A group of 33 volunteers from Mpumalanga who are participating in the Department of Science and Technology’s National Youth Service (DST-NYS) programme attended an induction session hosted at the Maths, Science and Technology Academy (MSTA) in Witbank in August.

In support of the government's National Youth Service (NYS), which seeks to contribute to the enhancement of the youth as the current and future social capital of the country, the DST initiated its National Youth Service (DST-NYS) programme in September 2007. SAASTA, as business unit of the National Research Foundation was appointed as project manager by the DST in April 2011.

The DST-NYS programme aims to identify and reach unemployed science, engineering and technology (SET) graduates aged 18 to 35 and place them at host institutions in SET fields for 12 months. They are given an opportunity to gain work experience and life skills, which will make them more marketable and employable. During the year they get specialised training in areas such as Entrepreneurship and Life Skills.

The aim of an induction programme for volunteers is to ensure that new volunteers are given all the help and guidance they need to do their job to the required standard as soon as possible. Induction begins during the recruitment and selection phases of the volunteers, when selected volunteers first make contact with potential mentors of the host institutions.

During Induction, the SAASTA Human Resource team orientates the volunteers by giving them background on the National Research Foundation (NRF) and SAASTA and ensuring that they have proper employment contracts and performance agreements. They are also given pay roll information and are instructed on work performance and behaviour that will be expected of them.

The Human Resources team ensures that volunteers are aware of the bursary scheme offered by the NRF. Volunteers were especially excited to learn that the NRF supports students, mainly at postgraduate level. More information on NRF bursaries and scholarships can be found on the NRF website: www.nrf.ac.za.