A Development Story.

A global accounting firm in South Africa.

Just 25{be38fd1e2c946a347db4d7316b241dce4b842100e7b38236661610f0dce6def9} of disadvantaged African black bursary students were passing the national accounting exam.

With workplace equality playing a central role in South Africa’s changing culture, and pass rates for the National Board Exam so low among bursary students, the accounting firm had to recruit 200-300{be38fd1e2c946a347db4d7316b241dce4b842100e7b38236661610f0dce6def9} more African black students than they actually required, just to meet their recruitment targets.

We conducted research that meant we were able to identify and isolate the key capability traits that would accurately predict (five years in advance) whether a Year 11 student would pass the National Board Exam. We also developed a program of workshops and interventions to support black students and equip them with the emotional capabilities to thrive in their new lives at university.

In six years, we improved the pass rate for African black bursary students taking the National Board Exam from 25{be38fd1e2c946a347db4d7316b241dce4b842100e7b38236661610f0dce6def9} to almost 80{be38fd1e2c946a347db4d7316b241dce4b842100e7b38236661610f0dce6def9}.