Getting into university is only one part of the journey. For many first-generation students, completing a degree and moving into meaningful employment also requires financial stability, academic guidance, wellbeing support and access to professional networks.
How sustained support helps first-generation students turn degrees into careers
ALI SA Fellow Dean Villet, (Class XII: Isilimela), shares how the Dell Young Leaders programme has developed a sustained support model that follows students from university entry through to their first job. Over 16 years, the programme has supported more than 2,700 students in South Africa and reached over 1,300 graduates, with 98% moving into employment or career-enhancing further study within three months.
Dean explains that the programme has become more personalised and proactive as it has evolved. Technology helps the team track student progress and identify risks earlier, while stronger partnerships with universities are helping to build more sustainable student-success systems. By the time graduates enter the recruitment process, the programme has a clear understanding of their strengths, goals and readiness, allowing candidates to be matched more intentionally with employer needs.
The programme is now preparing for its first expansion beyond South Africa, beginning with 100 students at Strathmore University in Kenya and a plan to support 500 students over five years. Dean also considers how ALI SA Fellows, employers and partners can turn their networks into practical career pathways through internships, mentorship, job shadowing, industry exposure and graduate employment.
Read here to learn more about the Dell Young Leaders programme, its expansion into Kenya and the role leaders can play in helping young graduates move from higher education into meaningful careers.
