Altogether 133 students graduated last year. In the past 25 years the Institute has awarded bursaries, most of them to black students, worth R194 million. Since 1980, no fewer than 3 436 students have graduated through our bursary programme in the following fields: science and engineering 1 030, business and commerce 934, medicine, health sciences and dentistry 501, education 393, arts 357, and law 221.

Last year’s overall pass rate among our 524 tertiary students was 91% (Some 67 students were not due to write exams until 2007.) In architecture, arts, built environment, business administration, dentistry and economics all our students passed, while in medicine 98% did. The lowest pass rate was 83% in commerce.

The number of bursaries awarded for the 2007 academic year is 578, which is 34 more than in 2006. Of this total 344 are new bursaries and 234 bursaries of students which were renewed following their satisfactory performance last year. Selections are carried out by an independent committee, chaired by Dr Bethuel Sehlapelo, whose names appear at the beginning of this report. Our students are always told who is financing their particular bursary. Sponsors include foreign donor agencies, local trusts, and individuals. We also administer bursary programmes for local and foreign companies.