Universities South Africa
USAF
UCT Impact Case Studies submission
Submitted by Faculty of Health Sciences: Cape Heart Institute, Department of Medicine. Title of the Impact Case Study/Project: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Understanding pathophysiology, improving diagnosis and...
TLM CoP meeting of 9 April 2025
The USAf community of practice for the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (TLM CoP) had its first meeting of the year on 9 April 2025,...
Why it is beneficial to measure an applicant’s academic readiness for university
There is an expectation gap between high school and university life, which arises from differences in academic expectations and the level of independence required at university. First-year...
The challenges facing first-year mathematics students transitioning from high school
Transitioning from high school mathematics to university mathematics can be daunting for many first-year students, possibly leading to lower success rates. These gaps and the...
CoPAL contemplates driving a joint language conference with other associations
The Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) of Universities South Africa (USAf) is exploring the possibility of convening an...
Postgraduate study leaders from SA universities assemble to share ideas
The round-table layout at the recent colloquium on Exploring Preparedness for Postgraduate Studies was distinct from the typical straight-seat-rows format that people tend to expect...
National Plan targets versus sector realities — Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi highlights provocative tensions
At the recent Enabling Quality Postgraduate Education (EQPE) colloquium, Dr Nomakwezi “Kwezi” Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Rhodes University, told...
Targeted PhD numbers raise many questions at a recent colloquium
Numbers are always a key focus in any discussion on postgraduate students: the currently enrolled numbers vs those to which the university sector aspires, within...
Happy students with well-being are more likely to graduate, says Professor Liesel Ebersöhn
The fruit bowl at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Study of Resilience is not incidental. It is an intentional part of the Centre’s...
AI may not do your literature review, but it will identify the gaps, says Dr Nompilo Tshuma
At the recent colloquium on Exploring Preparedness for Postgraduate Studies, Professor Sioux McKenna of Rhodes University interrupted keynote speaker Dr Nompilo Tshuma as she stood...
Research leaders develop an action plan for students and the sector’s well-being
One of the key features of the recent Exploring Preparedness for Postgraduate Studies colloquium was a two-hour breakaway session in which research leaders and organisational...
Road Fatality Interventions
Submitted by University of Cape Town. Summary of the impact: Road fatalities were labelled a pandemic as early as 1973 (British Medical Journal,...
Universities urged to support the multilingualism study
Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) Chairperson, Professor Nobuhle Hlongwa, has urged public universities to support...
DHET update on two university research studies: Gender Transformation and Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Institutions
At the first sitting of Universities South Africa’s Transformation Managers’ Forum (TMF) in March, officials from the Department of Higher Education and Training presented plans of...
Analysing disability support at South African public universities
Universal access and disability support in higher education remains a subject of concern for Universities South Africa’s (USAf’s) Transformation Strategy Group (TSG) – hence the imperative...
Unveiling new Employment Equity targets
South African universities have until 1 September this year to implement new plans to meet updated Employment Equity (EE) regulations and targets. According to the Department...
SA universities’ visit to Hungary culminates in the signing of a formal collaboration agreement
Thursday, 3rd April 2025, marks the last day in the official programme of Universities South Africa’s (USAf’s) delegation to Hungary, in eastern Europe. The 26-strong...
An invisible epidemic: fighting hearing loss
Submitted by University of Pretoria. Overview Hearing loss strikes at the heart of what makes us human — communication, engagement and learning, and...
South African Universities — Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals
A recent outcome of this focus area is the South African Universities – Mapping the Sustainable Development Goals report, based on a USAf-commissioned study in...
Facilitating Online
Increasingly, universities are using online resources and interaction to support student learning. Even educators with excellent face-to-face facilitation skills are likely to confront a significant...