By Zanele Makola
Keitumetse Leballo, an Advanced Diploma in Economics student at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Economics and Finance, has been selected from hundreds of applications across Africa, as one of the 60 students to participate in the prestigious African Economic Scholars Programme 2025.
The programme is a project aimed at developing and supporting African students studying Economics by providing mentorship, research opportunities and a forum for engaging with economic issues impacting the continent. The programme targets final-year students and recent Economics graduates from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
The 23-year-old is presently participating in a virtual programme focused on research development, collaborative learning, and critical economic policy training, which began on June 15 and will end on August 3, 2025.
“I am going to learn and unlearn some of the misconceptions about African Economy. This programme will help improve my skills, such as analysis, understanding and interpreting economic data and policy analysis. Moreover, it will help and guide me on how to conduct economic policy analysis,” explained Leballo.
According to Leballo, she is thrilled about the possibility to interact and network with other industry players, viewing it as an opportunity to advance her economics career. She aspires to establish connections with TUT Alumni and other industry leaders in order to advance the topic through research.
“Participating in this programme can broaden my opportunities in the job market, as it will demonstrate my commitment in economic development and analysis. I want to attend more workshops, seminars and similar programmes to gain hands-on experience and increase my chances of being highly employable in this competitive industry,” she added.
With an unemployment rate of 32,9% in South Africa, Leballo contends that acquiring pertinent skills will be advantageous for her.
