Introduction
The Sasol Foundation is a South African education-focused trust established to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics education while helping historically disadvantaged learners develop the knowledge, technical skills and qualifications required for future employment.
History and Background
The Sasol Foundation was established in 2008 as the Sasol Inzalo Foundation. It was created in response to persistent challenges affecting South Africa’s education system, including poor mathematics and science outcomes, shortages of appropriately qualified teachers, high university dropout rates and limited access to tertiary education.
The organisation initially concentrated on strengthening STEM education and providing bursaries to students from low-income households. Its work subsequently expanded across the education pathway, from early childhood development and primary education to technical training, university study, postgraduate research and employment readiness.
The organisation is now known as the Sasol Foundation and operates as part of Sasol’s broader commitment to education, skills development and socioeconomic transformation.
Mission and Purpose
The Sasol Foundation seeks to catalyse positive change in South African education. Its mandate is to create a strong foundation for STEM learning and develop the human capital needed for the future growth of South Africa’s economy, particularly its energy, chemicals, technical and scientific sectors.
The Foundation supports learners through a pathway described as Early Childhood Education to Employment and Entrepreneurship readiness.
Its principal objectives include:
- Improving access to quality early childhood education.
- Strengthening mathematics, science, technology and engineering education.
- Developing teachers and improving classroom instruction.
- Providing educational resources to schools and learners.
- Expanding access to technical and vocational education.
- Supporting undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
- Developing research capacity and scientific innovation.
- Providing psychosocial, career and mentorship support.
- Preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship.
The Foundation’s approach is informed by South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Governance and Structure
The Sasol Foundation is strategically guided by a Board of Trustees comprising four independent trustees and two representatives of Sasol as the founder.
The Board provides oversight of the Foundation’s mandate, strategy, financial management and program implementation. Its responsibilities include ensuring that educational investments are properly governed and aligned with the Foundation’s objectives.
The Foundation is administered by an executive team led by the Head of the Foundation. Education specialists oversee programs covering early childhood development, STEM education, technical education, tertiary education and national program implementation.
Sasol provides external support functions such as:
- Finance and financial administration.
- Human resources.
- Information management.
- Supply-chain services.
- Governance and compliance.
- Legal services.
- Communications.
Funding and Grants
The Sasol Foundation receives institutional and administrative support from Sasol and works with government departments, universities, research institutions, schools, nonprofit organisations and other strategic partners.
Its funding model combines direct investment in education programs with bursaries, scholarships, institutional support, educational resources, research funding, infrastructure and collaborative initiatives.
The Foundation’s strategy also seeks to mobilise resources from local and international partners whose mandates align with its education and skills-development objectives.
The Sasol Foundation is not primarily a general-purpose grantmaker offering unrestricted funding to organisations. Its financial support is generally delivered through defined programs, partnerships, bursaries, scholarships and institutional interventions.
Bursaries and Scholarships
The Foundation provides financial support to help eligible students access and complete undergraduate and postgraduate education.
According to its current tertiary education information, the Foundation has supported more than 2,900 undergraduate and postgraduate bursary and scholarship beneficiaries, with more than 2,300 graduates.
Support may focus on disciplines connected to science, technology, engineering, mathematics, research, innovation and the skills required by South Africa’s changing economy.
Funding opportunities may have specific academic, financial, demographic or subject-related requirements. Applicants must check the applicable guidelines rather than assuming that all courses or institutions qualify.
Institutional and Research Funding
The Sasol Foundation works with universities and research institutions to strengthen postgraduate research, academic capacity and innovation.
Its tertiary education investments include:
- Postgraduate scholarships and fellowships.
- Research funding.
- University infrastructure and equipment.
- Curriculum development.
- Institutional capacity building.
- Research connected to the Just Energy Transition.
- Support for Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
The Foundation collaborates with institutions such as the National Research Foundation to co-fund postgraduate science research, particularly at historically disadvantaged universities.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Early Childhood Education
The Sasol Foundation recognises early childhood education as the starting point for future learning and STEM participation.
In 2019, it developed a blueprint for an affordable, high-quality early childhood development and education model. The model was subsequently endorsed by South Africa’s Department of Basic Education.
Its early childhood interventions may include:
- Support for children and educators.
- Training and professional development for practitioners.
- Age-appropriate STEM learning resources.
- School-readiness activities.
- Infrastructure and educational materials.
- Nutrition support.
- Communities of practice for educators.
The program seeks to develop children’s cognitive, emotional, physical and social abilities while establishing the foundations for future learning.
STEM in Schools
The Foundation’s STEM in Schools program works to improve the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
It supports teachers, learners, schools and education authorities through curriculum resources, mobile science laboratories, teacher development, digital learning and practical science activities.
Published results include:
- More than 180 open-source workbook titles covering Grades R to 12.
- More than 10 million learners accessing the workbooks in South Africa and other countries.
- More than 17 mobile science laboratories operating nationally.
- More than 30 schools reached annually by each mobile laboratory.
- More than 40,000 learners reached across South Africa each year through the mobile laboratory program.
The open-source licensing of these educational materials allows schools, teachers and learners to use them without facing conventional textbook-access barriers.
Coding and Robotics
The Sasol Foundation has supported the introduction of coding and robotics into South African schools.
Working with the Department of Basic Education, the Foundation funded subject-adviser training and contributed to the work of the National Training Team. The coding and robotics curriculum for Grades R to 9 was officially gazetted in 2021.
Published program information indicates that pilots were implemented for Grades R to 3 in 200 primary schools and for Grade 7 in 100 schools.
This initiative seeks to reduce the digital divide and prepare learners for a labour market increasingly shaped by automation, artificial intelligence and digital technology.
Mobile Science Laboratories
Mobile science laboratories provide practical science-learning opportunities to schools that do not have permanent laboratory facilities.
The laboratories travel between schools with equipment and resources that enable learners to conduct experiments and understand scientific concepts through practical activities.
This model is particularly relevant to rural and under-resourced schools, where limited infrastructure can prevent learners from receiving the practical experience required by the science curriculum.
Technical Education
The Foundation’s technical education program seeks to address South Africa’s shortage of artisans and technically qualified workers.
Its work focuses on aligning education with industry requirements, strengthening vocational education and building a skilled workforce.
Technical education activities include:
- Supporting technical high schools.
- Developing teachers and instructors.
- Providing specialised equipment and infrastructure.
- Strengthening technical subjects.
- Supporting artisan development.
- Delivering career counselling.
- Connecting classroom learning with practical applications.
- Promoting vocational careers to young people.
The Foundation reports supporting 13 technical high schools reaching more than 7,000 learners annually. Its work with John Orr Technical High School has also enabled specialised technical training and learner-led innovations.
Annual Technical Teachers’ Conference
The Annual Technical Teachers’ Conference provides educators with opportunities to develop their knowledge, share practices and understand changes affecting technical and vocational education.
The Foundation reports that the conference reaches approximately 400 teachers annually. Teacher development is essential to its strategy because improved infrastructure and curricula require educators with the knowledge and confidence to use them effectively.
Tertiary Education
The tertiary education program helps young people acquire advanced qualifications and participate meaningfully in the economy.
The program addresses financial barriers, student debt, academic readiness and the need to align university curricula with emerging industries.
Its principal activities include:
- Undergraduate bursaries.
- Postgraduate scholarships.
- Research funding.
- University equipment and infrastructure.
- Curriculum transformation.
- Academic and institutional capacity building.
- Collaboration with universities and industry.
The Foundation reports that supported researchers have produced more than 700 peer-reviewed publications and registered patents. More than 400 postgraduate beneficiaries have received support for multiple qualifications across honours, master’s and doctoral study.
Psychosocial Support
Financial assistance alone may not be sufficient to ensure that students complete their education. Learners can experience academic pressure, personal difficulties, mental health challenges and uncertainty about career decisions.
The Sasol Foundation therefore incorporates psychosocial support into its education programs. Assistance can include:
- Personal counselling.
- Career counselling.
- Mentorship.
- Life-skills development.
- Wellness coaching.
- Peer-to-peer support.
These services help learners build resilience, manage challenges and remain engaged with their studies.
Sasol Energy Innovation Challenge
The Sasol Energy Innovation Challenge encourages learners in Grades 4 to 11 to develop innovative ideas connected to energy.
The initiative promotes creativity, scientific inquiry, problem-solving and practical application of STEM knowledge. It also introduces school learners to energy-related careers and encourages them to consider how technology can respond to real-world challenges.
Educational Resources and Open-Source Workbooks
One of the Foundation’s most widely accessible contributions is its collection of open-source educational workbooks.
More than 180 titles have been developed for learners from Grade R through Grade 12. These resources are used by South Africa’s Department of Basic Education and can be accessed by teachers and learners without commercial licensing restrictions.
The materials have also been used outside South Africa, demonstrating how open educational resources developed for one national system can support learning in other countries.
Partnerships and Collaborative Delivery
The Foundation works with national and provincial education departments, government entities, schools, Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges, universities, scientific organisations, nonprofit groups and other foundations.
Its programs are designed through stakeholder engagement and collaborative development. The Foundation gives particular attention to historically disadvantaged South Africans, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for women and girls.
Partnerships enable the organisation to:
- Expand successful interventions across multiple institutions.
- Combine financial resources and technical expertise.
- Align programs with government education policies.
- Improve curriculum relevance.
- Strengthen monitoring and evaluation.
- Avoid duplicating existing education initiatives.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The Sasol Foundation reports investing more than R850 million over a 13-year period in STEM education from primary school through tertiary study.
Reported results include:
- More than 180 educational workbook titles developed.
- More than 10 million learners accessing open-source resources.
- Over 40,000 learners reached annually through mobile science laboratories.
- More than 2,900 bursary and scholarship beneficiaries supported.
- More than 2,300 tertiary beneficiaries graduating.
- More than 700 peer-reviewed publications and registered patents produced through supported research.
- Thirteen technical high schools supported.
- More than 7,000 technical high-school learners reached annually.
- Approximately 400 technical teachers reached annually through a dedicated conference.
A notable example of research impact involves a postgraduate fellowship beneficiary who developed a zero-effluent process for treating acid mine drainage. Patents related to the process were filed internationally, and the technology progressed to demonstration at mining sites.
The Foundation’s impact also extends to education systems. Its workbooks, coding and robotics support, teacher development and institutional partnerships strengthen the resources available to schools and educators beyond the Foundation’s direct beneficiaries.
How the Sasol Foundation Measures Impact
The Foundation uses planning, monitoring, data collection and evaluation to understand the effectiveness of its educational investments.
Its strategy emphasises:
- Clearly defined theories of change.
- Beneficiary-focused program design.
- Data collection and analysis.
- Monitoring educational outcomes.
- Evaluating program scalability.
- Tracking graduates and former bursary recipients.
- Assessing research publications, patents and qualifications.
The Sasol Foundation Alumni Portal helps track former bursary recipients, document their professional progress and create opportunities for networking, volunteering and giving back.
Conclusion
The Sasol Foundation is a major contributor to STEM education, technical skills development and tertiary access in South Africa. Its work addresses educational barriers throughout the learning journey, beginning with early childhood development and continuing through school, technical training, university education, research and employment readiness.
Through bursaries, scholarships, open-source learning materials, mobile laboratories, teacher training, technical-school support and institutional partnerships, the Foundation helps learners acquire skills relevant to South Africa’s future economy.
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