UCT–Exness partnership gives students wings to fly

Three University of Cape Town (UCT) students have an opportunity to pursue postgraduate study at Africa’s top university, thanks to a unique collaboration between UCT and global multi-asset broker Exness.

Exness uses a combination of technology and ethics to create favourable markets for traders and raise the industry benchmark. The Exness Fintech Scholarship is the first of its kind offered at university level by a broker. It means the deserving recipients, Adam Vere, Thato Thapo and Sipho Nkele are now able to study towards their respective degrees without the burden of worrying about where the funds will come from. The trio boast academic records second to none; fit the stringent scholarship criteria; and passed the rigorous round of interviews to get to this point. They kickstarted their academic programmes earlier this year.

According to Martin Thorvaldsson, the head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Exness, the firm always endeavours to find impactful ways of giving back to the communities it operates in. And the scholarship initiative, he added, will be scalable, and provide a positive multi-layered effect on the state of South Africa in the future.

“In the long-term, the scholarships will have a positive impact on the tech sector in South Africa. And while this is the first time, we, or any other broker, are awarding scholarships to South African [students], we are committed to continuing and expanding this programme in other countries in the years to come,” he said.

UCT News spoke to Vere, Thapo and Nkele, who shared about what this scholarship means to them.

Adam Vere – honours in computer science

“This scholarship really gives me peace of mind. My biggest worry this year was not being able to graduate because I couldn’t afford the fees. But thanks to Exness and UCT I get to complete my degree without that concern.

“An opportunity like this is so important because it gives students who are academically capable, yet not financially [able], the chance to complete their degrees.”

“An opportunity like this is so important because it gives students who are academically capable, yet not financially [able] the chance to complete their degrees. I’ll continue to work hard to achieve my goal, which is to complete my degree with honours.”

Thato Thapo – master’s in applied mathematics

“This opportunity to pursue my master’s means a great deal. It removes those financial worries and added stress that I would’ve faced. It also gives me the opportunity to interact with people and enter spaces that I would likely not have had access to without it.

“We live in a country where acquiring funding for degrees in obscure fields is very difficult. And because of this, many students tend to shy away from their passions and move towards qualifications they can easily get scholarships for. So, we need scholarships that acknowledge merit in all fields because it opens doors for deserving students.

“Considering the fact that the financial burden of how I am going to pay my fees is no longer a factor, I can make sure I channel that energy into ensuring that I produce my absolute best work during this degree.”

Sipho Nkele – master’s in applied mathematics

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to do something I love without having to worry about any financial implications. But I had to work very hard to get here, and now that I have the funding, I have to work even harder.

“My goal is to make the most of my scholarship by continuing to do what I enjoy most – applied mathematics – and to do it well.”

“My goal is to make the most of my scholarship by continuing to do what I enjoy most – applied mathematics – and to do it well.”