From the alumni desk

Dear Tukkie reader,

Thank you for taking the time to check out how 2022 has panned out for the University of Pretoria and the Alumni Relations Office. We are very grateful that things have gone back to normal and we are experiencing the usual hustle and bustle throughout our campuses. It has been a challenging few years, but this year we managed to pick up the pieces and we are striving even harder.

Here are highlights for the year, some of which are found in this edition of the magazine:

Quality outcomes

The University of Pretoria (UP) significantly improved its position in the 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings, which were released on 16 November 2022. Globally, UP is ranked 382 in overall reputation compared to 514 in 2021, 385 in research reputation (581 in 2021), and 339 in teaching reputation (461 in 2021).

In South Africa, UP is ranked 3rd (4th in 2021) overall. This is the University’s best performance over the past five years.

In research, UP is joint 3rd in SA (4th in 2021) together with the University of the Witwatersrand, and in teaching UP is ranked 2nd in SA (3rd in 2021). Overall, the University of Cape Town (194 in the world) and Stellenbosch University (351 in the world) are ranked 1st and 2nd respectively, in SA.

UP-US Foundation launch

UP recently launched the UP-US Foundation to build and grow existing relationships, and to assist alumni and friends of UP to give back financially in the most tax-effective manner. It is set to launch another such foundation in the United Kingdom.

Launch of a new alumni chapter

The Alumni Relations Office launched a new alumni chapter for UP graduates who have been recipients of the ViceChancellor’s Distinguished Merit Award (VCDMA). Every year since 2016 top scholars have been awarded the VCDMA, which grants recipients funding for the duration of their undergraduate studies.

Mentorship Programme now on UP Alumni Connect

The Career Services Office has partnered with the UP Alumni Relations Office to make its Mentorship Programme available within the UP Alumni Connect app. The University of Pretoria Career Services Mentorship Programme was launched in 2019. It is currently being implemented across all faculties and is available to finalyear students.

UP launches Centre for the Future of Work

CFoW Director Professor Natasja Holtzhausen of UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences said the centre is a key connector between the

University and the public and private sectors, and will encompass the concept of Society 5.0.

UP’s Giving Day campaign

The University’s Giving Day campaign was launched to raise an additional R100 million for several major projects over the next three years. The main aim is to raise funds, but also to increase the culture of philanthropy at the University.

International partnerships

The University of Pretoria and Michigan State University have partnered in a knowledge exchange programme to strengthen student success and wellbeing. The Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Bristol, Professor Tansy Jessop, visited UP to discuss areas where both universities can produce transdisciplinary research, improve their curricula, and create opportunities for students.

UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tawana Kupe and Carleton University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr Benoit-Antoine Bacon formalised an agreement to facilitate transdisciplinary research collaboration and student and faculty exchange. The University of York welcomed a delegation of senior UP academics to strengthen academic ties and explore common interests between the two universities.

in South Africa

UP climbed one position in university rankings (from No 4 in 2021), which is the University’s best performance over the past five years.

Source: 2022 Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Rankings

A research-intensive institution

Several UP academics continue to cement the University’s status as a researchintensive institution. A new series of maps – drawn up by Emeritus Professor Rudi van Aarde of the University of Pretoria and Dr Ryan Huang of Duke University in the US – details where African elephants prefer to roam in southern Africa. The maps help us to consider the prospects of how we can improve the connections between the different protected areas that harbour elephants in southern Africa.

For years now, invasive water hyacinth plants have clogged up the North West’s Hartbeespoort Dam. In new research, hydrogeologists from the University of Pretoria have used the internal workings of the plants themselves to reiterate that the infestation is fuelled by belowpar sewerage works and inadequate sanitation facilities for informal settlements upstream. The study, by Ryno Germishuys, a MSc student in Hydrogeology at UP, and his supervisor, Dr Roger Diamond of the UP Department of Geology, was published in the South African Journal of Science.

UP recently participated in an international study led by the University of Miami to investigate termite and microbial wood discovery and decay.

Extraordinary Professor Catherine Parr and PhD student Katherine Bunney were instrumental in UP’s contribution to the global study, which was published in the journal Science

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 orange-fleshed sweet potato by making it into flour. PhD Food Sciences candidate Daddy Kgonothi has been central to the development of this flour, and has been working under the guidance of Professor Naushad Emmambux and Dr Nwabisa Mehlomakulu of the Department of Consumer and Food Sciences at UP.

The Alumni Office will continue our efforts to keep in touch with you, and we urge our alumni to stay in contact with us. If you haven’t done so, please join the UP Alumni Connect platform.

Please stay safe, and I look forward to connecting with you again in 2023.

Ms Samantha Castle Senior Manager: Alumni Relations

Congratulations to UP’s Tukkie magazine for winning at this year’s Corporate Publication Competition run by the South African Publication Forum. The magazine came out tops in the corporate magazine category and also scored very highly with Certificates of Excellence in writing, communication and design. According to the judges, the magazine is an excellent, well-packaged publication with a great offering of interesting articles. #3