E-learning Project (Project Siyafunda)
In 2024, the Trustees approved an investment in Valenture Institute, which has an established model, infrastructure, and educators. The equity investment is in its Jersey holding company, which also has entities in the UK and South Africa.
In South Africa, Valenture has partnered with the University of Cape Town (“UCT”). The UCT Online High School, launched in partnership with the Valenture Institute, was officially announced in July 2021 and began operations in January 2022. Their collaboration combined Valenture Institute's expertise in online learning with the University of Cape Town's (UCT) reputation for academic excellence. It was significant for promoting equitable access to quality education in South Africa, as well as for creating innovative approaches to education globally. This partnership allows UCT to extend its reach to a broader audience, especially internationally, without overextending its physical infrastructure. For Valenture, the association with UCT enhances its credibility and attracts students seeking high-quality online education with recognized certification.
The e-learning project requires a clear and effective curriculum for successful implementation. To impact public schools nationally, it was crucial for the Trust to identify a proven model that meets its mandate.
The Trust engaged with strategic partners to find an educational tool that can help South Africa improve education outcomes and eliminate disadvantages related to race, birthplace, and socioeconomic status, which continue to impact access to quality education even today.
This synergy highlights a trend in higher education where universities collaborate with ed-tech companies to enhance accessible and flexible online learning. The investment consists of two phases: an initial equity investment (phase 1) followed by the roll-out of a blended learning platform (phase 2), which requires extensive planning. The second phase will entail further engagement with network service providers to attempt to zero-rate data for accessing the online platform.
Blended Learning roll-out will include the development of a business plan, selection of potential partners (including co-funders), and rollout of educational sites.
