University of Pretoria Welcomes Largest-Ever Mastercard Foundation Scholars Cohort as Program Enters Phase II

Pretoria, South Africa — 28 February 2025The University of Pretoria (UP) has welcomed 134 exceptional young leaders from 20 African countries into the 2025 cohort of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — the largest intake since the partnership began in 2013. The launch event, held at The Function Hall on UP's Hatfield campus, featured a keynote address by Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Francis Petersen, who emphasised the program's transformative impact on both the scholars and the continent.## A Cohort of Record ScaleThe 2025 cohort comprises 61 undergraduate, 32 Honours, and 40 Master's students, with women making up 56% of the group. The scholars join one of Africa's top research-intensive universities, where they will have access to cutting-edge resources, world-class faculty, and a structured leadership development programme.> [!STAT] 134 scholars | 20 African countries | 56% female | 61 undergraduate, 32 Honours, 40 Master's — the largest cohort UP has hosted in the program's 12-year history.Dr Grace Ramafi, Senior Manager of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UP, addressed the new scholars at the launch ceremony:> "Today, the University of Pretoria proudly welcomes 134 exceptional Scholars from 20 African countries into the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program! This marks the largest cohort UP has ever hosted, a testament to the Program's commitment to transforming lives through education, leadership and impact-driven learning."Dr Ramafi reminded the scholars that they were selected not only for their academic excellence but for their potential to shape Africa's future — a framing that reflects the program's dual emphasis on intellectual rigour and social responsibility.## Phase II: Beyond STEMThe 2025 cohort is the first to enrol under Phase II of the partnership (2024–2030), which has broadened the program's academic scope significantly. While the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UP traditionally focused on STEM disciplines, Phase II now includes Law, Humanities, and Theology and Religion — ensuring a more inclusive and multidisciplinary approach to development.| Feature | Phase I (2013–2023) | Phase II (2024–2030) ||---|---|---|| Academic scope | Predominantly STEM | STEM + Law, Humanities, Theology || Cohort size | ~100 per year | 134 in 2025 (expanding) || Duration | 10 years | 7 years || Focus | Academic excellence | Academic + leadership + entrepreneurship |The expansion reflects a growing recognition that Africa's complex challenges — from governance and climate justice to social cohesion and ethical leadership — require talent trained across the full spectrum of disciplines.## Wraparound Support: The Program's Defining FeatureBeyond tuition coverage, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UP provides what the institution describes as "wraparound support": mentorship, leadership training, community engagement opportunities, and entrepreneurship development. Scholars participate in leadership masterclasses, career development initiatives, and structured community service — a model designed to produce graduates who are not only academically qualified but socially responsible and work-ready.The launch event itself reflected this holistic philosophy. Following Professor Petersen's keynote, attendees heard a motivational talk from Mr Josiah Muriuki, and the programme concluded with a cultural performance by Ms Ruth Kasanga — reinforcing the program's commitment to developing scholars as whole persons, not merely as students.> [!INSIGHT] The wraparound model addresses a persistent critique of African higher education: that universities produce graduates with strong academic credentials but limited practical skills, leadership experience, or professional networks. By embedding mentorship and entrepreneurship training within the scholarship, the program attempts to close the gap between graduation and dignified employment.## Alumni Impact: From Classroom to ContinentThe success of the program is perhaps most visible in its alumni network. Former Mastercard Foundation Scholars from UP have gone on to become innovators, researchers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs making measurable differences across the continent. Examples cited by the university include alumni advancing food security initiatives in Zimbabwe, strengthening political engagement structures in Malawi, and contributing to digital transformation projects in Kenya.The program equips scholars with skills specifically targeted at critical African challenges — youth unemployment, climate change, gender-based violence, and digital transformation — ensuring that the curriculum's social purpose is not abstract but directly linked to the continent's most pressing needs.## The Continental ContextThe University of Pretoria is one of over 50 partner institutions in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Network, which aims to enable 100,000 young people to access higher education by 2030. Since the program's inception in 2012, it has supported over 45,000 scholars across Africa. UP's partnership, dating to 2013, was one of the earliest university-level collaborations and has served as a model for subsequent partnerships across the network.South Africa remains a key destination for pan-African scholarship programs, combining research-intensive universities with relatively affordable living costs compared to Global North alternatives. However, the program's strategic direction under Phase II — with new partners in Nigeria, Rwanda, and Morocco — signals a deliberate shift toward building capacity within scholars' home regions, reducing the brain drain that has historically accompanied international scholarship schemes.## Looking ForwardAs the 2025 cohort settles into life at UP, the university and the Foundation are already preparing for the 2026 intake. Applications for the next cycle are managed through the university's Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program office, with eligibility criteria emphasising academic merit, leadership potential, and a demonstrated commitment to giving back to community.For the 134 scholars who gathered at The Function Hall on 28 February, the journey ahead is both an individual opportunity and a collective responsibility. As Dr Ramafi framed it, they were chosen not just for what they have achieved, but for what they might yet build.---Sources:- University of Pretoria, "Empowering Africa's Brightest Minds with the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Cohort 2025 Launch at the University of Pretoria," 14 April 2025 (reporting 28 February 2025 event)- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, University of Pretoria partnership page- Mastercard Foundation, "The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Accelerates Impact With Three New Partnerships In Africa," 9 May 2025