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Education Grants

HP education grants give SA institutions a R6 million boost

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:41

HP recently announced the 2009 EMEA winners of the Innovation in Education Grant Initiative.

Of the 50 institutions selected for their innovative teaching and learning projects, 20 are in the Middle East and Africa region, while six are based in South Africa.

These institutions will each receive a mobile technology solution, such as tablet PCs, laptops, printers, access points, and a cash donation valued at approximately 100,000USD, almost R1-million.

They will also be invited to join a network of educators around the world who are working to design the future of high tech education through which they can share ideas and best practices in online learning, virtual worlds and simulations areas.

The HP Innovation in Education Grant Initiative supports institutions in the EMEA region in launching innovative pilot projects in math, technology and science fields. HP’s ultimate objective is to foster future leaders in the disciplines vital to HP’s business.

The grants given to secondary schools aim to improve student achievement by using technology to redesign the learning experience, while for universities, the aim is to specifically enhance the engineering, computer science and IT degree programmes.

“Innovation in education is vital to developing the next generation of high-tech innovators. Whenever possible, we feature HP technology in ways that support pioneering teaching and learning practices, especially to enhance achievements in math and science or other subjects essential to student success in IT careers,” said Gois Fouche, acting managing director, HP South Africa.

“HP South Africa a value adding supplier and only level2 contributor to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) has always been committed to promoting empowerment and ascribes to the underlying principles of B-BBEE initiatives as the key to realising our full potential as a company and as a business imperative,” adds Fouche.

This project is aimed at previously disadvantaged students, which addresses HP South Africa’s Socio - Economic Development vision, aimed at uplifting communities across the country.

A jury of HP and education experts from HP’s partner ISTE evaluated the submissions and selected those that best integrated technology at the intersection of teaching and learning and fostered innovation in education.

The 2009 winners of the HP Innovation in Education Grant Initiative in South Africa:
• University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape
• Osizweni Education & Development Centre, Secunda, Mpumalanga
• Bokamoso Science & Technology Education Centre, Polokwane, Limpopo
• Mnambithi FET College, Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal
• University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape
• Esayidi FET Public College, Port Shepstone, KwaZulu Natal