Three female students, all in Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Health Sciences Faculty, are among the top national leadership award recipients this year.
In addition, it’s a feather in NMMU’s cap to have three students among the final 23 Mandela Rhodes scholars among the hundreds of applicants countrywide.
BTech Biomedical Technology student Kegomoditswe Mathobela from Coligny in the North West Province is not only a Mandela Rhodes scholarship award winner, but also this year’s NMMU winner of the Abe Bailey travelling bursary. Abe Bailey bursary recipients from universities all over South Africa visit England and Scotland for three weeks during November and December for leadership programmes. This bursary is aimed to grow leadership and promote understanding and cooperation among various languages and cultural backgrounds.
Ms Mathobela will be studying for her MTech degree in Biomedical Technology next year and has aspirations to one day serve on the National Health Council.
Fourth-year Social Work student Jessica Baker, who matriculated at Alexander Road High School, is passionate about helping people and is currently busy with her practical year at Shepperd’s Field Centre at St Albans. Her goal is to be a significant change agent to develop communities and challenge fellow social workers to rise to the occasion. She would like to specialise in the reconciliation part of the Mandela Rhodes scholarship.
MPharm (Clinical Pharmacology) student Shabeerah Ramkhalawon from Mauritius was overwhelmed by being awarded the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship as international student. She is looking forward to the interaction with fellow leaders in the programme.
The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Programme focuses on leadership, reconciliation, education, and entrepreneurship. The students will attend three leadership workshops in Cape Town next year and work on related projects on campus.
NMMU Mandela Rhodes scholar recipients: Shabeerah Ramkhalawon, Kegomoditswe Mathobela and Jessica Baker
