Filter and Adjudication Panel

The filter panel and the adjudication panel comprise representatives from Nedbank, Old Mutual, the National Treasury, the business sector and external consultants.  It must be noted that the adjudicators’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding final results.

 

Adjudication Criteria

 

Primary Criteria

The focus of the competition is on academic excellence, and essays will be judged primarily on merit and quality. If there is one essay that is of significantly higher standard than the rest, this will be regarded the winner.

 

Secondary Criteria

Essays that are of the same quality will be evaluated further using the following criteria:

  • Empowerment (black students will be given preference).
  • A student's potential.
  • A student's need (students who cannot afford to further their studies in South Africa may be given preference).
  • Community involvement.
  • A student’s commitment to address the country’s economic issues.

 

Additional Criteria

The adjudication panel will interview the 10 postgraduate finalists. The panel will evaluate each student in terms of the following criteria:

  • Intellectual sparkle.
  • Ability to formulate and express rational arguments.
  • Understanding and knowledge of topical economic issues.

If deemed necessary, the panel of adjudicators may also interview the 10 undergraduate finalists, in order to determine the winners.

 

General Information

  • 10 postgraduate students and 10 undergraduate students will be chosen as finalists and flown to Cape Town in February 2011.
  • All finalists will be guests of Nedbank and Old Mutual and must be available in person to participate in all functions arranged during their stay in Cape Town. This includes a visit to Parliament and the Budget Speech banquet (with the Minister of Finance as the keynote speaker), where the winners will be announced.
  • The panel of adjudicators evaluate both undergraduate and postgraduate essays.
  • A maximum of five students from any one university campus will be entitled to be in the final top 20 in each category. In the event that more than five entries are selected by the filter panel for the top 20, only the top five from that campus will be selected and forwarded for final adjudication.