University of Mpumalanga

In pursuit of our vision of being an African University leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation. The UMP positions itself as an African University rooted in its home province.

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INNOVATION

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) was established in 2013, and it enrolled the first cohort of 169 students in 2014. Thereafter, the University has been experiencing rapid and gratifying growth.

The University now offers 48 qualifications and have a total number of 7,100 students enrolled in 2022. UMP has and continues to invest in stateof-the-art infrastructure to support the academic project as the University grows in stature and offerings.

UMP is a comprehensive University which offers variety of undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the field of Agriculture, Nature Conservation, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Information Communication Technology, Development Studies, Early Childhood Education, Arts, Administration and Economics.

In pursuit of our vision of being an African University leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation.

The UMP positions itself as an African University rooted in its home province, Mpumalanga, and is responsive to its political, socio-economic, geographical, and historical contexts, as well as its place in the world.

Among some of the key highlights that UMP has been able to succeed in implementing in line with our strategic key focus areas include broadening access to higher education and promoting equity of access and with a fair chance of success. The student population at UMP is predominately from previously disadvantaged communities and female. Of all the students enrolled this year 62,8% are female and only 37,8% are male.

Teaching and Learning – takes centre stage to advance the academic project

Teaching and Learning at UMP focusses on the development of our students as independent and critical thinkers with a passion for knowledge and its application.

Our approach to teaching is theoretically informed, pedagogically appropriate, and sensitive to diversity in all its forms in the educational environment. Therefore, we continuously develop qualifications and curricula that are context responsive.

UMP has been able to attract and retain established academics in various disciplines. Currently 47,1% of UMP academic staff have Doctoral Degrees. As part of student support, First Time Entering students (FTEN) are supported in the transition from school to university by a welldeveloped Orientation Week and a First Year Experience (FYE). Ongoing support is provided by peer mentors and tutors. As a result of these interventions, student success is generally high with more 85% success rate annually.

The University seeks to produce quality graduates who are (a) resourceful, responsive, and responsible, (b) innovative and entrepreneurial, (c) confident and effective communicators, (d) ethically and socially aware change agents, (e) adaptable, and (f) have sound discipline knowledge.

Annually (UMP) holds a graduation ceremony to celebrate the achievements of students who have completed their qualifications during past academic year. This year, a total of 1,112 students were awarded/ conferred qualifications during the seventh graduation ceremony of the University. Amongst some of the notable achievements for this year’s graduation included:

• Tree planting ceremony of the umkhanyakude indigenous tree by the Chancellor of the University of

Mpumalanga, Justice Mandisa Maya. • 25 different qualifications will be awarded/conferred during the graduation ceremonies and amongst the 25 qualifications, six of them are new. • A total of 15 Master’s degree to be awarded/conferred. >

Prof Thoko Mayekiso, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga with the recipients Academic Excellence Awards

• 40 students will be awarded/ conferred their qualifications with a Cum Laude (distinction). • A total number of 33 recipients of

Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship will be graduating. • 13 students who are recipients of the UMP Excellence Awards will be graduating. • Graduating students are from 5 different countries including

South Africa. • Member of Parliament, Mr Timothy

Mashele (MP) will be graduating with a Bachelor of Development

Studies Honours.

Research and Innovation - generating new knowledge in support of social and economic development

As a new University, UMP has built its research project from a zero base and has made good progress. Active researchers are supported through the Research Office and staff without a PhD are supported to complete their doctorate. The University provides research facilities and equipment, library resources, training workshops in for example qualitative and quantitative techniques, proposal writing, and writing retreats.

The University has identified seven Research Focus Areas and has set aside funds and supported the appointment of Postdoctoral Fellows to promote these. The Research Focus areas include:

• Ethics and Governance • Information Communication and

Technology for Development • Youth Development and

Empowerment • Environmental and Socioeconomic Sustainability • Post-harvest Management and

Food Security • Biodiversity Conservation and

Development • Early Childhood Development,

Education and Training The research focus areas are linked to one or more Millennium Development Goals and is of relevance to the province, the nation, and the continent. The university has eight NRF rated researchers with two C1, three C2, two C3, and one Y2 categories. The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Thoko Mayekiso is leading by example as she is C3 rated researcher. As a result of the various research interventions and the research work of established staff, the audited output of research products in 2019 per permanently employed academic staff member was the 18th highest out of 25 institutions that submitted data

UMP Conference and Wellness CentreAwards

Engagement and Partnerships - drivers and enablers of achieving our Vision

As an engaged institution, UMP places great value on partnerships and networks as both drivers and enablers in achieving our vision. UMP’s partnerships and networks are probably one of our distinctive features as we pride ourselves in fostering strong, vibrant, mutually beneficial partnerships with strategic stakeholders. The University of Mpumalanga has successfully established partnerships, collaborations and networks with national and international tertiary institutions and Research institutions through signed Memoranda of Understanding/ Agreements (MoU/ MoA). Amongst some of the notable partnerships are as follows:

• Partnerships with South African

National Parks (SANParks), Eastern

Cape Parks, several private conservation areas, and several hotel chains support student placement for Work Integrated

Learning in the Diploma in

Hospitality Management and the

Diploma in Nature Conservation. • The University has hosted and co-hosted several national conferences for learned societies including the Zoological Society of Southern Africa, the South African Higher Education Community Engagement Forum, and South African Association of Public Administration and Management. • The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the

Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) to enable work-integrated learning opportunities while promoting research and strengthening service delivery within the municipality.

Front: Prof Thoko Mayekiso, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga, Dr Nontobeko Mahlalela, Municipal Manager of Ehlanzeni District Municipality Back: Cllr. Jesta Sidell, Executive Mayor of Ehlanzeni District Municipality and Prof Shirley Prof Shirley Sommers, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning of the University of Mpumalanga during the signing of an MoU between the University and the Municipality.

State-of-the-art (iconic) infrastructure - conducive environment for the academic project to thrive

The University has been able to build state-of-the-art (iconic) infrastructure which includes lecture venues, laboratories and computer labs to create a conducive environment for the academic project to thrive. The iconic infrastructure and landscaping provide a multifaceted environment inspiring both social and intellectual exchange in an atmosphere that is unconventional, original, and creative.

Earlier this year, UMP launched a fourstar Tfokomala Hotel and Conference Centre. Located in the Mbombela Campus of UMP, the hotel is wholly owned by the University, envisioned as a “hotel with a purpose” - for teaching and learning. The hotel focuses on “Learning by Doing” for students to gain hands-on experience in operational roles in the restaurant, kitchen, and all other hotel divisions. Students from the University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management are placed to work at the hotel as part of the work-integrated learning (WIL) programme and practical orientation.

Connect with us

Website: www.ump.ac.za Twitter: @Unimpumalanga Facebook: @UniMpumalanga