CUT Hosts NSFAS Summit on Student Housing

CUT Hosts NSFAS Summit on Student Housing. The Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein recently hosted the inaugural Student Accommodation Summit on 27 and 28 June 2024. The summit, organized by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in partnership with CUT, aimed to address the pressing issue of student housing in higher education institutions.

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Setting the Stage

The summit commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Alfred Ngowi, the acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal at CUT. Prof. Ngowi expressed gratitude to the Honourable Minister, Deputy Minister, and Chairperson of NSFAS for choosing CUT as the host venue for the summit. He emphasized the importance of the summit in creating a platform for consultation with universities, TVET colleges, and key stakeholders in the student accommodation market.

Key Objectives

One of the primary objectives of the summit was to explore suitable solutions, conditions, and guidelines for student accommodation accreditation. NSFAS aims to develop a sustainable NSFAS Student Accommodation framework and effective instruments for the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector to address the challenges in student housing.

Challenges and Solutions

Prof. Ngowi acknowledged the challenges faced by NSFAS, including the direct disbursement of allowances into the bank accounts of NSFAS-funded students. To ensure that these allowances are used for their intended purposes, NSFAS is exploring ways to mitigate misuse by students. Proper accreditation of private accommodation also remains a significant challenge for universities.

Looking Towards the Future

Prof. Ngowi highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, industry leaders, and businesses to find sustainable solutions for student housing. He emphasized that while government plays a crucial role, collective effort is needed to secure the future of young people in South Africa.

Conclusion

Prof. Ngowi expressed optimism that the summit would pave the way for setting a foundation for student accommodation costs and achieving its objectives. He urged participants to utilize the next two days effectively to address the pressing issues in student housing and ensure a brighter future for South Africa’s youth.