Autodesk has become a patron of the SA Institution of Civil Engineering's (SAICE) bursary scheme. The company's initial R10 000 grant will go towards providing assistance to financially disadvantaged and academically deserving learners studying civil engineering at South African technikons and universities. The bursary programme is an integral part of SAICE's outreach programmes and all applicants - regardless of gender or race - are considered.

Since its inception in 1992, the SAICE Patrons' Engineering Bursary Scheme (SPEBS) has awarded 191 bursaries to 115 students studying towards national diplomas or degrees in civil engineering. SPEBS-supported learners have excelled in the academic careers. While studying towards a National Diploma in Civil Engineering, Sheila Ross was elected the best technikon student in South Africa. In 2000, Nathalie de Morney passed her final exams with three distinctions, while the following year Nobuntu Ciko achieved six distinctions in her final exams.

According to Dawie Botha, executive director of SAICE, the institution continuously pursues its longstanding commitment to transformation through its career guidance programmes and engineering bursary scheme. He says positive results emerging from these initiatives are evident in the current transformed student population at the civil engineering departments at many tertiary institutions.

For more information contact Autodesk, 012 664 8115.