UP IN A NUTSHELL 2024
OUR VISION
To be a leading research-intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for: making a difference locally and globally its quality, relevance and impact developing people, creating knowledge
OUR GOALS ARE TO
Enhance access and successful student learning
Strengthen the University’s research and international profile
Foster and sustain a transformed, inclusive and equitable University community
Enhance institutional sustainability
Strengthen the University’s social responsiveness and impact in society
OUR MOTTO IS
Make today matter
We believe that in every moment lies the potential to have a positive impact on the future and, in so doing, change the world for the better
AN AFRICAN GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
#2 in Africa
Ranked as one of the top universities in Africa*
#8 in the world
For SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth
Rated a global leader in our research on poverty issues, support for poor students, and how well we promote employment opportunities and drive economic growth.*
#19 in the world
For SDG 5: Gender Equality:
Rated among the top universities for research and policies on gender equality, and our commitment to recruiting and promoting women.
#32 in the world
The Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) is ranked by the UK’s Financial Times as one of the leading business schools in the world
#42 in the world
World rankings based on the 17 United Nations SDGs
Highly rated for addressing the most serious and critical global challenges.*
UNIQUE FEATURES
As a leading researchintensive university in Africa, we are often the first or only South African ‐institution to be invited to collaborate on or spearhead projects
A leader in Africa
World’s leading laboratory in DNA typing of rhinoceros
Africa’s lead laboratory in malaria control
The leading Centre for Viral Zoonoses in Africa
The only Centre for Asian Studies in Africa
UNIQUE FEATURES
First
in
Africa to set up or to host
WHO Collaborating Centre (for the prevention of deafness and hearing loss)
Nuclear medicine facility (for cancer and TB drug development and clinical research)
Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre (focused on advancing sustainability science)
Virtual Reality Centre for mine design
Independent transport reference and testing facility
Portable emissions measurement system (to help set realistic carbon emission targets)
KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT BORDERS
We collaborate with over 3 000 institutions across the globe and have some 230 international institution-wide partnerships across 70 countries and six continents
#23 in the world
Ranking for UP’s knowledge exchange
This ranks our efforts to partner in research, share knowledge and spur educational growth.*
#26 in the world
Ranking for UP’s international research networks
UP’s global engagement and its ability to create and sustain research partnerships across borders are highly rated.**
* Source: 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Sustainability Rankings
RECOGNISED RESEARCH UNIVERSITY
One of only two universities from SA invited to join the Worldwide Universities Network, a network of 22 leading research universities in six continents
First SA university admitted to the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), led by Michigan State University
44% Almost half of our research is conducted with international collaborators
South African patents granted
48 New invention disclosures
International patents granted Intellectual property activity, 2019-2023
Source: Department of Research and Innovation
PATENTLY INNOVATIVE RESULTS
Some of our research that has been patented include:
A slow-release mosquitorepellent, applied to mosquito nets and socks
Diagnosing TB using a drop of blood
Producing animal vaccines from tobacco plants
Using sugarcane bagasse to create mushroom casing soil
The hearZA mobile screening app to test hearing
Creating graphene wool to help reduce environmental pollution
Developing electrowinning technology to extract copper
Asthma Grid, an asthma warning device
Using rejected fruit/vegetables to produce biodegradable food service items
RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS
Agriculture and sustainable food systems
Climate change and the environment
Data science and machine learning
Economic development and sustainable futures
Energy
Food nutrition and well-being
Geonomics
Heritage studies
Inequalities, Social Justice and Human Rights
Smart cities and Urban planning One Health
Water
Zoonotic diseases
DEEP RESEARCH FOOTPRINT
43 Research chairs
82 Research institutes and centres
593
Most NRF-rated researchers of all universities and research institutions
DEEP RESEARCH FOOTPRINT
7 Transdisciplinary research and innovation hubs generate new knowledge, helping to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges:
Future Africa
A dedicated campus for transformative research relevant to Africa’s development
Centre for the Future of Work
Addresses issues of youth unemployment, the gig economy and improved ways of flexible and hybrid work
Innovation Africa @UP
Integrates natural and agricultural sciences, technology and innovation
Javett-UP Art Centre
Focusing on the importance of Africa and its art
UP Institute for Sustainable
Malaria Control
Pioneers transdisciplinary research on innovative, safe and sustainable malaria control methods
Engineering 4.0
A research and training hub for Smart Cities and Smart transport systems
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
World-class expertise in plant biotechnology and information technology to benefit forestry and agriculture
WE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS
What is the ideal way to administer precision cancer treatment?
What if South Africa became a leader in developing green talent? Do mammals hold the secret of longevity? Can we develop something more attractive than humans upon which mosquitoes can feed?
What are the eating habits of black holes?
Can we view the brain through the eye to determine pressure and other conditions within the brain?
What if Gen Z could help us achieve equality?
UP – PROVIDING A WORLD OF ANSWERS
We ensure the knowledge and solutions we discover are both relevant today, and robust enough to have a
LASTING, POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR WORLD
AMONG THE BEST
A top-tier traditional university 73% with the most academic staff to have a PhD 593 with the most NRF-rated researchers
55 845 with the largest number of students enrolled
Top 1% of universities in the world
Ranked in 14 of the 22 Essential Science Indicator (ESI) fields, and the only university in SA to feature in Economics and Business*
*Source: Web of Science Essential Science Indicators
DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE
Many of our faculties are over 100 years old
Economic and Management Sciences
First faculty of its kind in Africa to be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Education
Ranked No. 1 in South Africa for Mathematics
Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology
Ranked No. 1 in SA for Electrical and Electronic Engineering*
Veterinary Science
Only faculty of its kind in South Africa and ranked among the Top 70 in the world*
Source: *2024 QS World University Ranking by Subject
2024 THE Subject Rankings
EduRank: Liberal Arts – Theology
Humanities
Offers Africa’s only Master’s programme in Tangible and Heritage Conservation
Law
Ranked No. 65 in the world, and the highest ranking in Africa**
Natural and Agricultural Sciences
Largest of its kind in Africa and home to Sci-Enza, UP’s premier science centre and the first of its kind in Africa
Theology and Religion
Rated as one of the Top 5 faculties of theology and religion in the world, and No. 1 in Africa***
TOP-RATED SUBJECTS
TOP 100 in the world
for four subject areas
Mineral & Mining Engineering (36)
Veterinary Sciences (51-70)
Development Studies (51-100)
Law (65)
Source:
in South Africa
for seven subjects
Economics and Econometrics
Law Accounting and Finance
Mathematics
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Veterinary Sciences
DIVERSE AND INTERNATIONAL
61%
Female students
3 717
Number of international students registered
55 845
Total number of students
72%
Black students
322 587
Number of alumni around the world
FACILITATING ACCESS
R2 184 m Financial aid to 28 104 UP students
R1 505 m From NSFAS to fund 12 661 students
R389.2 m External Bursaries to support 5 685 students with bursaries and scholarships
R170.2 m 8 202 students benefitted from bursaries paid from UP’s Internal Funds
R118.4 m UP’s Giving Matters campaign assists 1 556 ‘missing middle’ students financially
AN ENABLING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Hybrid teaching & learning model
Prepares students for a workforce increasingly dependent on AI technologies
FlyHigher@UP
Improves postgraduate success rate
FLY@UP
Supports students to graduate in minimum time
Interactive spaces
Learning through innovation and technology
Academic Success
Coaches
Provide comprehensive support to encourage the academic development of first-years
Social learning spaces
Encourages problem-solving by mimicking real-world work environments
Connected campuses
Fibre optic connectivity across all campuses
SMART LEARNING RESOURCES
We develop the skills students need to function in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
21st Century hi-tech library Bridges the gap between learning and innovation
Mobile robots at work
Stevie – A telemedicine mobile robot, based at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, helps treat intensive care unit patients
smWoef – A robot dog works in the Engineering 4.0 research facility to collect data in remote or dangerous places
Makerspace
A creative laboratory where students create prototypes and test ideas using 3D printing and IoT technologies
STERLING PASS RATE
Overall module pass rate
Examination pass rate
Pass rate in the 2023 SA Institute of Chartered Accountants ITC
UP PREPARES STUDENTS WELL
Ready for Work
#8 in the world
The 2024 THE Impact Rankings rates UP’s strategy to ensure youth employment and equip students with the skills necessary for the evolving labour market, as world-class for SDG8
online courses help students prepare for the workplace An Entrepreneurship programme teaches students how to become job creators rather than job seekers
A Mentorship Programme helps final-year students hone their skills for the workplace
A Digital Capability Laboratory helps students with the skill-set needed for an evolving world of work
TuksNovation
a high-tech business incubator available to all UP students
Centre for the Future of Work researches new ways of working to create future-fit graduates
EMPLOYERS RATE UP HIGHLY
We produce graduates who understand the world of work and can make a valuable contribution immediately
#1 in South Africa #185 in the world
Source: 2024 QS World University Rankings: Employer recognition
A GLOBAL FORCE FOR GOOD
UP is the only university in Africa to belong to the global University Social Responsibility Network
Learning and sharing UP students earn credits toward their degrees while working in the community
357 233 students involved in community work modules support compulsory community work
Safe student surrounds
UP is a major contributor to the Hatfield City Improvement District to improve the quality and safety of the suburb beyond the University’s boundaries
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM AFRICA
Through TuksSport we have trained Olympic champions and African record-holders
Olympic Games Paris 2024 champions
Tatjana Smith (TuksSwimming) – most decorated
South African Olympian (gold and silver)
Akani Simbine, Bradley Nkoana and Shaun Maswanganyi (TuksAthletics) – silver in the 4 x 100m men’s relay
Credit: Anton Geyser TeamSA
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONS FROM AFRICA
Olympic Games Paris 2024 Top 8
Pieter Coetze, Kaylene Corbett (TuksSwimming)
Edmund du Plessis and Prudence Sekgodiso (TuksAthletics)
Olympic Games Paris 2024 qualifiers
Erin Gallagher (TuksSwimming)
Michaela Whitebooi (TuksJudo)
Benjamin Richardson (TuksAthletics)
A SPORTING CHANCE
UP offers 35 ways to become a champion
AQUATIC
• Lifesaving
• Swimming
• Triathlon
• Underwater hockey
• Waterpolo
TEAM SPORTS
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Cricket
• Football
• Hockey
• Netball
• Rowing
• Rugby
• Volleyball
• Ultimate frisbee
A SPORTING CHANCE
INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
• Aikido
• Archery
• Athletics
• Badminton
• Canoeing
• Chess
• Cycling
• ESports
• Exploration
• Fencing
• Golf
• Gymnastics
• Judo
• Karate
• Squash
• Taekwondo
• Tennis
• Trampoline
• Wrestling
• Yachting
Marione Fourie (TuksAthletics)
one of the world’s 16 fastest 100 m hurdlers
Christian de Klerk (TuksArchery)
first South African archer to medal at the World University Games
THANK YOU