IE Foundation and FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Join Forces to Empower South African Talent

Madrid, Spain, March 3rd, 2025 – IE Foundation, in partnership with FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF), has launched the IE - FirstRand Young Talented Leaders Scholarship, a new initiative aimed at fostering South African students’ academic and professional growth through a master's program at IE School of Science and Technology.

Last Fall, Rafif Srour, Executive Vice Dean of the IE School of Science and Technology, together with Poppy Matashya, Director of the IE Office in South Africa, had the opportunity to meet the Head of Social Investing at FirstRand Limited, Konehali Gugushe, and the scholarship team, while participating in several events in the country about Artificial Intelligence and STEM Education.

About the Program

 The Scholarship, created within the framework of FREF’s Postgraduate International Scholarship Program, is dedicated to equipping exceptional South African students with cutting-edge skills in technology, business, and innovation. By providing access to world-class education, the initiative seeks to empower outstanding talent to drive meaningful social and economic change within their communities and beyond. 

This agreement is the result of the shared commitment of IE Foundation and FREF to nurture future leaders of impact.  This scholarship is available for 1 exceptional student per year for a period of five years.

Scholarship Details

The IE - FirstRand Young Talented Leaders Scholarship offers one full placement each academic year, covering 100% of the tuition fees for a master’s degree at IE University. Additionally, the program includes a support package for living expenses, enabling recipients to focus entirely on their academic and professional development. 

Eligible candidates can apply for one of two prestigious programs offered by IE University’s School of Science and Technology: the Master’s degree in Business Analytics and Big Data or the Master’s degree in Computer Science and Business Technology. 

These programs are renowned for their emphasis on integrating advanced technological knowledge with practical business applications, supported by innovative learning methods and access to the latest tech. 

Potential students need to apply to IE University by April 13th 2025 for the Fall 2025 Intake Programs.

Applications Now Open HERE