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Scholarship success.
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| Article Type: | Brief article |
| Subject: |
Foundations (Endowments)
(Services) Youth services |
| Pub Date: | 05/01/2012 |
| Publication: | Name: South African Medical Journal Publisher: South African Medical Association Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2012 South African Medical Association ISSN: 0256-9574 |
| Issue: | Date: May, 2012 Source Volume: 102 Source Issue: 5 |
| Topic: | Event Code: 360 Services information |
| Geographic: | Geographic Scope: South Africa Geographic Code: 6SOUT South Africa |
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| Accession Number: | 289216473 |
| Full Text: |
Students on state study scholarships (including provinces) often
renege on the signed agreements that require them to provide services in
return after qualifying. A shining contrast is the scholarship success achieved by the Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF). (3) Drs Ross and MacGregor played important roles in developing and maintaining this scheme. The shortage of healthcare workers in South Africa is compounded in rural areas by misdistribution in favour of urban areas. Students of rural origin are more likely to return to work in rural areas, but rural health science students are under-represented at South African universities. The UYDF was started in one of the most socially deprived and educationally challenged areas in the country. To date the scholarship scheme has produced 115 health science graduates across 14 disciplines. Their pass rate has exceeded 84%. All graduates returned to work in their area of origin, with the majority honouring their work-back contract. Contributors to the success of the scheme include a strong emphasis on student initiative and responsibility; financial and social support from UYDF; a working partnership with the local community and hospital; and a strong mentoring programme. |
| Gale Copyright: | Copyright 2012 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. |