Citrus Academy

About the Bursary Fund

Over the past three years the Citrus Academy Bursary Fund has experienced great success, with more than 95% of our students successfully completing their studies. Many of our students were productively integrated into the citrus industry at various levels, from production personnel to technical managers and quality control auditors.

Background

The Citrus Academy Bursary Fund was established in its current form at the beginning of 2006 with its main aims being to:

• Generate a constant supply of qualified, skilled candidates for the benefit of the citrus industry.
• Support previously disadvantaged learners to gain access to higher education in citrus-related fields of study.
• Support learners in fields of study that are related to scarce and critical skills in the industry.

Bursaries are allocated in four categories, being:

• Secondary Education Support
• Tertiary Education Support
• Scarce and Critical Skills Support
• Black Economic Empowerment Bursary Support (special application, click here to download the BEEBS Information Pack)

Bursary Applications

Interested candidates can apply every year between 1 June and 30 September to receive a bursary for the next year of study. Please note that students who are currently Citrus Academy Bursary Fund beneficiaries must also apply again every year. Also take into account that students in the Tertiary Education Support and Scarce and Critical Skills Support categories are only supported from their second year of tertiary education onwards.

When evaluating bursary applications, the factors that are taken into account are the appropriateness of the course / qualification, academic performance of the learner, financial need, and an interest or background in the citrus industry, as well as gender and disability. Only top candidates who show true dedication are chosen to become bursary recipients.

Benefits

The Academy strives to assist Bursary Fund students in every way possible to achieve their goals. Bursaries that are awarded may cover tuition and accommodation fees, as well as other study costs such as books and research expenditure.

In addition, we provide students with ample opportunities to gain vocational skills and knowledge in order to make them more employable on completion of their studies. This is done through the Experiential Learning Programme, which comprises vacation work and internships, and the Industry Exposure Programme, which provides students with opportunities to attend local and international agricultural symposia, conferences and congresses related to their field of study.

Student Obligations

Successful applicants are expected to sign a Bursary Agreement (click here to read), which obligates them to adhere to strict academic standards and to commit to the Citrus Academy Code of Conduct, which can be viewed here. Every Bursary Fund student also has to work time back in the citrus industry on completion of his / her studies, at least equal to the period of time that he / she received support from the Bursary Fund.

Special Application Category: Black Economic Empowerment Bursary Support (BEEBS)

The Citrus Academy has a specific responsibility to support black economic empowerment citrus enterprises. To this purpose, the Academy has added a special category to the Bursary Fund, aimed at enabling and simplifying support to this group.

The steps involved in becoming a part of this initiative are:

1. Study the documents contained in the information pack carefully and ensure that you understand the process.
2. Determine whether the citrus enterprise qualifies to take part.
3. Sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the citrus enterprise and the Citrus Academy.
4. Identify qualifying candidate(s).
5. Identify the appropriate learning institutions and course for each candidate.
6. Complete a special BEEBS Citrus Academy Bursary Fund application form for each candidate and submit it.
7. If approved, sign a Memorandum of Agreement between each successful candidate and citrus enterprise.
8. Enrol / register the students at the selected academic institutions.

The information pack includes the following documentation:

• Background Information
• Guidelines
• List of Academic Institutions, Courses and Costs
• Special BEEBS Bursary Fund Application Form (please click here to download the form)
• Memorandum of Understanding: Citrus Academy and Citrus Enterprise
• Standard Memorandum of Agreement: Student and Citrus Enterprise (includes Code of Conduct)

Bursary Fund Experiential Learning Programme

To ensure maximum value for both the students and the citrus industry, students are provided with practical work experience during vacations, and they are expected to work time back in the citrus industry after completion of their studies.

Temporary employment is arranged during vacation periods for undergraduate students, with the aim to assist learners with their studies by providing them with practical experience needed to supplement and apply theoretical knowledge.  At the same time, students' marketable skills are developed and they are given the opportunity to build a network of contacts, thereby increasing their chances of finding permanent employment in the citrus industry after completion of studies.

An added benefit of the vacation work program is that citrus growers are engaged in transformation and the welfare of the industry as a whole, by nurturing a qualified, competent emerging workforce, while being given the opportunity to scout candidates for employment.

The Citrus Academy Bursary Fund provides an exciting opportunity for stakeholders in the industry to become involved in transformation and development, while at the same time providing learning opportunities for students who may not otherwise be able to access them.