For many South African graduates, the hardest part of finding a job isn’t their qualification, it’s a lack of real-world experience. In response to this growing challenge, WesBank is opening its doors to tertiary students before they graduate by offering early exposure to the world of work as a practical step toward improving employability.
This was in action on Tuesday, 21 April, when WesBank hosted a group of 25 students from Regent Business School at its Fairland offices. The visit formed part of a broader effort to bridge the gap between academic learning and workplace expectations, a gap that continues to leave many graduates underprepared as they enter the job market. With youth unemployment in South Africa remaining above 40%, according to Stats SA, improving graduate readiness has become an urgent priority. Demand for workplace exposure is already overtaking supply, with more than 40,000 graduates applying for placement opportunities despite limited availability as noted by Lehlogonolo Masoga an administrator at a SETA that employers have a critical role to play in helping graduates gain the practical experience needed to transition into the workforce.
During the session, students gained first-hand insight into the financial services environment, including credit management, business operations, and the role asset-based finance plays in supporting both individuals and businesses. For many, this will be their first real interaction with a corporate setting.
“Graduating should be the start of a career, not the beginning of uncertainty,” Says Lebogang Gaoaketse, Head of Marketing and Communication at WesBank. “Too often, young people leave university with strong theoretical knowledge, but limited understanding of how the workplace operates. Early exposure helps close that gap it builds confidence, sharpens expectations, and gives students a clearer sense of where they fit into the economy.”
South Africa’s youth unemployment challenge has highlighted the urgent need for closer collaboration between business and education. Initiatives like this demonstrate that meaningful impact doesn’t always require complex programmes sometimes, it starts with access.
By partnering with Regent Business School, WesBank is encouraging a more proactive approach to skills development while nurturing a new generation of talent. The organisation is calling on more companies and academic institutions to adopt similar initiatives. Without early exposure to the workplace, many graduates will continue to enter the job market at a disadvantage a challenge that can be addressed if business and education work more closely together.
“Bridging the gap between education and employment doesn’t require large-scale programmes it starts with access,” added Gaoaketse. “By simply opening their doors, organisations can play a meaningful role in shaping graduates who are better prepared for the realities of work.”
This engagement also forms part of WesBank’s ongoing commitment to community involvement and economic inclusion, reinforcing the role that business can play in shaping South Africa’s future workforce.
Freeway
South Africa is ranked 34th out of 183 countries for ease of doing business according to Doing Business 2011, a joint publication of the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation.