Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports talented, service-oriented young people to access higher education and develop as transformative leaders.

Lessons from the Marstercard Foundation Scholars Program

Ashesi campus exterior with a glass facade, stone retaining walls, and tropical plants; a man in light shirt and beige pants walks along the walkway and wheelchair ramp.
Ashesi University is a private, non-profit university that combines a rigorous multidisciplinary core with degree programs in Computer Science, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, and Engineering. The university's mission is to propel an African renaissance by educating ethical, entrepreneurial leaders.
Mentor and mentee pose together in the We Can Work space; two women smile, one in a magenta blazer and the other in a gray shirt, conveying disability inclusion.
The scholars Program at University of Gondar (UoG), launched in 2017, is a collaborative, comprehensive program aimed at creating access to inclusive, quality higher education for talented but disadvantaged youth with disabilities and young women. Over a period of 10 years, the Program will give full academic, social, and transitional support to 450 Scholars (290 at undergraduate and 160 at graduate level) pursuing programs in medicine, health and social sciences,
Pile of banknotes and coins on a light wooden surface, showing mixed denominations with gold and silver coins and blue-tinted notes.
Dr. Mikyas Abera, Program Manager of the scholars Program at University of Gondar (UoG) shares experiences of the Program in planning and budgeting for the inclusion of Scholars with disabilities
Ashesi campus walkway with lush greenery, a person in a wheelchair wearing a high-visibility vest, and a companion in a red floral shirt near stone walls.
To prepare students for the world of work, higher education institutions organize career guidance, job fairs, internships, mentoring, community service projects and other opportunities for professional development. This article highlights the efforts made by two higher education institutions: Ashesi University in Ghana and University of Gondar in Ethiopia to include students with disabilities in these activities as well as additional support provided to prepare them for the next phases of