Participating Colleges

 

UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND

The University of the Witwatersrand (or Wits), is a leading South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg.

The Wits recruitment yielded over 100 female applicants from throughout the Gauteng (Johannesburg) province of South Africa. Among the students placed, the top five high schools included Fred Norman Secondary School, Mbilwi Secondary School, Motse Maria Secondary School, The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, and St. Martins School.

The program lasted 2 weeks and included content within the health and rehabilitation sciences, engineering, and commerce. All tracks provided the students with increased knowledge and practical skills development as well as an understanding of the career options within these fields.

At a glance, the LEAD Global Wits program provided students:

  • Exposure to a variety of disciplines such as marketing, finance, chemical engineering, civil engineering, physiotherapy and disabilities.
  • Age-appropriate, hands-on learning to facilitate a keen understanding of both strategy and tactics for the topics discussed.
  • Access to organizations and facilities that provided "real world" exposure to various career disciplines.
  • Skills development regarding how to network with other individuals who have careers in various industries.
  • Corporate field trips – participants in the commerce track visited the offices of JPMorgan, Vodacom and DHL; health and rehabilitation science participants spent a large portion of their time at Johannesburg Hospital as well as a visit to Vanguard; and the engineering track participants visited a Ford Motor Company manufacturing plant, as well as the Gold Reef Mine.
  • The opportunity to participate in evening cultural exchange presentations and wear tribal garments to explain their people and heritage. These sessions were originally scheduled for 2 hours, yet lasted upward of 5 hours each.
  • Access to on-campus presentations given by representatives from JPMorgan, Google and Microsoft.

A more in-depth look at the Wits experience.

The Wits program launched as a career day for the learners at The Origins Center Museum on the Wits’ campus on June 21, 2009. After registration, the orientation was provided by Wits International Programs Director followed by words of commitment by JP Morgan’s Foundation President, Kim Davis. Kim later introduced the featured guest speaker, Hixonia Nyasulu, Chairman of Sasol, Ltd., after which the students split into groups of 30 and spent approximately one hour in each of three career disciplines: commerce, engineering and health sciences. Dr. Susan Taylor, a highly acclaimed U.S. dermatologist, provided a Q&A session with the girls on the importance of self-esteem as well as practical tips on how to properly care for skin of color. The opening career day concluded with student performances and presentations pulled from the best of each workshop. The high impact, fun presentations brought cheers from the audience as small prizes were awarded to those groups who demonstrated the most effective use of teamwork.

Commerce
  • Participants spent the mornings visiting various corporations to understand how businesses operate. Visits included JPMorgan, DHL, Vodacom, and an events management company for the 2010 World Cup.
  • Participants visited the U.S.Consulate Office for a presentation by Consulate General, Andrew A. Passen.
  • In-class lectures included topics on finance, marketing, entrepreneurship, information technology, project management and human resources.
  • Final project theme centered on the 2010 World Cup.
  • In-class presenters included JPMorgan (banking operations and business communications), Google and Microsoft.

Engineering

Class lectures focused on various engineering disciplines and hands-on activities. Some of the lectures and activities included:

  • Aeronautical engineering: flight simulator and paper plane contest.
  • Civil engineering: egg drop contest.
  • Mechanical engineering: remote controlled earth moving car.
  • Information technology: Google sketch up and Google treasure hunt.
  • Electrical Engineering: light following car. 

Program included corporate visits to the Ford Factory, Gold Reef City, Mintek, Gautrain and the Rand Airport Aviation Museum.

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Class lectures and hands-on workshops introduced topics in physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Topics included:

  • What physiotherapists do, where they work, skills utilized and conditions physiotherapists and occupational therapists treat.
  • Lecturers from the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the South African Society of Physiotherapy and their roles and training, and why being a member of these organizations is important.
  • Onsite activities conducted at Johannesburg Hospital.
  • A ‘Diversity Quilt’, where students were divided into their cultural groups and each group creates a poster on their customs, routines and habits, with the end result being a quilt formed from the various posters.

Evening & Weekend Activities

Evening activities consisted of mandatory participation in music and dance appreciation. Weekend activities consisted of a night drive to the Johannesburg Zoo; a cultural visit to the Maropeng and Sterkfontein caves (Heritage sites); and a day of volunteering at the Maria Kloppers Children’s Home for Orphans.

Corporate Sponsors