Apart from being a vehicle to provide financial support to gifted students; a scholarship is offered to students or academics who are exceptional and outstanding in their areas of speciality. And Miss Simphiwe Zwane is among this growing breed of young bright female students who use their profession to impact lives and preserve the environment. She is the toast of town after she recently scored one of the most enviable academic scholarships: Fulbright Foreign Student Programme.
Competitive scholarship
A nanotechnologist, Miss Zwane received other research grants such as the prestigious National Research Foundation (NRF) post-graduate student funding. The grant enabled her to conduct part of her research programme at Michigan State University (MSU)’s chemistry department between August 2021 and May 2022.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Programme is a competitive scholarship that provides research grants to Master’s and doctoral candidates. It also includes young professionals to conduct research at an accredited tertiary institution in the United States (US). Furthermore, the programme in partnership with NRF, awards scholarships to South African doctoral students enrolled at the country’s universities to conduct one year research at a US university, as visiting students, or researchers.
Ahead of the curve
Recently her institution, Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology’s Institute for Nanotechology and Water Sustainability, celebrated her academic achievement as part of Youth Month. She was naturally elated for this is by no means a small feat as it means she was chosen ahead of other best minds not only locally but also from abroad.
Miss Zwane’s area of research is nanotechnology where she focuses on designing nanostructured materials for removal of pharmaceuticals in contaminated water. While at the MSU, she conducted research on electrochemical degradation and detection of two pharmaceutical agents: diclofenac and carbamazepine. Apart from writing research papers, some of which will be published soon, Miss Zwane also attended classes, group meetings as well as seminars on electrochemistry.
Building solid partnerships
She says she also got a chance to take part in graduate symposium in Wayne State University, where she shared with her peers and professionals through a poster presentation. The interaction with other students and academics saw Miss Zwane awarded another grant to attend a Fulbright Enrichment Seminar (from lab to the market), in Boston, Massachusetts. She says studying abroad has helped expanded her academic outlook as well as developing her capacity to adapt to various educational environment. In addition, she says the programme afforded her an opportunity to build valuable partnerships and collaborations with people from across the globe. For instance, she was able to interact and connect with other students from 57 countries, adding these networks can also enhance career growth.
Gaining valuable skills
Miss Zwane says other benefits include being exposed to other culture developing valuable practical skills necessary for her personal and professional growth including independence and adaptability. She encourages other students, graduates and young professionals to take academic opportunities offered abroad such as exchange programmes, saying these would expand their networks and partnerships and also form new friendships.
“Building valuable relations with people from all over the world can enhance career opportunities. I appreciate the high level of support and guidance that I received from Prof Swain. The collaboration was very successful and we are planning on working together in future,” says Miss Zwane
