As South Africa’s higher education sector faces growing pressure to produce graduates who are not only qualified, but employable, Unity in Africa’s iGEMS programme is demonstrating the kind of education-to-employment model the country urgently needs.

The recently released BDO South Africa Higher Education Sector 2025 report highlights a critical national challenge: higher education must move beyond access and enrolment numbers and focus on “conversion” — getting students into the system, through the system, and into meaningful employment. The report notes that while graduate unemployment is lower than the national average, it still stands at 12.2%, pointing to a continued mismatch between qualifications and the skills employers need.

Quant-Trainee | FirstRand Bank Dreaming Beyond Limitations Mandilakhe Nathan Gqolana’s journey is a remarkable example of what can happen when ambition meets opportunity, discipline, and belief in oneself. After matriculating from Paterson High School in 2019,...

At iGEMS, leadership development is not treated as an “extra” — it is at the very heart of the programme. While many initiatives focus purely on technical and academic excellence, iGEMS continues to invest in something equally important: developing confident,...

Supervisor | Bay Tool & Die Makers From Learner to Leader Damian Dean Classen’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, growth, and determination. After joining the iGEMS programme in 2016 while attending Hoërskool Cillié (Matric 2017), Damian began building...

Engine Cadet | Magsaysay Institute of Shipping Charting a Course Beyond Limits Siyaxolisa Kwikwi’s journey is one of ambition, courage, and stepping into the unknown. After joining the iGEMS programme in 2017 while attending Newton Technical High School (Matric 2018),...

On a bright morning inside the Nelson Mandela University Digital Dome, the air was filled with pride, laughter, and reflection as guests gathered to celebrate a powerful milestone — 10 years of iGEMS (Incubating Great Engineering Minds). Hosted by Unity in Africa,...

Ten years ago, iGEMS began with a dream — a dream to connect education to opportunity, to bridge the gap between school and industry, and to grow South Africa’s next generation of engineers. From a small initiative in the Eastern Cape, iGEMS has become a powerful...

Three of our talented iGEMS learners from Newton Technical High School proudly represented the Eastern Cape recently at the provincial Sasol Kagiso Skills Competition, hosted at Port Rex Technical High School in East London.