University of Pretoria Annual Review 2022

A BETTER TOMORROW, STARTING TODAY

CHANCELLOR

We are living in an era of “creative destruction”, a term coined by Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter back in 1942, which is even more valid today. It’s the process by which new innovations kill off previous ones, currently within a very short period. It can be destructive, but it also fuels human advancement as it forces us to remain at the forefront of innovation, equipped with relevant qualifications and skills.

As a university we need to keep pace with this and be innovators of technology, making full use of extended and virtual reality, and other disruptive technology skills. Equally important in this equation are generic skills, such as adaptive thinking, strong people management, negotiation and decision-making skills, cross-cultural competencies, computational thinking, new media literacy, and virtual collaboration.

Currently, we live in a world in which knowledge and information are not shared. In Society 5.0, where technology is intended for the greater good of society, the internet of things will connect all people; data, information and knowledge will be shared; and new value contributions will be possible. Open access will open new avenues to solving the world’s problems.

At the University of Pretoria’s (UP) annual Senate Conference, we explored the role of universities in contexts of rapid changes and major disruptions, with a specific focus on building a human-centred university and related digital transformation.

How does the University remain relevant, up-to-date and agile in continuous learning while leveraging the possibilities, prospects and challenges of Society 5.0?

The need for partnerships between academia, industry, the private sector and government, was emphasised. Accelerated growth in sustainable networks without borders was stressed to ensure that UP adapts to the complex, interconnected crises, as captured in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063. Emphasis was also placed on the need for universities to focus on opportunities arising from

artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation, and to develop more balanced, sustainability-oriented, and humancentric approaches.

Four opportunities were outlined that are tied to current strategic priorities and trends in the higher education sector:

• increasing PhDs and focusing on strategic partnerships

• transforming the curriculum and asserting and celebrating our academic project

• promoting entrepreneurship and achieving a ‘triangle alliance’ of critical knowledge and critical thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship, and

• encouraging lifelong learning and developments in education technology.

This report shows how the University is steadily progressing in these areas.

We are already known as the best South African university at which to study engineering, technology, and computer science, and five of our research chairs focus on 4IR technologies and data integration to proactively solve current and future problems.

As we enter the Age of AI, the University is poised to use AI not just to perform mundane tasks for humans, but to connect more fully with what it means to be human.

Out of adversity comes opportunity may well epitomise 2022. While in no way minimising the devastation and upheaval of the past three years, the opportunity to be uncharacteristically flexible and responsive has taught the University of Pretoria (UP) a number of lessons, which are helping us to shape a successful future.

One of the most obvious silver linings has been the fast-forwarding of the use of technology, resulting in innovative ways of meeting, communicating, teaching, and learning. Given the enriched learning experience and flexibility presented through the online format, it is unlikely that the University will ever return to contactonly teaching and learning, and we certainly have a very interesting hybrid opportunity to take into the postpandemic world.

In 2022, our robust IT infrastructure and fast-tracked digital expertise helped UP sustain and develop partnerships with prominent institutions and networks across the world.

International collaboration enables universities to make significant research and innovation leaps by sharing and building on each other’s areas of expertise. It also elevates all of our teaching and learning, and research facilities to a new level.

CHAIR OF MESSAGECOUNCIL FROM THE

resource that gives policymakers access to the most useful research on the SDGs, in order to develop and implement more impactful policies. The hub functions as a meta-platform, aggregating the best and most relevant research on SDGs from South African and selected nonSouth African universities.

Council’s approval of new initiatives will further strengthen our position. Among them are the establishment of an African Centre for the Study of the United States at the University of Pretoria (ACSUS-UP), as well as a Centre for Asian Studies in Africa (CASA).

UP is already at the forefront of biodiscovery research and two new centres will entrench its leadership role. A Biodiscovery Centre will be used to create a library of natural products in Africa and establish UP as a leader in the field of natural product research in South Africa. An African Centre for Biosecurity and Disease Risk Assessment will offer “One Health-One Biosecurity” solutions to address global disease- and animal healthrelated challenges, contributing to food security in Africa.

This affirms our leadership and commitment to build capacity in Africa and to accelerate and scale impact. Our international and regional relationships will be further expanded with the appointment of a Senate Committee for Internationalisation and Global Engagement Strategy to guide and support future collaborations.

The Council extends its gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal and his leadership team who kept a firm hand on the tiller in steering the University through another uncertain year. Thanks to them, the University has demonstrated its impact both at home and abroad.

Justice Sisi Khampepe Chancellor

The launch of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) South Africa National Network at UP’s Future Africa Campus cemented our commitment to contributing to the development and well-being of people and societies. The South African SDG Hub is a national

Mr KD Dlamini Chairperson of Council

VICE CHANCELLOR

In 2022, the University of Pretoria (UP) embarked on the last phase of a five-year strategic plan that will lead us to 2025 and beyond. Efforts over the past four years to achieve our strategic goals were rewarded with an increase in student access and success; high-quality research for greater societal impact; global recognition; diversity, equity and inclusion; and institutional sustainability. Examples of these can be found throughout this report.

As we advance towards and beyond 2025, we will continue to strive to meet our goals for the greater good and benefit of society as a whole. Our well-educated, skilled graduates and relevant transformative research are key agents and drivers of sustainable inclusive development.

Growing young talent

The University continued to see an increase in applications, with 46 854 undergraduate applications that meet minimum requirements received. This was 870 more than for 2021. We are still one of the largest contact universities in South Africa with 54 466 students enrolled in 2022.

UP remains the university of choice for high-achieving students. Two exceptional school-leaving achievers – based on their Grade 12 results and their potential

for success – are studying at UP through the ViceChancellor’s Distinguished Merit Awards (VCDMAs).

Gauteng’s overall top performer of 2021, Kristen Erasmus, who received nine distinctions, was one of the recipients of the awards. Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli, aged 15 years, is our youngest recipient of a VCDMA.

For the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the University hosted in-person graduation ceremonies. We awarded 13 555 qualifications (2021: 13 593), of which 333 were to doctoral graduates and 1 822 were for master’s degrees.

Two notable graduates deserve mention. At 25, Mathias Shunmugam (bottom right) is the youngest PhD holder in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies’ 105-year history. Karabo Maleka (bottom left) is the first black student to graduate with a PhD in speech pathology from UP. She was inspired by her late grandmother, who was a nurse, to pursue a career in the health sector.

Preparing our students for work

Preparing learners for automation, digital platforms and other innovations is the cornerstone of their education for a future that is already on our doorstep.

Ongoing efforts to make our students future-fit has earned the University international recognition. In the 2023 QS World University Rankings, UP is now ranked second in South Africa and 190th in the world according to the Employer Reputation indicator. This indicates that we produce graduates who understand the world of work and can make a valuable contribution right from the start.

Strengthening work-integrated-learning is an important feature of our curriculum transformation and programme design, as we prepare students for the future. Increasing focus is being placed on embedding innovation, entrepreneurship and digital literacy into the broad suite of student competencies. In 2022, some key developments in this area were:

Centre for the Future of Work: This newly launched Centre looks at all the new ways of working and seeking fulfilment in our work. Through research, we intend addressing issues like youth unemployment, the gig economy and better ways of flexible and hybrid work.

Digital Capability Laboratory: Launched towards the end of 2022, this laboratory will help students with the requisite skill-set to thrive in the evolving world of work. The laboratory is part of the European Union’s (EU) Erasmus+ SUCCESS Project, an initiative that researches ways to tackle youth unemployment and boost student employability in South Africa. UP is one of six higher education institutions involved in this Project.

Smart learning resources: UP’s Forensic Anthropology Research Centre has set up a comprehensive facility to help other departments in the Faculty of Health Sciences with the 3D-printing of replicas of bones and organs. Besides improving research methods and the teaching of students, this facility can open up the job market for students who can do 3D-image processing and 3D-print items for medical doctors.

Building capacity in Africa

Through our Africa Global University Project (AGUP), we focus on building an institution that is internationally recognised for research excellence and engaged scholarship, while contributing to social and economic development in South Africa, Africa and the world.

This initiative aims to strengthen UP’s participation in numerous networks to influence the collaborative development of higher education and research in Africa and globally.

One of the many developments during 2022 was the launch of the African Centre for the Study of the United States at UP (ACSUS-UP). This is the second ACSUS centre to be opened in Africa. ACSUS-UP’s core activities will include research in various cross-cutting disciplinary areas, namely geopolitics and geostrategy, food security, water and energy, one health, inequalities, social justice and human rights.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has granted R10 million towards formalising the South Africa-Canada University Network (SACUN), which aims to help Canadian universities formulate their Africa strategies and partner with African universities. UP Vice-Chancellor Prof Kupe was nominated as the lead South African Vice-Chancellor of SACUN.

UP is also the South African coordinator of the South Africa-Sweden Universities Forum (SASUF). In 2022, the SASUF 2030 programme resumed, with UP hosting a virtual meeting. The first call for collaborative proposals was launched in September 2022.

Strengthening financial sustainability

The South African higher education sector continued to deal with the challenge of declining state funding, increasing regulation of tuition fees, rising student debt and challenges related to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Growing alternative sources of funding has become increasingly important.

On a positive note, the University’s fundraising is on an upward trajectory. In 2022, we raised R250 million against a target of R170 million. Our first Giving Day Campaign, held on 25 July 2022, raised over R19 million from over 400 donors. The event will be held again in 2023, with

a view to it becoming an annual feature as part of our initiatives to support UP students financially.

Another significant milestone is the launch of the UP US Charitable Foundation and the University’s Charitable Trust in the United Kingdom.

The University’s advancement performance has been recognised in the Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) where UP’s total income represented the largest institutional philanthropic income of all universities in South Africa.

Underpinning research impact

As one of South Africa’s premier universities, we are also one of the largest producers of research in the country. More importantly, our research matters because it is aimed at changing lives, as we strive to achieve greater societal impact by creating knowledge that addresses local and global challenges.

The University strengthened its position in the world rankings in 2022. UP registered its best performance ‘to date in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings where it was placed among the top 150 universities in the world. UP remained highly ranked in many subjects, including being in the top 100 globally in areas like Law, Mineral and Mining Engineering and Veterinary Science in the THE Subject Rankings for 2022..

Our best performance is also in the impact and sustainability rankings run by THE and Quacquarelli Symonds, where we are ranked joint second in South Africa with the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Developing reputation

As the first post-pandemic year, 2022 saw numerous initiatives and projects being launched to strengthen our reputation for quality, relevance and impact. A small sample is listed here.

Pan-African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI): Funded by UP, the South African Medical Research Foundation (SAMRC) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), PACRI aims to consolidate existing cancer research resources to provide a platform where multidisciplinary teams will tailor treatments to individual patients, thus facilitating precision oncology treatment. The Centre will be headed by UP’s Professor Zodwa Dlamini, who holds the SARChI Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention.

National Biosecurity Hub: The hub is an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation’s Agricultural Bio-economy Innovation Partnership Programme. It will facilitate collaboration to help prevent, reduce and manage crop and animal disease, and other matters related to food safety in South Africa. It will be coordinated by Innovation Africa @UP.

Centre for Language Learning: The Centre aims to develop the English language skills of international students to strengthen their ability to study and work in an English-speaking environment. There are plans to expand the number of courses offered by the Centre. The launch event included ambassadors from 17 countries, including Switzerland and the USA.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) South Africa

Officially launched in March 2022 at the University’s Future Africa Campus. Hosted by the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at UP, the SDSN South Africa Network is chaired by Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University.

Welcoming our new Chancellor

The University was honoured to appoint Emeritus Justice Sisi Khampepe as the new UP Chancellor for a five-year term with effect from 28 June 2022. Justice Khampepe embodies all the values which we espouse at UP, and we are truly grateful to have this extraordinary South African icon as our Chancellor.

I would like to pay tribute to Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu who ended his term of office as Chancellor in June 2022. After 15 years, he leaves behind an indelible legacy and an institution that is stronger than ever before, having benefited from his valuable contribution as one of the most influential South Africans of our time. We are deeply grateful that his stature elevated the standing of the University in South Africa and globally.

Prof Tawana Kupe Vice-Chancellor

BETTER TOMORROW

INTERNATIONAL GRANTS EXPAND

RESPONDING WELL TO AFRICA’S CHALLENGES

in Africa for Environmental Impact (#139 in the world)

in Africa for Social Impact (#161 in the world)

Source:

The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) was once again ranked top in South Africa in the UK Financial Times rankings for their Executive MBA programme. The only African business school in the paper’s annual Executive MBA Ranking, GIBS has moved to position 74.

TEACHING & LEARNING

Teaching and learning THE UP WAY has a dedicated focus on enhancing the capability of students as they undertake the university journey. Ongoing innovations in teaching and learning continue to strengthen support mechanisms for student success.

The University’s hybrid teaching and learning model offers students the best of both worlds – online and contact – and is designed to enable them to succeed at university and in life beyond university.

The model assumes three phases in teaching and learning: (a) preparation before class, (b) engagement in class, and (c) consolidation after class. This teaching model places UP in the perfect position to develop the skills students need to function effectively in the 4IR. It encourages students to prepare independently for each class and engage and critically discuss issues in class.

UP combines the latest technologies to support this methodology, and to develop scalable, flexible, interactive, and active learning environments.

In 2022, the University launched Blackboard Ally to help build a more inclusive learning environment by helping students control course content with usability, accessibility and quality in mind. The Department of African Languages assisted with the Zulu translation, while Bb Ally is also available in Xhosa and will soon be available in Sepedi. In 2022, approximately 72% of the students used alternative formats provided by Bb Ally.

Blackboard Learn™ (branded as clickUP) ensures that students come to class prepared, complete pre-class assessments, engage in class, and consolidate their knowledge after class. Learning analytics’ early alerts help lecturers intervene in a timely manner and prevent possible future problems.

Blackboard Mobile lets student access their learning material across various devices. Students can thus access content from the BlackBoard (Bb) app, participate in discussions, participate in virtual Blackboard Collaborate classes, and view their grades.

ConnectYard , piloted in 2022 by the Department for Education Innovation, enables teaching staff to reach students on their devices using their preferred messaging channels: text, social media, or email. This eliminates the need for lecturers to access students’ phone numbers and allows them to manage groups outside clickUP.

Cirrus Assessment cloud-based online computer-based testing (CBT), implemented in 2022, enables students to write a test on any hardware that possesses internet connection and a browser. The system operates across any browser-enabled device, which opens up the possibility of writing CBT tests on student laptops in an IT lab or lecture hall.

Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys allows students to provide feedback on the effectiveness and quality of teaching. This helps lecturers continuously improve their teaching, learning, and assessment practices, as well as the general quality of the modules they teach.

Shaping resilient graduates

The University implements a multi-pronged strategy to enhance student success, the main driver of this strategy being the FLY@UP initiative.

FLY@UP uses various tools and tactics to help students graduate in minimum time. The FLY acronym, which stands for ‘The Finish Line is Yours’, is a tagline unique to UP and it serves as a reminder to students that they are responsible for ensuring they complete their studies in the minimum time.

• The Academic Orientation Programme provides comprehensive support to encourage the academic development and success of first-year students.

• Faculty Student Advisors (FSAs) provide a safety net service, advising and referring students for the support or intervention they may require.

• Online learning platforms ensure that students can attend a tutorial from wherever they may be, or log in to work through the recorded tutorial.

• The High Impact Modules (HIMs) project seeks to improve the success rate of modules that indicate a pass rate of below 75%, by providing targeted interventions.

• Peer advisors work closely with FSAs to answer questions around administrative processes such as degree planning and registration of modules.

We believe our multi-layered support systems play a significant role in student success. As an example, the overall module pass rate increased from 82.9% to 85.7% between 2018 and 2022. During the same period, the examination pass rate increased from 80.8% to 85.8%.

A survey also revealed that 97% of all employed graduates secured work within six months of completing their studies.

International awards for technology in teaching

Two teams from UP’s Department for Education Innovation won honours at the Anthology Catalyst Awards, where they were selected from a record 149 nominees from institutions in 22 countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia. The awards recognise educators who push the boundaries of what is possible when leveraging technology.

The Department also won an award in the Student Success category which measures solutions that have led to increased retention, increased completion, or improved outcomes.

Pathway to resilience

Successfully obtaining a degree in minimum time is but one aspect of getting an education. UP takes a holistic and integrated approach to developing students so that they are prepared to grasp life’s opportunities while contributing meaningfully to the good of society.

Our pathway to resilience comprises development and support through curricular programmes as well as through extra- and co-curricular student life.

First Year Experience (FYE) Programme: Assists firstyear students to deal with challenges and issues they face during their first academic year.

Disability Unit (DU): Helps with the added challenges experienced by people with disabilities as they adapt to the new university environment.

Student Counselling Unit (SCU): Provides readily accessible counselling services through virtual or face-toface consultations. Information is shared through a range of media and channels including podcasts, posters, the SCU-B chatbot and social media.

Student Health Services: Provide comprehensive primary healthcare and health promotion programmes to all registered students.

Academic success is intertwined with developing future leaders and responsible citizens who contribute towards building an equitable society that respects human rights and pursues social justice. Two such leadership programmes are:

• UP Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Democracy School for Young Leaders – open to all UP students in leadership positions where they engage on issues of human rights, social justice, civic participation and civic responsibility.

• Girls for Girls (G4G) programme – an international mentorship and leadership initiative originating from Harvard – helps young women to develop the courage, vision, and skills for public leadership.

Student success and awards

We take pride in producing graduates who are socially conscious, active citizens who address societal issues and positively impact our communities. We realise that beyond the boundaries of knowledge production lies the responsibility to apply our knowledge and skills to the benefit of all.

A small sample of student accolades is reflected below:

• A team of six students from the Faculty of Law came third at the 29th annual International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition. The UP Moot Society team’s ranking is not only UP Law’s strongest showing in the competition since it started participating in 2021 but also the furthest a university on the African continent has made it overall.

UP Cares

Student well-being was top of mind in 2022 as the Student Counselling Unit (SCU)expanded its hybrid service offerings.

• Faculty members were offered “psychological first aid” training sessions.

• A group of students from the UP Plasma Research Unit scored a second-place finish during the International Conference on Sustainable Development 2022, aimed at finding multidisciplinary solutions to climate-related problems. UP’s ‘Team Tujenge’ had been developing ideas for a small-scale, solar-powered water purification system using plasma technology since the beginning of 2022.

UP graduate Mia Gerber received a Master’s in Computer Science with distinction after completing her degree in a year and a half following her return to academia. The machine-learning techniques that she developed as part of her research make artificial intelligence more accessible and can also be applied to areas relevant to the United Nation’s SGDs, disease diagnosis, spam detection and sentiment analysis.

• A BounceUP podcast project was launched, providing relevant mental health content on topics such as “What is Mental Health and Mental Illness”, “Understanding Resilience” and “Romantic Relationships and Gaslighting” to a wider student audience. The podcasts were published on Spotify, the TuksFM platforms and the SCU website.

• A visit by TOP Dogs provided animal-assisted therapy sessions ahead of examinations. Research indicates that human-animal interaction has a relaxing and stressreducing effect on people and the TOP Dogs visits received an overwhelming response from students and staff who filled the lawns on campus in their numbers.

Snappy help

The Student Nutrition and Progress Programme (SNAPP) addresses the issue of student hunger. In 2022, the programme received a generous donation as part of the Tiger Brands’ Plates4Days Programme.

1 255 students helped 2 505 food parcels distributed 3.3% increase in grades of students

Awards and Appointments

Our staff also attracted local and international recognition in 2022 and we feature selected achievements here:

Top Teachers

UP’s Academic Achievers Awards celebrate and honour academic achievers and researchers. Teaching Excellence awards went to:

Group award

- Prof Tania Hanekom (below left) from the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.

Individual award

- Dr Caren Combrinck (below right) from the Department of Architecture.

Teaching excellence

Maintaining high levels of quality and excellence is, to a significant extent, dependent on the knowledge and skills, talent and commitment of our academic, professional and support staff.

Just one of the indicators of our quality staff is UP’s ranking among the world’s top universities to study 20 subjects (up from 18 in 2021) in the 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject. UP was ranked in four broad subject areas: Arts and Humanities; Social Sciences; Life Sciences and Medicine; and Engineering and Technology. A notable accomplishment is UP’s Mineral and Mining Engineering ranked at position 33 (48 in 2021), which is among the top 50 worldwide.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022 by subject has ranked UP 60th in the world for law. This confirms that UP’s Faculty of Law has remained the leading law faculty on the African continent for five consecutive years.

A further measure of our research strength is the 613 NRF-rated researchers in 2022 (2021: 592). We had 15 A-rated researchers and 106 B-rated researchers. We not only benefit from the gravitas of our internationally recognised A-rated researchers, but are pleased that our pipeline of talent is constantly replenished by our P-rated researchers (under 35 years of age) and Y-rated researchers (under 40 years of age).

UP continues to have a high proportion of academic staff with a doctorate (70.9% in 2022). This far exceeds the 48% of all permanent instructional/research staff with doctorates at public universities in South Africa as reported by HEMIS data (Higher Education Management Information System).

Prof Mike Wingfield of the UP Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) was awarded the annual Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship Award for his research into disease-causing fungi.

Prof Jerry Pillay , Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion, was elected General Secretary of the global faith-based organisation, the World Council of Churches (WCC). The WCC is a fellowship of churches consisting of more than 354 denominations.

Prof Nigel Bennett , in the Department of Zoology and Entomology, was awarded the prestigious JFW Herschel Medal by the Royal Society of South Africa. The medal is the Society’s highest honour and has been sparingly given over the years.

Attorney Lithalethemba Stwayi from the Centre for Child Law was selected to participate in the merit-based 2022 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a flagship programme of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) run by the United States Government.

Prof Marietjie Venter , Head of the Zoonotic Arbo and Respiratory Virus Programme at the Centre for Viral Zoonoses in the Department of Medical Virology, was selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) to chair the prestigious Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO).

Prof Gareth Bath , Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, was awarded the Global Animal Welfare Award by the World Veterinary Association.

Outside the classroom

After 750 days of operating under the national lockdown, we had many reasons to celebrate the return to normality.

UP Museums held the official launch of the Mapungubwe Archive in partnership with the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Another high point was the final location of the muchanticipated female figure of the Rain Goddess by Willem de Sanderes Hendrikz. This magnificent bronze sculpture now stands proudly outside the Old Merensky Building and was a generous long-term donation made by Nedbank Limited.

In September, UP hosted the hugely successful annual Principal’s Concert after a two-year hiatus. The concert was held on the Aula Lawn of the Hatfield Campus under the theme ‘Ukuthula: Celebration of peace’, a symbol of unity in the University community’s collective struggle to make the world a better place for all.

Sporting highlights

If the University of Pretoria had been considered Africa’s sporting powerhouse in previous years, its athletes took centre-stage in the world in 2022. Some highlights of their international achievements are listed below .

Birmingham Commonwealth Games: Just when we thought that TuksSport could not improve on its Olympic success of 2021, our athletes went on to excel at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, winning 11 of the 27 South African medals and contributing 40% of the medal tally. Tuks swimmers were responsible for seven of the 11 medals won during the Games.

Swimming: Eighteen-year-old Tuks swimmer Pieter Coetzé won five gold, two silver, and three bronze medals in backstroke events at the Mare Nostrum Swim Series in Europe. A definite highlight was beating the former Olympic gold medallist, Michael Anderson (USA), in the 50m backstroke.

Archery: Tuks’s archers made a near clean sweep during the African Championships hosted by UP, winning no fewer than five gold medals.

Women’s Sevens rugby: Eight Tuks players were selected to play for the Springbok Women’s Sevens team. They were in action at the Commonwealth Games, the World Cup Tournament and a World Qualifier Tournament.

Athletics: Tuks athletes won three gold, seven silver and three bronze medals during the Africa Championship held in Mauritius.

Varsity Sports: On the local front, TuksHockey made history when their women’s and men’s teams clinched Varsity Tournament titles within hours of each other. This was the first time this has happened in the history of Varsity Sports (see winning teams alongside).

Thanks to TuksHockey’s heroics, UP won four of the eight completed Varsity Tournaments. In addition to the two hockey tournaments, the Tuks rugby team won the Varsity Cup Tournament, and the Tuks under-20 rugby team was the Varsity Young Guns Champions.

Sportswoman of the Year: Michaela Whitebooi

Michaela Whitebooi’s refusal to curb her dreams is why she was named the Tuks Sportswoman of the Year. During the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, she won gold in the judo under-48kg category, the first South African female judoka to win gold at a major international competition.

of

Our Sportsman of the Year, Jovan van Vuuren, certainly set the bar high in 2022. His breakthrough moment was winning a bronze medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. It is only the third time since 1994 that a South African long jumper has medalled at the Commonwealth Games.

THROUGH DEMONSTRATINGPEOPLE IMPACT

Get ready to work

We prepare our students for the future workplace and enhance their employability in many ways.

• Ready for Work online courses help our students prepare for the workplace and what to expect from a corporate work environment.

• An Entrepreneurship programme teaches students how to use their knowledge, skills and talents to start their own business. In this way, they can become job creators rather than job seekers.

• The UP Career Services Mentorship Programme recognises the importance of the guidance of industry specialists to prepare students for the world of work and links students with industry experts for six months.

We plan for students to succeed

Strengthened by highest number of qualified staff 90% of the 2021 graduates were either working or studying full-time or part-time in 2022 97%

of all employed graduates secured work within six months of completing their studies

70.9%

Staff with PhD qualification

613

Number of NRF-rated researchers

Producing work-ready graduates

UP is ranked second in South Africa and 190th in the world for producing graduates who understand the world of work and can make a valuable contribution right from the start.

Source: 2023 QS World University Rankings, Employer Reputation … and supported by AI

Another member has been added to UP’s family of robots. SmWoef is a robotic dog that works in the Engineering 4.0 research facility to collect routine data among agricultural crops for future use and improved farming techniques. SmWoef joins Libby, the robotic library assistant who works at the Merensky II Library (meet her below), and Stevie, the gender-neutral robot based at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

We attract international attention

RANKED AMONG THE WORLD’S TOP UNIVERSITIES TO STUDY 20 subjects (up from 18 in 2021)

Source: 2022 QS World University Rankings by Subject

RESEARCH IMPACT IN

Our research spans fundamental research at discipline levels, through to transdisciplinary research that addresses the complex challenges facing society. In our quest to be a leading research-intensive university, we are continually working to increase research that is relevant to societal needs, and that drives societal development and change.

To amplify our impact, we pursue collaborations with over 3 000 institutions across the globe and have some 230 international institution-wide partnerships across 70 countries and six continents.

Top tier indicators

Following a new high level of academic output in 2021, the University of Pretoria’s output remained stable in 2022, with a total of 2 343.66 units. Significant were conference proceedings returning to pre-pandemic levels and a marked increase in the production of longer-term outputs in the shape of books and chapters in books (356.56 units).

Although weighted research outputs per academic staff showed a slight decrease, the figure for 2022 (2.24 outputs per academic staff member) compares favourably with our South African peers. The weighted per capita research output value for all public universities in 2019 was 2.01 (DHET, 2021).

The proportion of black postgraduate students continued to climb, with people of colour now making up threequarters of our postgraduate enrolments.

The University’s continued commitment to international cooperation in research is reflected in the return of international postdoctoral fellows to 2018 levels. Aligned to this is a steady, year-on-year increase in total postdoctoral fellow numbers and numbers of international academic staff.

Postdoctoral fellows are a strong indicator of future research excellence, with this often being the first step on the academic career ladder.

UP’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) was once again ranked top in South Africa of the UK Financial Times rankings for their Executive MBA programme. The only African business school in the paper’s annual Executive MBA Ranking, GIBS has moved to 74th position for the modular and part-time executive MBA, a climb of 13 places.

Research chairs, global rankings

Institutions of higher education are globally ranked on the basis of various quantifiable factors. Research performance is measured by publications and citations. International diversity and other indicators such as academic reputation and graduate employability also contribute to the various ranking systems. UP has remained stable in its rankings over the past five years, with a decrease experienced in 2022 in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

The Times Higher Education (THE) Subject Rankings for 2022 ranked UP in eleven subject fields: Arts and Humanities • Business and Economics Clinical, Preclinical and Health • Computer Science Education • Engineering • Law • Life Sciences Physical Sciences • Psychology • Social Sciences.

The performance of most subjects remained stable over this period with noticeable success from Law, returning to the top 100, and its highest ranking (at #60). UP was also ranked first in South Africa for Law.

ESI Indicator fields

The University is rated among the top 1% globally in 14 of the 22 Essential Science Indicator (ESI) fields (up from 12 in 2021). UP was the only university in South Africa to feature in Economics and Business. Academics produced most documents within Economics & Business, Engineering, Microbiology and Plant & Animal Science within South Africa. Molecular Biology and Genetics in particular, enjoyed a phenomenal year, averaging north of 45 citations per paper.

UP has three researchers ranked in the top 1% by ESI worldwide. They are:

• Professor Rangan Gupta in Economics and Business

• Professor Mike Wingfield in Plant and Animal Sciences

• Professor Yves Van der Peer in Cross-field (Ghent University Belgium with secondary affiliation University of Pretoria)

Researchers are selected for their exceptional influence and performance in one or more of 21 research fields or across several fields. The methodology used, assesses the number of highly cited papers and the number of citations for 2012 - 2022 by threshold per subject.

It is possible to use ESI statistics to identify the top 1% of scientists and published articles internationally, based on citations. As of January 2023, a total of 265 UP-published papers were among these top papers world-wide, spread over 20 of the 22 ESI subject fields. UP continues to dominate the subject category of Plant & Animal Sciences with 78 top papers.

New and Renewed Research Chairs

The University of Pretoria had a total of 51 active chairs in 2022. These include 19 industry-funded research chairs and 31 Department of Science and Innovation DSI-NRF South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) chairs.

Four academics were awarded co-funded Chairs under the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI): Artificial intelligence specialist, Professor Nelishia Pillay of the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, was awarded the Chair in Machine Learning for Sustainable Development.

Professor Zodwa Dlamini , inaugural Scientific Director of UP’s Pan African Cancer Research Institute (PACRI) in the Faculty of Health Sciences, holds the Chair in Precision Oncology and Cancer Prevention.

Professor Thulani Makhalanyane of the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, was awarded the Chair in Marine Microbiomics.

Professor Chris Changwe Nshimbi Acting Director of UP’s Institute for Strategic and Political Affairs and Associate Professor in the Department of Political Sciences in the Faculty of Humanities, was awarded a research Chair in the Political Economy of Migration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

International footprint

While the bulk of UP’s international partnerships remain with institutions in western Europe and North America, UP has cultivated relationships with facilities around the globe. Due to issues of capacity, Africa remains unavoidably under-represented among our international partners.

A core focus of the University is international and transdisciplinary cooperation, particularly in research. Below is a small selection that illustrates the breadth, depth and excellence of our collaborative research.

UP has always been characterised by a spirit of transdisciplinary and international cooperation and, to this end, some notable initiatives were launched in 2022.

Effects of grazing on deserts

Professors Peter le Roux (right), from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, and Professor Thulani Makhalanyane (right), DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, led the South African component of a groundbreaking multidisciplinary study on the effects of grazing in deserts. The first-ever global field assessment of the ecological impacts of grazing in drylands was published in Science, and was the product of a global cooperation.

Investigating termite and microbial wood discovery and decay

Extraordinary Professor Catherine Parr and PhD student Katherine Bunney of the Department of Zoology and Entomology joined over a hundred collaborators from around the world in an international study led by the University of Miami to investigate termite and microbial wood discovery and decay. The work was published in the journal Science . The UP team ran field experiments in a relatively wet savanna near Hoedspruit and further north in a much more arid savanna in the Nwanedi Nature Reserve, using wood blocks in decomposition bags.

Detection and genome characterisation of the Middelburg virus

An excellent example of the research/education interface was provided by Master’s graduate, Isabel Fourie , along with Dr June Williams (Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Section of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science) and Professor Marietjie Venter Head of the Zoonotic, Arbo- and Respiratory Virus Programme at UP’s Department of Medical Virology. The UP team combined with a high-level team of local and international researchers to detect and characterise the genome of strains of the old-world Middelburg virus. Ms Fourie was the lead author on the resulting paper, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

BWS plus - Cognitive Geomatics

Cognitive Geomatics is the science of digital teaching to create awareness of intercultural differences in sense of place, using Germany, South Africa and Kenya as case studies. BWS plus is a project of the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM for students. The project represents a long-term cooperation between the University of Pretoria, the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HKA) in Germany and the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The project will widen the thematic discourse to be more interdisciplinary – apart from geo(infor)matics, students from the social sciences and cultural media management will also be involved. The project runs from March 2022 until February 2025 and is funded to the tune of €140 000.

Centres for International Study

UP launched two new institutes in 2022.

• The African Centre for the Study of the United States, University of Pretoria (ACSUS-UP). This is a local structure and network centre with an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary scope. It promotes scholarly research and exchanges, policy engagement, business interactions and cultural contact between African and American universities and epistemic communities.

• The Centre for Asian Studies in Africa (CASA) is a major new initiative for knowledge production about Asia and Afro-Asian connections in South Africa and on the African continent.

Climate change and whales

UP’s Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit and WWF South Africa have teamed up to support research on southern right whales in response to warming oceans and changes to ocean processes which are affecting the number of whales visiting SA’s shores.

Smart solution for smart crop

A team from the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences, under the guidance of Professor Naushad Emmambux found a way to make orange-fleshed sweet potato last longer in an effort to benefit from this smart crop and address micronutrient deficiencies among young children and pregnant women. As part of InnoFoodAfrica, a multinational, cross-continental project that aims to enhance food and nutrition security in Africa, UP researchers have discovered that they can leverage the health benefits of the vegetable by making it into flour, expanding the number of ways orange-fleshed sweet potatoes can be used.

Dr Mia Wege, a scientist and lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, was part of an international research team that made the groundbreaking discovery of the world’s largest fish breeding colony in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica.

Innovation at work

The University was awarded R2.54 million of Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) seed funding for four technology development projects to commence in the year 2023. In relation to licensing, UP, together with the CSIR concluded a license agreement with a major industry player in the animal vaccine market.

The name of the company cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality.

This transaction is of significant importance since the company will be producing and commercialising a cattle-tick vaccine.

Other UP technologies that have received noteworthy licensing interest from industry (this includes intellectual property) are:

• Asthma Grid: An early warning system that can predict imminent asthma attacks developed by Mr Moses Kebalepile, in the Faculty of Health Sciences and Research Officer in the Department for Education Innovation.

• Non-Invasive Method for Malaria Detection. An existing licensee has expressed an interest to buy out the UP intellectual property, and this is undergoing IP valuation.

• Professor Rangan Gupta in Economics and Business (University of Pretoria)

• Professor Mike Wingfield in Plant and Animal Sciences (University of Pretoria)

• Professor Yves Van der Peer in Cross-field (Ghent University Belgium with secondary affiliation University of Pretoria)

Top researchers

During UP’s Academic Achievers Awards ceremony, the Chancellor’s Award for Research went to:

Prof Nigel C Bennett, Department of Zoology and Entomology. He holds the Austin Roberts Chair of African Mammalogy at the Mammal Research Institute. His research record ranks him among the best researchers studying social regulation of reproduction in any group of mammals in the world.

Prof De Wet Swanepoel, Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, where he directs research for the WHO Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss. He has been at the forefront of innovation in digital hearing health technologies and service-delivery models to make ear and hearing healthcare more accessible and affordable.

which

have disastrous consequences, are gaining popularity.

WITH IMPACT ENGAGEMENT

As an integral part of society and an institution for the public good, the University recognises the importance of our stakeholders and the need to engage with them meaningfully in areas of shared interest.

An example of our approach is our continued effort to advance transdisciplinarity in teaching, learning and research. This involves both internal and external stakeholders. From an internal stakeholder perspective, there is increasing collaboration between different faculties around defined complex challenges, and using the platforms created in the University such as Future Africa, Javett Art Centre and Innovation Africa.

Institutional collaboration is largely through multiuniversity networks covering an expansive African footprint, and an equivalent global reach. Networks include the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN), the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the Alliance for African Partnerships – Michigan State University (AAP), and the University Social Responsibility Network (USRN).

In 2022, the University had 202 active international partners, made up of universities or entities in the higher education sector with whom we share Memorandums of Intent, Institutional Agreements or Faculty Agreements.

Institutional agreements

Mutual collaboration between institutions enables us to make important advances in teaching, learning, research and innovation. In 2022, the University signed a range of agreements which will further leverage international and national funding opportunities, student and academic exchange and collaboration.

King’s College, London

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UP and King’s College, London, aims to establish a partnership regarding potential collaborative opportunities on postdoctoral research, and global and transnational leadership. Specifically, the first project will be a Doctoral Engineering Programme anchored at UP.

University of Nairobi

Our two universities have been collaborating on an informal basis, and the signing of an MoU takes the partnership to the next level, making it easier to mobilise resources to support implementation. Both universities share the desire to strengthen intra-Africa university collaboration, are members of ARUA, and jointly host the ARUA Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Food Systems with the University of Ghana in Legon, Accra.

Dr Sam Motsuenyane Development Foundation

This agreement will see us collaborating in areas that include rural development, poverty and unemployment alleviation, as well as township economic revitalisation. The foundation was established by Dr Sam Motsuenyane, a pioneering businessman who has dedicated his life to empowering individuals and communities to participate in rural and township economies.

Oppenheimer Generations Foundation and the Benjamin R Oppenheimer Trust

Through this agreement, UP has instituted two research chairs that will pursue important and novel research. The Oppenheimer Chair for Emerging African Scientists in Non-invasive Wildlife Research was awarded to the Director of our Mammal Research Institute, Professor André Ganswindt, as principal investigator. The chair supports highly motivated postgraduate students from Africa to conduct research that focuses on non-invasive approaches to wildlife research and management.

Carleton University, Canada

UP and Carleton University agreed to facilitate and promote cooperation, with a view to supporting research collaboration, capacity building, and other forms of academic partnerships.

In 2022, UP signed 20 student exchange agreements to ensure strategic engagement with international partners: 17 are in Europe, two in Asia, and one in the USA.

Engaging events

The University hosted a number of high-profile events which underscored our engagement on many levels. Four are listed below.

Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2022

A joint initiative of Future Earth and the Belmont Forum, SRI is an emerging global platform of advocacy for sustainability scholarship and innovation, transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, and knowledge to action. The event was a success, with over 1 350 participants.

Pamoja project

UP and the Embassy of Sweden co-hosted an event to celebrate democracy and the activism that keeps it responsive. The event was held on the Future Africa Campus. The Pamoja project is an innovative web-based experience that documents Sweden’s role in the fight for democracy and human rights across the continent. The project partners – the Swedish Institute, Liliesleaf Foundation and the Embassy of Sweden – launched the site to show how international solidarity can inspire younger generations to tackle today’s challenges.

2022 Mail & Guardian 200 Young South

UP was proud to host some of the 22 individuals associated with UP who featured on the list of promising young professionals under the age of 35. Since the inaugural awards in 2005, 137 UP alumni and alumni associates have made an appearance on the 200 Young South Africans list.

Community engagement

Community engagement represents a special form of stakeholder engagement. It recognises that we are embedded in our host communities and affirms the importance of communities and civil society.

Students apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems in partnership with local communities that have identified a problem in their environments. Student learning is therefore highly contextualised and, as such, develops social responsibility. Students learn how to work with underserved communities, to help them solve immediate problems, and to transfer and develop skills so they can independently solve problems in the future.

In 2022, 15 000 students participated in curricular community engagement activities, involving more than 3 000 projects, with over 1 000 community partners in various parts of Pretoria.

Some ways in which we shared our skills for the benefit of the community in 2022 are:

The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology has adopted the Phathudi Comprehensive School in Atteridgeville, Pretoria (see left). The Faculty will revitalise a computer centre and offer basic computer training to learners at the school, and assist them with the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists and other projects. The school will also join the JuniorTukkie initiative and use the JuniorTukkie online platform.

The Pre-University Academy (PUA) collaborated with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University to provide school learners from Mamelodi with a rich learning experience in robotics and coding (see left below). The PUA is a secondary school project that readies high school learners for tertiary education, focusing its efforts on Mathematics, Science, creative writing and Philosophy.

The workshop involved 16 students from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 63 learners from the PUA and five UP Engineering students. The PUA was the 11th group of learners to participate in the project and the only group from Africa.

Learners e-learning platform

JuniorTukkie is a flagship project that helps high school learners with schoolwork and career choices. Through their free jTOnline e-learning platform, the team from the Department of Enrolment and Student Administration has embraced the educational opportunities that the virtual world presents, one video at a time. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the JuniorTukkie YouTube channel was launched, followed by an e-learning platform, juniortukkie.online. The jTOnline platform and its associated channel have garnered over 100 000 views. The platform provides extensive free learning content for Mathematics, Physical Science, Accounting, Life Sciences, Natural Sciences and English for Grades 8 to 12 across South Africa.

MAKE US ALUMNIPROUD

The University of Pretoria’s 300 000-plus alumni continue to be sterling ambassadors of the University, and their achievements in an array of disciplines show that they gained more than a degree from UP.

Dr Gopolang Mohlabeng (BSc Physics, 2010) has earned a spot on the global 25 Rising Stars in Astronomy List for his research into dark matter. The list profiles researchers from across the word whose work has contributed to our understanding of what still remains one of the greatest mysteries of nature.

Emrie Brown (BCom Accounting, 1990) has been appointed as the new CEO of RMB, making her only the second woman to lead a corporate and investment banking unit in South Africa.

David Kabwa MA Diplomatic Studies, 2023, was selected to be part of the 2022 United Nations (UN) UNITE 2030 Ambassadors Programme. The initiative brings together young change-makers for a 12-month programme that aims to strengthen action to achieve the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Darren and Justin Oates mechanical engineering graduates of the class of 2019, signed a licensing deal with Sony Music Entertainment Africa. This gives them the exclusive right to distribute Alter Ego’s music. The twins are also the founding executive directors of Gaztron, a company that converts vehicles to run on gas.

Ndavi Nokeri (BCom Investment Management, 2022) was crowned Miss South Africa 2022. She is the third consecutive Miss South Africa to have graduated from UP.

The University collaborates with over 3 000 institutions across the globe and has some 230 international institution-wide partnerships across 70 countries and six continents. In 2022, UP signed 33 new agreements with its partners globally.

Connected and collaborative

44%

Percentage of research that UP conducts with international collaborators

33

New agreements signed with global partners

20 with European partners

Learning by doing

Our students earn credits towards their degrees while applying their knowledge in service to the community.

300 modules and

2 in Asia/ Pacific

6 in Africa

3 in North America

1 in South America

1 in Middle East

20

Number of student exchange agreements signed in 2022

3 000 projects with

15 000 students involved in 1 000 community partners.

Dr Gerna Wessels from the Department of Social Work and Criminology won the University’s Community Engagement Award in 2022 for her contribution to the development of the social work in practice module in the fourth year.

IMPACT SUSTAINABLE

At UP, sustainability is translated into action through:

• Leadership, which sets the tone and shapes the institutional culture

• Institutional and curricular transformation to meet current and future societal needs

• Innovative models of research, education and engagement

As a university, we recognise the important role we play in sustainable development and see our contribution as twofold. Firstly, through the way we function and conduct ourselves as an institution, as we interact with a range of stakeholders. Secondly, through our work in the core functions of teaching, learning, research and community engagement.

The capability we build by educating undergraduate and postgraduate students, and the new knowledge we create from research, both contribute to meeting societal needs for a just and inclusive society, and the protection of our planet for future generations. In realising our contributions within these themes, it is essential for us to ensure financial sustainability for future viability of the institution.

To achieve the required step change in our contributions to a better country, continent, and world, we have integrated sustainability into our University of Pretoria Strategic Plan: Destination 2026 and Beyond. By intentionally hardwiring sustainability into the institutional strategy, sustainability is top of mind in thought and practice. This ensures coherent activities and leverages efforts across all facets of the University, thus amplifying our impact.

Financial sustainability

One of the University’s main revenue streams – subsidy income – continues to account for a smaller proportion of total income annually, declining by 4.3% over the last three years.

Tuition fees and other fee income have also shown limited growth due to the fee compact. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), in consultation with Universities South Africa (USAf), capped the tuition fee increase for 2022 at 4.23% and accommodation fees at 6.23%.

Gross student debt at the end of the financial year amounted to R673.6m (2021: R659.1m). The provision for bad debts has been increasing over the past three years due to insufficient funding to support the missing middle students, the decline in the economy and the demand for fee-free higher education.

External research funding

Securing and growing alternative sources of funding has become increasingly important in the face of economic instability and a declining state subsidy.

A significant portion of third-stream revenue is from external research funding. Government-related grants from agencies account for almost half of external research funding, but this percentage has declined over time.

Other categories of research funding sources include international grants, funding from national institutes and centres, and private sector research contracts.

International grants and research contracts grew in the 2022 period, indicating a recovery from the COVID-19 driven decline seen in 2021, as well as reflecting UP’s rising international profile and continued focus on strengthening private sector relationships. Funding from national institutes and centres declined by some R6 million for the year.

Overall, external research funding increased by almost R65m from R614 918 186 in 2021 to R679 744 387 in 2022.

Enterprises University of Pretoria Enterprises University of Pretoria Pty Limited (Enterprises UP) played a significant role in generating alternative sources of funding. The company develops, implements

• Broadened access to higher education, with enhanced student support in their journey through the University, and across the student lifecycle

• Advancing a transdisciplinary agenda with accelerated and expanded collaboration and partnering to amplify our impact

• A capable, technology-enabled, responsive, and financially sustainable institution.

and manages the business activities of the University, such as continuing education, consulting and contract research. Driven by the motto “Shifting knowledge to insight”, the company successfully expanded its footprint in South Africa and globally, resulting in a total turnover of R235.5 million in 2022.

Commercialisation of research

An important means of contributing to societal impact is through commercialisation of research. Additionally, it enhances the University’s positioning and is a source of third-stream income. While UP intellectual property activity showed a modest decline in 2022 relative to 2021, our research continues to make a meaningful contribution to South Africa, Africa and the world. Since 2013, 177 new inventions have been disclosed, and UP was recognised as having the highest number of patents in a 2020 DHET report.

By the end of 2022, ten spinoff companies in existence for at least two years, continued to be active. Collectively, they employed 198 employees, demonstrating sustainability as well as employment creation.

Operational sustainability

As we pursue our intent to be a leading researchintensive university on the African continent, we acknowledge that this can only be done through people who create ideas and turn intentions into reality. Our sustainability is anchored in this principle, and we continue to focus on attracting, developing and retaining talent to support the University’s strategic agenda and institutional goals.

Strengthening leadership, technical and social competencies is a key focus of our talent management. Some of the programmes in place are mentioned below.

• A new supervisory programme to improve managerial and supervisory skills saw 84 employees participating.

• The New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) focuses on increasing the number of individuals from designated groups with doctoral degrees. Five candidates enrolled in 2022, bringing the number of enrolments from inception of the programme to 36. All nGAP lecturers are from designated groups, with females comprising 71.1% of the lecturers.

• The Programme for Academic Leadership (PAL), which has been in place from 2012, had 20 senior academics participating.

Preparing resilient graduates

A resilient graduate has the ability to adapt and bounce back from the inevitable shocks and adversity encountered in life. This is particularly important in a world that is characterised by rapid change, complexity and uncertainty.

Our pathway to resilience comprises a connected set of dimensions, ranging from mental and emotional wellbeing to improve the ability to learn, to effective teaching and learning with academic support that improves success rates. Furthermore, we intentionally enhance work readiness to smooth the transition to working life, and a higher likelihood of successful employment.

Driving sustainability through our core functions Whereas operational sustainability tends to be inwardly focused, driving sustainability through our core functions has a distinct outward focus. Through our core functions, the graduates we produce and the new knowledge we create, are contributions that drive impacts at a societal level.

For the individual, quality education is a proven vehicle to change their life prospects. These individuals uplift their communities, and broader societal development is contingent on having the requisite human capital to meet developmental needs. UP is well recognised for excellence in education and is a significant contributor to self-actualisation and development at community, national and continental levels.

In 2022, 15 000 students participated in curricular community engagement activities, involving more than 3 000 projects, with over 1 000 community partners.

Sustainability through Transformation

The University is proactively implementing steps to ensure that transformation permeates every aspect of UP, turning the University into an intellectual home for students and staff that represent South Africa’s rich diversity.

Diversity and inclusivity

Our student demographic profile has steadily changed over the past years. Where 55.2% of contact students were black in 2017, this percentage increased to nearly 65% in 2022. Of this, the majority (59.6%) are women.

The ever-increasing diversity profile of the student body in 2022 manifested in all areas. At least 69% of the more than 8 000 beds in University-owned residences were taken up by black students. In terms of student leadership, 16 of the 28 residence house committee chairpersons and 18 of the 19 members of the SRC were black.

As part of its focus on the empowerment of young women, DSA hosted the third University of Pretoria Girls4Girls mentorship group in 2022. A total of40 mentees and 14 mentors graduated from the programme, which focuses on enhancing the leadership skills of tertiary female students to prepare them for the world of work and equip them with good leadership skills.

A number of transformational social and dignity projects were also rolled out to address issues of student hunger, sanitary towels for women, and housing for destitute students.

The growth in the percentage of black staff from 67.6% in 2021 to 69.1% in 2022, is aligned with the University’s transformation agenda.

Policies and related initiatives

The University’s commitment to creating a culture of zero tolerance of discrimination is supported by an Antidiscrimination Policy. This policy ensures the University’s progress towards creating a safe and inclusive study and work environment for all its students and staff.

An online module on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is available on clickUP, allowing staff and students to empower themselves on SGBV in their own time. The University also hosted its annual Anti-discrimination and Social Justice Week as part of raising awareness regarding all forms of discrimination.

The Faculty of Law’s Transformation Committee initiated and drove an awareness campaign via the TransAwareness website, which seeks to promote more inclusive facilities for all staff and students, regardless of gender identity, and to prevent discrimination against and exclusion of transgender individuals.

Environmental sustainability

In managing the University’s sizeable infrastructure and land, and providing various support services, decision-making is significantly influenced by the need to optimally manage water, energy and waste.

During 2022, the University experienced significant challenges due to frequent interruptions in bulk services. These challenges were compounded by the extreme load shedding experienced during the year. The University is addressing certain issues through a revised MoU with the City of Tshwane Municipality, but improved municipal bulk infrastructure is likely to take many years.

The necessity to duplicate bulk services such as backup power and water supplies has come at great cost to the University, particularly around the dramatically increased diesel consumption during periods of load shedding. UP’s 76 generators provide more than 42MW of electricity.

Energy

A significant infrastructure development at the University is the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels to improve energy security and increase use of renewable energy. The initiative has been underway since 2018 through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), with the installation of PV panels on new and existing buildings.

By 2022, a total of 2 179 panels had been installed, bringing the University’s PV capacity to approximately 1 MVA. In 2023, PV capacity will be increased by another 2 MVA, through the installation of a ground mounted PV plant at the Innovation Africa@UP campus.

Water

A detailed Water Management Plan continues to increase awareness and commitment to protect this resource, and to optimise its use across the University. The design of new buildings and refurbishment of existing ones include high-efficiency plumbing systems to reduce usage and wastage. This is supported by preventative and scheduled maintenance, coupled with early leak detection and intervention to prevent water losses.

Reducing the University’s large-scale landscape water use is addressed by water-efficient irrigation systems, waterwise gardening, and using recovered water sources. Rainwater is harvested and stored, and where possible, reclaimed water is used safely. Storage tanks and reservoirs are also used to store borehole water.

Waste

The upgrading of the compost and mulch production facility on the Hillcrest Campus has substantially decreased the need for, and costs of, transporting garden refuse to landfill sites. Compost and mulch to the value of approximately R2.1m was produced and used on all the University properties. The use of mulch in plant beds results in a decreased need for irrigation water, prevents weed infestation and creates healthier soils.

Financial sustainability

External

Operational sustainability

Doctoral candidates enrolled in nGAP 2021: 31 2022: 36

nGAP lecturers completing doctoral studies 2021: 16

2022: 18

Increasing diversity and inclusivity

Staff profile: Black staff

2021: 67.6%

2022: 69.1%

Student profile: Black contact students 2021: 62.5% 2022: 64.7%

Environmental sustainability