A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme

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dc.contributor.advisorChapman, Sarah
dc.contributor.authorVan Wyk, Olga
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-02T08:15:36Z
dc.date.available2026-02-02T08:15:36Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2026-01-30T08:46:31Z
dc.description.abstractThe present study evaluates the AGOF Scholarship programme, which aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among South African youth. This evaluation examines whether the programme's activities achieve the intended outcomes and assesses the coherency of the programme theory. This study utilises a descriptive design, incorporating semi-structured interviews with four programme mobilisers and twelve scholarship beneficiaries (nine success cases and three non-success cases) along with a literature review that includes a synthesis of existing studies related to academic support, entrepreneurial mindset development and youth empowerment programmes to contextualise the findings and assess the programme's effectiveness in achieving its intended outcomes. The findings indicate that AGOF's structured support provided by the Scholarship Development Officers aligns with best practices identified in similar programmes in enhancing academic performance. In addition, experiential activities such as entrepreneurial showcases positively influence entrepreneurial alertness and self- efficacy, consistent with findings from studies in Singapore and Finland. However, gaps were identified in the programme, including the lack of structured career planning and peer feedback mechanisms, which could enhance the programme's effectiveness. This evaluation highlights the Scholarship's potential to address South Africa's socioeconomic challenges by equipping young individuals with the skills and confidence needed to pursue entrepreneurship. These skills may improve young South Africans' prospects and, in turn, contribute to job creation and economic growth.
dc.identifier.apacitationVan Wyk, O. (2025). <i>A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Accounting and Accountability in Africa. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42811en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationVan Wyk, Olga. <i>"A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Accounting and Accountability in Africa, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42811en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVan Wyk, O. 2025. A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Accounting and Accountability in Africa. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42811en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Van Wyk, Olga AB - The present study evaluates the AGOF Scholarship programme, which aims to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among South African youth. This evaluation examines whether the programme's activities achieve the intended outcomes and assesses the coherency of the programme theory. This study utilises a descriptive design, incorporating semi-structured interviews with four programme mobilisers and twelve scholarship beneficiaries (nine success cases and three non-success cases) along with a literature review that includes a synthesis of existing studies related to academic support, entrepreneurial mindset development and youth empowerment programmes to contextualise the findings and assess the programme's effectiveness in achieving its intended outcomes. The findings indicate that AGOF's structured support provided by the Scholarship Development Officers aligns with best practices identified in similar programmes in enhancing academic performance. In addition, experiential activities such as entrepreneurial showcases positively influence entrepreneurial alertness and self- efficacy, consistent with findings from studies in Singapore and Finland. However, gaps were identified in the programme, including the lack of structured career planning and peer feedback mechanisms, which could enhance the programme's effectiveness. This evaluation highlights the Scholarship's potential to address South Africa's socioeconomic challenges by equipping young individuals with the skills and confidence needed to pursue entrepreneurship. These skills may improve young South Africans' prospects and, in turn, contribute to job creation and economic growth. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - youth entrepreneurship KW - entrepreneurial mindset KW - South Africa KW - theory evaluation KW - programme theory KW - outcome evaluation KW - Success Case Method LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme TI - A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42811 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42811
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationVan Wyk O. A theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Accounting and Accountability in Africa, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42811en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentAccounting and Accountability in Africa
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectyouth entrepreneurship
dc.subjectentrepreneurial mindset
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjecttheory evaluation
dc.subjectprogramme theory
dc.subjectoutcome evaluation
dc.subjectSuccess Case Method
dc.titleA theory and outcome evaluation of the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) scholarship programme
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMPhil
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