Focus Area Overview

South Africa reflects many of the world’s most critical issues: the growing divide between the rich and poor, transitions to democracy in formerly repressive societies, and the effect of globalization on developing countries. Although many countries suffer from extreme poverty, Apartheid’s legacy has ensured that wealth and opportunity are closely correlated to race.

South Africa is also home to one of the great miracles of the late 20th century. Once seemingly destined for an intractable civil war, it ended Apartheid, adopted a progressive constitution, and has become a beacon of hope around the world.

Access to higher education has improved dramatically. With the end of official racial segregation, South Africa’s universities increasingly look more like the country as a whole. University enrollment has nearly doubled since 1994.

These are welcome developments, but the significant change has proven difficult for the higher-education system. In addition to dramatic enrollment increases, universities face challenges including mergers, under-prepared students, declining government support and, perhaps most significant, disappointing graduation rates. For the nation, these outcomes pose risks to the vitality of the economy and civil society. For individuals, many still in deep poverty, these outcomes undermine the opportunities that a university degree is meant to provide.  

We have funded South African universities since 1989, investing $19 million between 2005 and 2011.

In 2012, after consulting with dozens of South African educational leaders, we renewed our commitment. For the next five years we will focus on promoting South African postsecondary access and success – especially improving student graduation rates.

Strengthening pathways to and through university

South African higher-education leaders acknowledge the need to develop a new, systematic approach that recognizes students’ uneven preparation for university work.

We anticipate that our initial Pathways investments will center on support to help the higher-education system to better identify the challenge at hand, and to enhance existing and forthcoming local efforts designed to enhance student success. This includes improving data collection and analysis, curriculum development, staff development and training, evidence-based decisionmaking, and some direct support for especially promising interventions.

We will also seek to support the latest technological and productivity advances that might reduce the cost of delivering a postsecondary education while retaining or improving its quality.

We work to promote access and success in the United States, but refocusing our efforts in South Africa will take some time. Please watch for future program updates about this funding. You can receive email alerts about these updates. (Learn about our email subscriptions.) 

Building the capacity of South Africa’s higher education institutions

The highest priority in South African higher education is improving graduation rates. In an environment with declining government support, however, many university officials have found that tapping into private financial support enhances their institutions’ ability to serve students better. Stronger advancement skills are critical to their success.

Building on our 2005-2011 partnership with Inyathelo, the South African Institute for Advancement, we are funding the Kresge-Inyathelo Advancement Initiative in South Africa. It will offer training and challenge-grant support to four universities seeking to strengthen their advancement capacity. Those universities will be chosen through a national competitive process.

To strengthen the field more broadly, we will also provide modest incentives for previous grantees to set and meet annual advancement benchmarks, and to serve as mentors for the new cohort. (Learn about the 2006-2010 Kresge Special Initiative in South Africa.)

Application Process

The application period for support through this new 2013-17 Kresge-Inyathelo Advancement Initiative in South Africa opens April 18. We invite universities to submit concept papers using our online application system. The deadline for receiving these requests is Friday, 1 June 2012, at 5 p.m. EDT.

This is the only South Africa grant opportunity open at this time.

We have a two-step application process for the Kresge Advancement Initiative in South Africa:

• Part 1, the preliminary application, contains a data-entry component and several attachments, including a six-page narrative. 
• Based on applicants’ concept papers, we may select up to eight finalist universities to submit a full proposal requesting additional information. This will constitute Part 2 of the application process. We expect to select finalists in July, with four grantees to be selected later in the year.

Eligibility

Who may apply?

• Nonprofit or state-supported universities in South Africa that award baccalaureate and/or graduate degrees.

Who may not apply?

• Universities that were funded in our previous South Africa advancement initiative.
• Institutions outside South Africa.
• South African universities that received funding from other foundations to develop advancement programs.