The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) proudly congratulates Juan Oliphant, a third-year Internal Auditing student in the Faculty of Management Sciences, on being selected to participate in the prestigious 2026 Abe Bailey Leadership Development Programme.

As part of the programme, Oliphant will join a select cohort of student leaders from universities across South Africa on an approximately three-week, fully funded leadership development programme in the United Kingdom later this year. The experience will provide participants with opportunities to engage in leadership seminars, educational and cultural excursions, community engagement activities, and meaningful interactions with students, public leaders, and institutions in both South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Oliphant’s selection reflects not only his academic excellence but also his demonstrated leadership ability and commitment to serving others. He currently serves as a Supplemental Instruction Leader for Financial Accounting II and has been recognised with the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Award. During his first year of study, he was ranked among the top-performing students in the Department of Accounting and Auditing, earning recognition as the department’s third-best first-year student and receiving an invitation to join the Golden Key International Honour Society.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Oliphant is actively involved in community service. He volunteers with Reach for Recovery, the CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, and Carter’s Diabetics Edu-Care Centre, where he supports initiatives focused on health awareness, patient care, and community outreach.

His selection marks the third consecutive year that a CUT student has been chosen for the highly competitive Abe Bailey Leadership Development Programme, highlighting the university’s commitment to cultivating capable, socially conscious, and globally minded leaders.

The achievement aligns with CUT’s strategic objective of developing future-ready graduates through academic excellence, leadership development, community engagement, and international exposure. Such opportunities equip students with the skills, global perspective, and social awareness needed to make meaningful contributions within their professions and communities.

CUT congratulates Juan Oliphant on this outstanding achievement and wishes him every success as he prepares to represent the university and South Africa on this prestigious international leadership journey.