DSI-National Youth Service Programme

The Department of Science and Innovation-National Youth Service (DSI-NYS) programme is a component of the government’s overall National Youth Service (NYS) Programme , which was launched in October 2003 as a special presidential initiative to combat the high rates of youth unemployment by giving young people the chance to engage in volunteer work and skill-building opportunities. While simultaneously giving young people the chance to access opportunities for skill development, employment, and income generation, the programme supports local and national development.

To be more specific, the NYS programme aims to: give young people a way out of long-term unemployment by giving them concrete opportunities that increase their likelihood of accessing the economy; instil in young people an understanding of their important role in South Africa’s development, to assist them to participate; and enable young people to develop the skills, knowledge, and ability necessary for them to make the transition to healthy independent adulthood.

The DSI-NYS programme recruits and assigns unemployed graduates to Department of Science and Innovation partner institutions, primarily in the implementation of the science engagement programme. Although the focus is mainly on unemployed graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, there are occasionally a few spots available for graduates in other fields as well. Graduates stay in the programme for a total of 12 months while being paid a monthly stipend to help them with their basic needs. The South African Agency for the Advancement of Science and Technology (SAASTA), a division of the National Research Foundation (NRF), is responsible for managing the DSI-NYS programme. In addition to overseeing the recruitment process, SAASTA also handles the payment of monthly stipends to the participating graduates, as well as serving as the interface between host institutions and the DSI-NYS programme. Furthermore, SAASTA act as a link between the DSI-NYS programme and the host institutions.

It is expected of DSI-NYS programme participants to participate in the programme’s evaluation, which will take the form of exit interviews and a separate tracking process run by the Human Sciences Research Council. Their participation is helpful for the programme’s improvement and for determining whether it is accomplishing its goals.

Mr. MacDonald Kapu

Email : nysprecruitment@saasta.nrf.ac.za
Call : (012) 392 9300

DSI-National Youth Service Programme Advert

On behalf of the Department of Science, technology and Innovation (DSTI), the National Research Foundation’s South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA) invites the unemployed graduates described below to participate in the DSTI-National Youth Service (NYS) programme over a 12-month period. About 200 graduates will be accommodated.

  1. Science, engineering, and technology graduates (18 to 35 years of age) who will be deployed to the participating organisations that support science engagement and related work: high education institutions, schools, science centres, science councils, biodiversity conservation sites, including botanical and zoological gardens and non-profit organisations focusing on maths, science and technology.
  2. Communication science, journalism, or media studies graduates (18 to 35) who will be deployed to community media outlets to serve as science knowledge intermediaries through science journalism and related media activities. Attempts will be made to deploy appointed graduates to community media outlets across district municipalities and metros.

Successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend to support their daily needs as follows:

National Diploma NQF Level 6 (R 4 500), bachelor’s degree / B. Tech NQF Level 7 (R 5 000), Honours NQF Level 8 (R 5 500), Master’s NQF Level 9 (R 6 500), PhD NQF Level 10 (R 7 700).

Interested youth, who meet the criteria, are invited to submit a covering letter indicating why they want to participate in this youth service programme and state clearly which province they are residing in and the province of their choice. Applicants should also include a copy of their curriculum vitae (CV), certified copies of ID, qualifications, or academic transcript, and their contact details. Applicants who do not have certificates but have already completed their qualifications should attach a letter of completion under ‘’qualification’’. Selected graduates will be expected to start offering their services on April 1, 2025.

Please visit the link to submit your application https://seims.dsi.gov.za/nys/landing

Closing date: 31 January 2025

 Only shortlisted candidates will be notified of the screening outcomes.Â