Page 17 - EngineerIT AugustSeptember Issue 2026

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Those results are impressive, particularly in communities where poverty The value lies in continuity. A
and unequal access continue to shape educational opportunity. They are conversation in Grade 9 may introduce a
also only one part of the journey. career the learner had never considered.
Job shadowing in Grade 11 can help
A bachelor-level pass does not explain the differences between them test that interest against the
electrical, civil, mechanical, industrial and software engineering. It does reality of the work. Support in Grade 12
not pay an application fee, secure a bursary or give a learner access can help them complete applications
to someone who can describe what the work involves. It does not place and find appropriate study or training
them inside an engineering practice, laboratory, data centre, mine, opportunities.
factory or power facility where they can see classroom knowledge
being used. A model that has already worked
LEAP 4’s relationship with Aveng shows
The gap between completing school and entering further study or what sustained corporate involvement
employment can be as difficult to cross as the years that come before it. can achieve.

This is where companies can offer something a school cannot LEAP’s historical reports show that
provide alone. Aveng supported the school’s operating
costs, provided additional funding
Making technical careers visible for mathematics and science, ran
A learner may know that they enjoy physical science without career days and included LEAP and
knowing what a process engineer does. They may be strong in community teachers in development
mathematics but unaware of the range of careers available in data, workshops. The company also
telecommunications, energy, technology, finance, environmental committed R8 million towards the
science or technical trades. permanent Diepsloot campus.

A career talk can introduce those possibilities. A workplace visit or Other organisations contributed
job-shadowing opportunity makes them real. to the library, community hall and
building materials, while Dainfern
Companies can make their engineers, developers, technicians and College continues to serve as LEAP 4’s
other specialists available to speak to learners about their work. They educational partner.
can host structured workplace visits, support technical projects or offer
job-shadowing opportunities to older learners. They can help learners Few companies will be able to reproduce
understand tertiary and vocational routes, bursary requirements and the Aveng’s level of investment. They do
subjects needed for different careers. not need to. The more useful question
is what part of a learner’s journey each
Support can continue after matric through application assistance, company is equipped to support.
bursaries, vacation programmes, learnerships, internships and fair
access to entry-level opportunities. Financial sponsorship can help a
learner remain at LEAP. Industry
This does not require every company to establish a large education professionals can make different
programme. A small engineering practice could sponsor one learner careers visible. Workplaces can provide
and host a workplace visit. A technology company could provide career exposure. Bursaries and structured
conversations, mentoring or access to software and devices. A larger post-school opportunities can help
organisation could support a group of learners through school and help learners cross the distance between
create clearer routes into further study and work. matric and employment.

17 | EngineerIT August/September 2026