Corporate Bursary Management That Actually Works | Okiru
Fully managed bursary programs for companies. Online, measurable, and backed by top universities. Book a consult today.
Every year, South African companies invest millions into bursary programs to build talent pipelines, uplift communities, and support employee growth. But despite the good intentions, many of those funds end up delivering very little long-term value. Students drop out, admin becomes unmanageable, and by the end of the financial year, most companies struggle to prove impact.
In fact, the reality is hard to ignore: South Africa’s university dropout rate sits between 50% and 60%, driven by financial hardship, long commutes, academic isolation, and a lack of structured support. Even students with bursaries often can’t afford accommodation, transport, or the time away from work that traditional, in-person study demands.
That’s why more and more companies are turning to online bursary models and why Okiru’s approach is delivering results no one else can match.
Traditional Bursary Models Are Breaking
Let’s look at the numbers. In 2023, more than 1.1 million applications were submitted to universities like UJ, Wits, and TUT, competing for fewer than 150,000 available spaces. Even once a student is accepted, attending in person can cost anywhere from R120,000 to R160,000 per year when you factor in tuition, residence, meals, and transport. These costs limit how many learners a company can support and make dropout risks even more painful.
For working employees, the problem compounds. Taking leave to study hurts productivity. Managing a full-time qualification while juggling job responsibilities is a recipe for burnout. And from a company perspective, in-house bursary administration drains HR and CSI teams who are already overstretched.
The Case for Online Bursary Programs
An online-first bursary model isn't just more efficient, it’s more effective.
At Okiru, we’ve built a fully digital bursary management service that supports both sponsor companies and learners every step of the way. From application to graduation, we handle sourcing, enrolment, monthly reporting, learner tracking, and even IT hardware procurement where needed. You don’t have to lift a finger, chase paperwork, or wonder if your funding is making a difference.
Best of all? The results speak for themselves. Companies like Azelis South Africa have entrusted us with over R4 million in bursary spend, achieving a 92% retention rate in the process.
Why Online Makes Sense for Everyone
Studying online removes the biggest obstacles to success, for both learners and employers. It allows students to work and study at the same time, eliminates geographic barriers, and dramatically cuts costs, while still delivering accredited qualifications from top institutions.
When compared side by side:
In-person study: R120,000–R160,000/year
Online study (same qualification): R45,000–R70,000/year
Outcome: up to 3x more students supported for the same investment
For employees, online study means no disruption to productivity. They can apply new knowledge immediately in their roles. For external learners, the flexibility creates access to education that would otherwise be out of reach. For the country, it means more skilled professionals entering the workforce sooner.
Backed by Leading Institutions
Okiru’s Higher Education Access Program includes over 60 fully accredited qualifications, available through our national and international partner institutions. These include:
CUT, DUT, Wits, TUT, UJ, UP, FPD (South Africa)
Kenyatta University (Kenya)
UPSA (Ghana)
Fields include IT, Supply Chain, Project Management, Education, Public Health, Business Administration, Logistics, and Engineering Management, among others.
By managing the entire process online student sourcing, enrolment, support, compliance, and reporting, we give sponsors full visibility without the operational burden. You fund the impact. We take care of everything else.
Start Now. Report with Confidence.
While there’s no formal cut-off, most South African companies close their financial year in December or February. That means starting now gives you the best chance to show clear outcomes before year-end. Whether you’re allocating Skills Development, CSI, or internal learning budgets, our model helps you make smarter decisions, faster.
Let’s Talk Impact
If your company is serious about making its bursary spend count for your people, your performance, and the country, Okiru is ready to help.
No more guesswork. No more dropouts. Just measurable impact, delivered with care.
Fill out the contact form and let’s build something that lasts.
