Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Vision
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a 10-year global initiative to educate and develop next-generation leaders who will contribute to social and economic progress. The Program enables young people from economically disadvantaged communities to complete quality secondary and tertiary education, and make successful transitions to further education, or to the workforce in their home countries. Through comprehensive support, Scholars receive learning opportunities that equip them with knowledge, skills, and values needed to succeed in the economy, and make positive impacts in their communities.
Scholars in the Program are primarily from Africa. In recent years, the continent has experienced unprecedented economic progress and political resurgence. More than 60 percent of its population is under the age of 25, making it the youngest continent. Yet, Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the lowest enrollment rates in secondary and tertiary education.
The Program will educate an estimated 15,000 young people from economically disadvantaged communities. This network of next-generation leaders – unified by a common philosophy of change and ethical leadership – will drive social and economic transformation in their communities.
UBC is pleased to join the Mastercard Foundation in achieving their vision.
Mastercard Foundation Website
Mastercard Foundation Fact Sheet
Reeta Roy
President and CEO of The Mastercard Foundation explains how the Scholars can lead social and economic progress in Africa.
A GLOBAL NETWORK WITH A SHARED VISION
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program consists of a global network of education institutions and non-governmental organizations that are committed to serving disadvantaged youth, and share the belief that education is a catalyst for social and economic advancement. Partners are selected based on academic excellence, nurturing environments, and programs relevant to growth sectors in Africa. This network will expand as the Foundation adds more secondary and university partners in Africa. Current partners include:
AFRICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
African Leadership Academy is a pan-African institution that seeks to identify, develop, and connect promising young leaders who will shape Africa’s future.
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT – FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES
The vision of the Faculty of Health Sciences is to promote the health and well-being of populations through quality higher education.
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Arizona State University is an institution committed to excellence, access, and impact, which pursues research that contributes to the public good.
ASHESI UNIVERSITY
Ashesi University College is a private, non-profit institution with a mission to educate a new generation of ethical, entrepreneurial leaders in Africa.
BRAC
BRAC Uganda is the largest NGO in Uganda, creating opportunity for the poor with poverty solutions such as microfinance, youth education and adolescent empowerment.
CAMFED
Camfed works to break the cycle of poverty in Africa by educating and empowering girls and young women to become leaders of change.
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY – RWANDA
With a century-long history that has hosted 19 Nobel Laureates, Carnegie Mellon University is renowned as one of the worlds leading engineering institutions.
DUKE UNIVERSITY
Duke University is a top-tier research institution helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge in service to society in North Carolina and around the world.
EARTH UNIVERSITY
EARTH University is an international, non-profit university in Costa Rica that emphasizes ethical entrepreneurship, and environmental and social commitment.
EQUITY GROUP FOUNDATION
Equity Group Foundation (EGF) is a not-for-profit implementing foundation based in Nairobi, Kenya that champions the social and economic transformation of the people of Africa.
FAWE
FAWE (Forum for African Women Educationalists) is a Pan-African NGO working to empower girls and women through education.
KNUST
KNUST (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology) advances knowledge in science and technology for sustainable development in Africa.
MAKERERE UNIVERSITY
Makerere University is passionate about innovation. They view every community challenge as an opportunity to exercise their creativity. They build for the future.
MCGILL UNIVERSITY
McGill is an internationally diverse, leading Canadian post-secondary institution with a mission to advance learning through teaching, scholarship and service to society.
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Michigan State University is a hub for innovation and discovery where scholars create bold solutions to the world’s most challenging problems.
SCIENCES PO
Based in Paris, France, Sciences Po is an international research university ranking among the finest institutions in the fields of humanities and social sciences.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
The University of California, Berkeley is renowned for the distinction of its faculty and students, and the excellence of its research and public service.
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN
The University of Cape Town aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. Taking advantage of expanding global networks and our distinct vantage point in Africa, the University of Cape Town is committed, through innovative research and scholarship, to grapple with the key issues of our natural and social worlds.
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
The mission of the University of Edinburgh is the creation, dissemination and curation of knowledge.
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
The University of Pretoria vision is to be a leading research-intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, and for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally.
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
The University of Toronto is one of the most respected and influential institutions of higher education and advanced research in the world.
WELLESLEY COLLEGE
Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an excellent liberal arts education to women who will make a difference in the world.