, Professor Rukudzo Murapa, says that through such partnerships, CIDA City Campus is achieving its objective to ensure that quality tertiary education is provided for South Africa’s youth. “It is a mistake to believe that the issue of inaccessible higher education is a thing of the past. Poverty remains a reality for many South African families, and with the current economic situation in South Africa, there are increased uncertainties for South Africa’s poor. However, the deal between CIDA Empowerment and Cambridge University Press is proving that even within a recessionary environment, we cannot compromise on our promises to deliver relevant and quality higher education to the youth coming out of disadvantaged backgrounds.”
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CIDA City Campus strengthens its academic offering
The New leadership at CIDA City Campus (CIDA) today (June 11, 2009) vowed to continue the institution’s drive to attain academic excellence and ensure that its graduates attain respect as those from other institutions of higher learning.
Speaking at a media briefing at the University’s campus, CIDA Executive Dean, Prof Rukudzo Murapa, said the institution had attained its goal of placing over 80 percent of its graduates in full time employment, providing hope and relief to families who ordinarily would not have had an economic breakthrough had their members not been part of CIDA.
“It is quite a feat what this institution has achieved in only nine years of its existence. The founding of this institution was based on the need to provide access to quality tertiary education to students from historically disadvantaged communities. Our students came from across the various townships and rural areas and were given the opportunity to qualify for a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Those who took this opportunity have begun to reap the rewards of this programme and are now able to provide for their families and make a difference in their communities,” he said.
CIDA is an innovative higher education institution that offers a degree programme, virtually free, that prepares students for careers in the increasingly competitive and multi-disciplinary fields of finance, investments, human resources, marketing and entrepreneurship.
The aim of the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is to promote the development of knowledge and skills that are required in all sub-sectors of management; to release the potential of people; and to provide opportunities for people to grow in business and in the different sectors of the economy.
CIDA also established Schools of Excellence in ICT, Entrepreneurship and Investment management which provide opportunities for students to obtain industry-related qualifications and certifications. The institution provides food, accommodation, transport, sports and a career centre to its students.
According to CIDA Board Chairman, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, the contribution of the institution’s former leadership under CIDA co-founder, Taddy Blecher, laid a solid foundation to build a thriving university focused on alleviating poverty through educating the youth.
“Our university is well positioned to achieve the goals laid by the new Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Blade Nzimande. CIDA has over the years strived to provide access to tertiary education to financially deserving students who could not afford due to the prohibitive prices charged at traditional universities.”
“Our Campus is now under the dynamic leadership of Prof Murapa who has strengthened our academic offering and made sure we are able to produce graduates who can stand their own ground in the job market,” he said.
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