BLOEMFONTEIN – The Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, has launched a crowdfunding initiative, Invest in the Future, in aid of students facing lack of sustainable funding that hampers their ability to complete their studies. The CUT kickstarted the initiative by hosting a fundraising gala at the CUT Hotel School on the main campus in Bloemfontein on 31 October.
The event brought together esteemed business leaders, corporate partners, alumni, and friends of the university to celebrate the strides the CUT has made.
Prof. Pamela Dube, vice-chancellor and principal, delivered the keynote address and explained that the strategic initiative reaffirms a shared belief in what is achievable through collective effort, further stressing that the initiative underscores the commitment of the university towards the success of the students.
“Our mission has been clear and constant − to be a leading African university of technology, shaping the future through innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility.
“However, we all know that it takes more than erecting buildings and laboratories to build a university. A university is built by people with a shared purpose, anchored on strong partnerships. This means that it takes a community to build a university − a community of builders, working together with a shared purpose.”
The gala aimed to raise funds for three strategic projects that will directly impact students’ lives and ensure holistic support for their academic and personal development:
■ Student financial aid: Supporting academically deserving students who face financial hardship, thereby increasing access to higher education and reducing dropout rates due to financial constraints.
■ Student wellbeing: Investing in programmes and initiatives that promote mental health, holistic wellness, and overall student support services to ensure students thrive during their academic journey.
■ Digital infrastructure: Supporting and enhancing digital infrastructure to ensure the CUT remains a modern, inclusive, and future-ready institution, equipping every student with the tools and technology they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Dube emphasised that these three projects form the core of the foundation upon which the university’s vision for the future stands.
“Addressing them is not optional; it is imperative. Through the theme ‘Investing in the Future’, we affirm our shared responsibility to build a university where every student has the opportunity, the support, and the tools they need to succeed.
“At the CUT, we believe that no student should be denied the opportunity to learn, grow, or build a future because of financial constraints. Through events like the annual fundraising gala, the university continues to strengthen partnerships that turn this belief into action − investing not only in facilities and innovation, but in the lives and dreams of our students,” said Dube.
In 2021, the university revealed that 70% of the total student population at the CUT are mainly dependent on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
It was established to provide financial support to financially needy students who wish to further their studies at public universities or TVET colleges. Those who qualify are South African citizens, students with permanent residence, and recipients of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa).
The student fund scheme revealed in April this year that it is owed about R45 billion in outstanding student loans and has called on former beneficiaries to begin repayments.
The financial scheme also stated that it has started reaching out to former loan recipients who received financial aid before 2018 to pay back the money.
