​Top undergraduate achievers of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences attended the launch of the OPTIMUS programme for 2019 on Monday afternoon (11 February 2019).

The OPTIMUS programme is aimed at providing development opportunities for top undergraduate academic achievers in their second and third years of studies in the faculty. The programme has a long-term focus and helps students develop holistically to enable them to, inter alia, position themselves optimally to qualify for prestige bursaries, international exchanges, and opportunities locally and abroad.

Prof Ronel du Preez, Vice-Dean (Teaching and Learning), welcomed the students at the start of their exciting developmental journey and introduced Dr Sharon Malan, Coordinator of the OPTIMUS programme, to them.

According to Dr Malan, “OPTIMUS, which was officially launched in April 2016, is designed as a two-year enhancement programme."

Approximately 33 second-year students are selected each year and are exposed to interventions in the form of themes. These include academic enrichment, self-development, social impact, leadership development, professional and vocational orientation as well as global mindset and innovation.

• Photo: Monday marked the beginning of a two-year long enhancement programme for this group of OPTIMUS students.