Category: Opportunities

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Notices Opportunities

Applications for Bloomberg Media Initiative Close 27 February

Bloomberg Media Initiative ApplicationsFrom Bloomberg:

We take pleasure in informing you that applications are open for the third intake of the prestigious Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Executive Training Program.

Bloomberg – a leading global financial information services, news and media company, through its Bloomberg Philanthropies Program with co-sponsorship from the Ford Foundation; has collaborated with a consortium of pre-eminent Journalism Schools and top Business Schools, across the three African Markets to deliver a highly innovative, integrated and practical world-class Executive Training Program in Financial, Business and Economic Journalism. Through this program the BMIA aims to increase the pipeline of skilled financial journalists and analysts, embracing a data-driven journalism culture across Africa.

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achievement Opportunities Oxford

Slaying the scholarship game – advice from a selector

– by Eusebius Mckaiser

After 6 years of doing duty as a regional committee member selecting potential Rhodes Scholars to Oxford, I now retire from the Eastern Cape/Free State regional committee, so that a new pair of eyes can join that committee. I will do no other selection committee work this year, but might again in a year or two.

With all that experience, and no conflict-of-interest, I want to give advice to students about scholarships. Not every scholarship selection process is the same, but there are some general truths worth noting, and in particular if you’re applying for the Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford, all of my advice will apply:

1. Do NOT leave your application to the last minute. Trust me, it WILL show in the quality of your written application, the quality of the testimonials you submit, and the quality of your engagement during scholarship interviews. Give yourself plenty of time to submit the best possible paper application.

2. The SINGLE most important advice – which really makes me tearful when I think of how many brilliant young people make this mistake – is this: do not decide for yourself whether you are worthy of a scholarship.

Apply. It is not illegal. It is not embarrassing. But take a chance on yourself.

Self-exclusion is one of the worst tragedies many young people suffer. It is sometimes based on lack of knowledge about opportunities, but it is more often based on us not knowing we are talented or worthy because no one told us.

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entrepreneurship Notices Opportunities

#Opportunity Alert: Pitch and Polish contest for entrepreneurs

Pitch & Polish - Lebo Selloane and judges - Sept 2014

I’ve just come across this cool nation-wide opportunity for entrepreneurs to help them test their ideas and refine their pitch to funders.

From the organisers:

The 2015 ENGEN Pitch & Polish workshop and competition which is looking to discover the nation’s most promising local entrepreneurs by teaching them to polish their pitch.  This annual programme, in association with Engen Petroleum Ltd and longstanding media partner, SAfm, has impacted thousands of entrepreneurs and continues to reach and teach eager entrepreneurs. While on the course you will learn business fundamentals and be shown how best to access funding through your ability to share your vision effectively.  Then, at the close, your polished pitch is ready to go.  You will also stand a chance to win prizes and money.

Register now to attend or compete. Sms PITCH to 45901 (charged at R1.50 per sms) or register online at www.pitchandpolish.com

The schedule of events is as follows:

Round 1:
Saturday 15 August – Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
Saturday 22 August – Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Saturday 29 August – Middelburg, Mpumalanga
Saturday 5 September – Klerksdorp, North West
Saturday 12 September – Cape Town, Western Cape

Round 2 (winners from Round 1 compete):
Saturday 3 October – Bloemfontein, Free State
Saturday 10 October – East London, Eastern Cape
Saturday 17 October – Rustenburg, North West

SAfm Wild Card

Semi-Final (winners from Round 2 and SAfm Wild Card Compete):
Wednesday 21 – Friday 23 October

Final
Thursday 29 October – Johannesburg

Format of the event:

  • Participants take part in a free day-long competition-based workshop
  • Pre-registration is required to be a participant and/or contestant
  • On the day, contestants “pitch” their business idea to the audience
  • A facilitator gives tips and guidance, helped by the audience, to “polish” the pitch until the contestants have a professional and in-depth presentation
  • The audience are primed to role-play as bankers and investors and interact throughout the day with valuable feedback
  • The event culminates in the contestants giving their final three minute pitch
  • Winners from Round 1, Round 2 and the Wild Card go through to the semi-final
  • Winners from the semi-final go through to the final, which is held in Johannesburg
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achievement Notices Opportunities

#Opportunity Alert: Eisenhower Fellowships for Africa

Leadership development programme in the US calls for applications for its 2016 intake (October 2 – November 18 2016)

Deadline for submissions: October 15 2015

Contact: international@efworld.org.

From the Eisenhower site:

This seven-week program is comprised of a five-week personalized
travel itinerary in the U.S., preceded and followed by a week of group activities in Philadelphia. Each Fellow’s program
is unique, as the Fellow collaborates with an EF Program Officer to align his or her goals with relevant fellowship
opportunities that lead to productive exchanges. This process requires significant thought, time and effort on the
Fellow’s part prior to arrival in the U.S.
When drafting the list of potential meetings, applicants should keep in mind that regardless of professional background
and interests, each itinerary will include visits to large and small cities around the U.S. to provide a broad experience.

SELECTION: Eisenhower Fellowships seeks a diverse mix of applicants, ages 32-45, from a wide range of professional sectors. EF provides a unique leadership development opportunity for individuals who have a demonstrated track record of significant professional and community achievements and who seek to tackle big challenges in the future.  Competitive candidates articulate goals for the fellowship program and propose steps to achieve them.  EF seeks ascendant leaders who are committed to making the world more peaceful, prosperous and just, and who are committed to a lifelong engagement with EF’s network of 1,400 active leaders around the world.

HOW TO APPLY: Candidates from the seven countries listed below should apply directly to Eisenhower Fellowships using the online application.  For more information please visit the website here

         1. Ghana

         2. Kenya

         3. Nigeria

         4. Rwanda

         5. South Africa

         6. Tanzania

         7. Zimbabwe 

 

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achievement education inspiration Opportunities Oxford Rhodes Scholarship travel Video

Studying abroad – pros, cons, how to go about it

Deadlines are looming for those applying for admission and funding to study abroad. A while back, I chaired this #eNCAlive discussion on the benefits (and downsides) of studying abroad. My guests – Itumeleng Malebye (an executive at Alexander Forbes) and Nhlanhla Dlamini (founder of Maneli Group) – are open and engaging about their experiences abroad, and offer some useful tips on how to go about this journey. Itu did his A levels in Scotland in the  late 1980s and earned a degree in social sciences at Manchester University in England.  Nhlanhla, a Rhodes scholar, obtained a masters degree at Oxford University in England and an MBA from Harvard University in the US. Watch and learn.