A cohort of exceptional students from the University of Pretoria, who form part of two prestigious scholarship programmes, namely the Mastercard Scholarship Programme and the Vice Chancellors Merit Awardees, recently participated in an educational tour hosted by the City of Tshwane Innovation Unit in collaboration with the City’s Tourism Department. The visit formed part of a broader initiative aimed at exposing high-performing students to real-world leadership, governance, and innovation ecosystems beyond the classroom.
Hosted under the theme: Turning the Tide: Repositioning the City of Tshwane as the ultimate education and economic tourism destination of the country, the programme highlighted the City’s vision to position itself as a hub for knowledge, innovation, and inclusive economic development. The City of Tshwane Innovation Unit and Tourism Department showcased how innovation-led initiatives are being used to stimulate growth, enhance efficiency and create opportunities for young people, while the Tourism Department shared perspectives on leveraging education and economic tourism as catalysts for urban renewal and global competitiveness.
The scholars are drawn from diverse social, cultural and geographic backgrounds, representing both South Africa and other countries across the continent. Despite their varied walks of life, the students share a common thread, academic excellence, leadership potential and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in their communities. The programme seeks to nurture these qualities by combining rigorous academic training with experiential learning and leadership development opportunities.
The educational tour was designed to provide the students with firsthand exposure to how leadership principles are applied within public sector institutions and how organisations leverage innovation to drive growth, transformation and service delivery.
Some of the interesting comments expressed by the students are as follows:
Lynne-Marié Nel, Vice Chancellors Merit Awardees, said: “I really enjoyed my visit to Tshwane. I learned about all the city has to offer, including nature reserves and a lot of business centres. The Innovation team made us feel at home and gave us the opportunity to help solve problems within our communities. We were faced with real-world challenges such as, infrastructure, community research and sustainability. It was lovely to see that there are people out there who want to make a difference.”
Cohort from the Mastercard Scholarship Programme said: “The City of Tshwane is often viewed as a place where people go to work, study, or resolve administrative matters, rather than a city to enjoy, explore, and experience. Addressing this requires behavioural change, youth involvement, and innovative yet practical solutions that work within tight budgets and bureaucratic constraints”.
The engagement provided a platform for meaningful dialogue, allowing students to reflect on how leadership lessons from various organisations can be applied to their own personal development and academic journeys. It also reinforced the importance of partnerships between academia and government in shaping future leaders who are socially conscious, solution-oriented and globally minded. The City of Tshwane’s hosting of the Mastercard scholars underscores its commitment to investing in youth development, knowledge exchange and innovation. By opening its doors to the next generation of leaders, the City continues to play a pivotal role in shaping a future where education, innovation and economic opportunity are closely intertwined.