"We want to make sure that every student who passes through our doors, regardless of their background, has the tools to build a successful career and make valuable contributions towards the growth of South Africa’s creative economy," says Shevon Lurie, managing director at Vega.

There are currently 73 bursary students registered at Vega, many of which are recipients of bursaries from the Vega Grant Fund. Bursaries from this Fund are typically granted to second and third year and honours students who have a strong academic record.

The Fund is supported by proceeds from the Vega Brand Challenge, which is an annual event in which students form their own brand consultancies and tackle real-life briefs for real-life clients.

Vega aims to emphasise the importance of students being paid for their work and ideas to instil a sense of ownership and give them practical insight into the realities of the working world. 

"Our bursary programmes are designed to create a ripple effect so that our students understand how hard work, determination, and innovative thinking can have a positive impact on other young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds," adds Lurie.

In addition to bursaries supported by the Fund, Vega provided seven KwaZulu-Natal-based students with full scholarships as part of its ongoing association with the Loeries Creative Future Scholarship programme, which provides the youth with bursaries and education opportunities in creative fields worth over R1-million. Each bursary covers the cost of tuition, accommodation, travel expenses, textbooks, and a laptop.

In 2015, Vega partnered with Rockstart, a non-profit organisation that provides young people from disadvantaged communities with access to an education for careers in creativity. Saraah Saint and Maliya Muhande are among the 24 Rockstart Bursary students currently at Vega, with both having already won awards for their work.

Saint, a third-year visual communications student, won a D&AD Pencil Award for 'Who Wore it Best?', a campaign idea she co-submitted to the D&AD’s New Blood category, and third-year student Muhande won a Gold Loerie for 'The Dumbest Project', an integrated campaign she submitted with a fellow Vega student.

Lurie says, "Bursary and scholarship students across the board have access to unique opportunities, which allow them to immerse themselves in their chosen industries – whether their choice is commerce or advertising. Vega has been committed to providing wider access to education and unique career opportunities through its bursary programmes since the school was established in 1999."

Vega is dedicated to building a more inclusive brand communication industry in South Africa, with IIE qualifications ranging from a bachelor of computer and information science in game design and development to a bachelor of commerce in strategic brand management, all designed to promote strategic, solution-focused thinking.

For more information, visit www.vegaschool.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.