“ THE STUDENTS’ CHOICE AWARDS“
PREFERRED GRADUATE EMPLOYERS ANNOUNCED AS VOTED FOR BY TERTIARY STUDENTS IN THE LARGEST SURVEY OF ITS KIND.
The GradStar Students’ Choice Awards recognises top graduate employers that tertiary students aspire to work for. The prestigious event brings together industry leaders, graduate employers, and students to recognise excellence across 22 industry categories.
For half a decade, the GradStar Students’ Choice Awards have recognised over 300 companies through student surveys. This unique platform showcases employers dedicated to fostering young talent, empowering students to navigate their professional journeys, and providing insights into the cultures and benefits that attract emerging leaders.
The Selection Process
Each year the winners are determined through a comprehensive survey – completed by over 6,000 entrants in the 2024 Gautrain GradStar Awards. Representing over 63 tertiary institutions across South Africa, students select the top five employers they aspire to work for.
The survey provided valuable insights into student perceptions of potential employers, analysing preferences such as:
● Desired office culture
● Salary expectations
● Interest in global mobility
● Preferred industries and benefits
● Comfort working outside their core backgrounds
The data identified the top three finalists in each category and the five finalists for the prestigious Top Overall Employer Award.
The Awards
All finalists are invited to attend the GradStar Students’ Choice Awards in December along with the top 100 students, who announce the winner in each category. This event is a unique opportunity that puts these employers and recruiters in the room with 100 of the most employable students in the country.
The evening culminates in the announcement of the Top 5 overall employers, an award scooped by Absa in 2024.
Laura Barker, founder of the GradStar Awards and CEO of BlackBark Productions says, “We are over the moon to be hosting the Students’ Choice Awards, these young people are our future and are here to take the country forward, their opinions matter and we need to hear what they think. We developed the Students’ Choice Awards as a demonstration of our commitment to our future leaders, and corporate South Africa and joining the gaps in graduate recruitment.”
Click here for GradStar Barriers to Employment Survey
Click here to find out who the Top Graduate Employers are as voted for by the GradStar students