29 minute read
Teaching and Learning
TEACHING &
Delivering a quality education drives our every action and steers our every thought. Now, with the help of new technologies and artificial intelligence, our lecturers are preparing a new generation of graduates for the future world of work.
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21 Establishing foundations for success Reaping the rewards Developing an integrated supportive environment
Creating a campus community
UP’s contribution to the economy is determined by both its teaching input
and the output of its learning. It is one of the main contributors of skilled individuals in a broad range of fields critical to the advancement of South Africa. Almost half of UP’s contact students are studying in scarce skills-related fields identified as crucial for the country’s socio-economic development. It is therefore of national importance that all deserving students have access to tertiary education and are supported to successfully complete their studies.
ESTABLISHING FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESS
In 2019, just over 91% of UP students successfully passed their examinations, the highest pass rate yet. This is in large part due to the interventions put in place to ensure that our students experience a favourable outcome. These include programmes to facilitate graduation in the minimum time, innovations in the University’s hybrid teaching model and increased use of technologies in teaching and learning.
This foundation has not gone unnoticed: UP was named among the top four South African universities in the Quacquarelli Symonds 2020 Graduate Employability Survey, which shows that our graduates are wellequipped for the world of work and highly sought-after.
FLY@UP programme for undergraduate students
Because of concerns about the time that most students take to complete their first degrees, UP has been coordinating student success initiatives under the banner of FLY@UP (Finish Line is Yours) since 2016. FLY@UP is the University’s flagship student success programme wherein each professional service as well as academic department plays a role.
The project raises awareness among students that completing their degrees in the minimum period has significant advantages, such as saving on tuition fees and starting their postgraduate studies or earning a salary earlier.
The FLY@UP campaign commences with the Academic Orientation Programme, and in 2019, UP positioned Orientation as a neccessity for student success. Of the 9 378 first-year students, 6 777 (72%) attended Orientation week. In addition to the one-week academic orientation, all students must complete an eight-week online extended orientation programme (UPO). The UPO modules are monitored and students are motivated to complete the module through regular supportive messages using electronic media. Topics range from time management and goal setting, to study methods and examination preparation. In 2019, UPO produced a 94% pass rate with all 9 378 students enrolled for the module.
Our High Impact Modules (HIMs) data and team-based review project aims to improve the pass rate in selected modules on the HIMs list. An analysis was done to understand the specific issues that affected performance in a specific module. These included curriculum, assessment, policies and practices, support services, communication, students and lecturers. The success rate for modules in the HIMs project improved on average 13%, with the highest improvement being 39%.
The above interventions are working, as evidenced in our student success data, which improved in 2019. The
module pass percentage improved by 1 percentage point to 83.5%, compared to 2018, which is remarkable as this entailed a significant number of students passing their modules. The examination pass percentage improved to 91.3% (2018: 90.4%) while the drop-out percentage was significantly lower at 5.8% (2018: 7.3%).
Fly Higher@UP for postgraduate students
The University has been implementing the FLY Higher@ UP initiative since 2018 to address challenges with postgraduate student retention, success and throughput.
The programme is the postgraduate equivalent of the undergraduate FLY@UP programme and it focuses on the main milestones that postgraduate students need to achieve, such as the allocation of supervisors, finalisation of research topics, development of research proposals, seeking ethics approval and the approval of the postgraduate committee, data collection and analysis, and writing and submission of a thesis or dissertation for examination.
Using e-technologies in teaching and learning
In 2019, UP introduced a new teaching and learning model – Teaching and Learning THE UP WAY – to prepare its students for their future workplaces. The model requires students to come prepared to class, complete a pre-class assessment, and engage in class. This develops self-directed lifelong learners and will prepare UP students to flourish in a fast-changing world.
New technologies and artificial intelligence are creating many opportunities to enhance learning. UP’s new Teaching and Learning model gives students the best of both worlds – online and contact.
Teaching and Learning THE UP WAY
Five main drivers inform the model that aims to prepare the new generation of students to flourish in the world of work: • Research into effective teaching and learning; • The knowledge and skills UP students need for the future workplace; • Characteristics and learning needs of current UP students;
Connecting with prospective – and past – students
The University is using online platforms and applications to build stronger connections with its audiences. The JuniorTukkie App has been well received in the prospective student market and recorded 18 540 downloads, primarily from schools in marginalised communities. UP’s Alumni Connect, a virtual networking platform, allows departments to build online relationships with their alumni.
The University migrated its Learning Management System (LMS) and Learning Analytics systems to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud in 2019. Lecturers are now able to collaborate on content, share information, lecture students, upload videos and even assess projects through the Blackboard Learn mobile application. This online platform, clickUP (Blackboard Learn), can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, and almost one-third of logins derive from mobile phones. It allows students universal access to teaching and learning content with
• The current reality and facilities of the university; and • New learning and teaching technologies that are scalable and have a high impact, such as clickUP, in-video assessment before class, and clicker Apps to engage all students in the class.
no risk of system outages during critical periods of the academic year. A leading indicator in 2019 was that 95.5% of all undergraduate modules had an active online presence on clickUP.
The University bought institutional licenses for a Clicker Mobile App and H5P video assessment software. This
Technology is helping students enhance participation in class through the Clicker App and improve their employability through online courses. enables all lecturers and students to use the mobile version of clickers and video assessment software at no additional costs. The use of a Clicker App (student response system) makes active student engagement possible even in large classrooms. The feedback from the clickers provides students with instant information about their own understanding of current and prior knowledge. This real-time feedback helps lecturers to identify and address any misunderstandings and can help to improve on future class activities to enhance participation.
UP organised the Fifth Flexible Futures Conference at the Future Africa campus to showcase and share its teaching and learning innovations. The theme – Impactful teaching between clicks and bricks – demonstrated that it is not just important what students learn in the classroom but how students are prepared for 4IR and the world of work after university.
Work readiness
Through the Work Readiness and Entrepreneurship (WREn) project, which was launched in 2016, UP embarked on two programmes to help its graduates enter the world of work or start their own business.
The Ready for Work programme builds workplace readiness among UP students by providing them with key employability skills. Four core packages focus on career planning, job preparation, workplace skills and personal development. All the modules in the first four packages are free, self-paced, and are presented fully online. During 2019, there were 3 438 enrolments in these courses.
A new module on the “gig” economy, an emerging self-employment trend, was introduced in 2019. The “gig” economy is becoming all the more important in an increasingly digital world that allows people to work from anywhere and at any time.
The University also helps students in finding employment through career fairs, employability workshops and industry expert master classes. TuksCareers has 2 697 active companies on its database and 31 842 student interactions took place in 2019.
Anywhere, anytime A new module on the “gig” economy was introduced in our Ready for Work programme. The “gig” economy is becoming increasingly important in a digital work that allows people to work from anywhere in the world and at any time. It is an emerging self-employment trend where temporary positions are common and freelance professionals contract with organisations for short periods of time.
As their own boss A Centre for Entrepreneurship was established to enhance employment creation and ignite economic growth. The Centre will coordinate the various existing entrepreneurial activities at the University: • Mamelodi Business Clinic, where
SMMEs are trained • EBIT’s TuksNovation and EMS’s
Business Incubator, where students are exposed to practical aspects • GIBS Entrepreneurship
Development Academy, where existing entrepreneurs are supported • Online training, where UP students can learn more (#Start_
UP; #Link_UP and #Grow_UP). 4 We are among the top four South African universities in the QS 2020 Graduate Employability Survey, which shows that our graduates are highly sought after.
93 Percentage of our students who are either employed or continuing with their studies six months after graduating.
Growing interest in Ready for Work programme
2 018 active students
2018 2019 3 566 active students
REAPING THE REWARDS
The University’s success rate is measured on multiple levels, among them an increasing pool of skilled graduates and its recognition on the world stage.
Student profile
Of the total enrolment of 48 532 contact students in 2019, 26% were postgraduates, of which 63% (8 054) were black1. The percentage of black contact students (undergraduate and postgraduate) was 59% in 2019 and, in addition, almost all the students enrolled for distance education were black.
1 Black includes African, Coloured and Indian students.
Exceptional students
External accolades affirm UP’s efforts to develop the leadership qualities of our students alongside their academic excellence. Some exceptional UP students recognised in 2019 were: • Dr Chris Oosthuizen, a postdoctoral fellow at the Mammal
Research Institute, won the British Ecological Society’s annual photography competition, Capturing Ecology. • Fiona Mumoki and Andrea Wilson (PhD students) were among 14 women who were awarded fellowships by the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Regional
Programme. • Thulani Sibanda, a PhD student in Food Science, won first prize in the 2018 Food Safety without Borders Graduate
Student Paper Competition at the International Union of
Food Science and Technology World Food Science and
Technology Congress held in Mumbai, India. • Stuart Taylor, who is doing his master’s degree in animal science, won the award for the best graduate student presentation at an annual meeting of the International Poultry Scientific Forum (IPSF) in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. • Ruvimbo Samanga presented a paper at the African Leadership Congress in Space and Technology in Abuja,
Nigeria, where she was elected as a member of the Space Generation Advisory Council for the United Nations and of the Women in Aerospace in Africa Committee. • Ruben Cruywagen, an MSc student in the Department of
Zoology and Entomology, won the Young Entomologists’
Essay Prize.
While the University’s 2019 total contact enrolment was below the set target by 5.1%, there was an increase of 0.57% in contact undergraduate enrolments from 2018 to 2019, and 1.78% in contact postgraduate enrolments over the same period.
Graduate outputs
A total of 12 857 diplomas and degrees were awarded in 2019, a decrease of 655 graduates compared to 2018 (13 512). The decrease was partly attributable to a drop in distance education graduates to 557 (2018: 611). This mainly impacted on the postgraduate output.
The total number of master’s graduates in 2019 improved
Chris Oosthuizen Fiona Mumoki Andrea Wilson
Thulani Sibanda Stuart Taylor Ruvimbo Samanga
Ruben Cruywagen Ofentse Mathibela Analike Blom
Ofentse Mathibela, an honours student in Plant Science, won the best poster in Physiology/Ecophysiology/ Biotechnology at the 45th Annual Congress of the SA Association of Botanists. Analike Blom was awarded the best oral presentation by a PhD student.
to 2 008 (2018: 1 993) and that of doctoral graduates was down at 399 (2018: 427).
The decline in contact undergraduate output is the result of a drop in new first-year students enrolled for bachelor degrees in 2016 and 2017. While the decrease in 2016 was planned, the decrease in 2017 resulted from the instability in the higher education sector in 2016.
International profile and world rankings
An important dimension of tertiary education is broad exposure to varied thinking. Staff and student exchanges, as well as international postgraduate students, facilitate this. In 2019, 4 669 international students were registered at UP, more than 60% of UP’s postdoctoral fellows (264) were from other countries, and there was a strong increase in international academic staff which now number 203 (2018: 180).
Recognition for the quality of UP’s teaching content also gained new heights. UP has historically been positioned in the top 1% globally in eight of the 22 Essential Science Indicator (ESI) fields: Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Engineering, Environmental/Ecology, Immunology, Microbiology. Plant & Animal Sciences, and Social Sciences. In 2019 UP added a 9th knowledge field to their ESI bouquet: Biology & Biochemistry. UP was the top-ranked university in South Africa in the fields of Engineering and Plant & Animal Sciences.
World ranking systems classify, differentiate and position universities within the global higher education landscape. UP’s interest in these rankings is informed primarily by its overarching vision of becoming a global research player and, secondly, as a steering mechanism to enhance performance by encouraging UP researchers to publish in high-impact journals and embrace important research practices such as collaborative research and coauthorship with international partners.
Tops in Law UP’s Faculty of Law was placed 76th in the world by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2019 by subject. THE rankings include almost 1 400 universities across more than 90 countries, making it the
Dr Naledi Pandor Hjalmar Rall Elsa Nolte Inspirational graduates • The Minister of International Cooperation, Dr Naledi
Pandor, received her PhD degree at the Faculty of
Education’s graduation ceremony. Prof Chika Sehoole, Dean of the Faculty of Education, was this high-profile
Cabinet Minister’s supervisor. • Hjalmar Rall completed his BSc (Physics) degree at the age of 17. He joined UP in 2017 at the age of 14. • UP and the Université Grenoble Alpe together awarded
Elsa Nolte a PhD in human physiology during the autumn graduation season. She spent a year in Grenoble after being awarded the French Embassy Research Grant.
biggest and most diverse university rankings to date.
The Faculty of Law’s rating is all the more remarkable amid negative reports on the LLB programme in the sector. The Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree offered at 17 universities in the country will be the object of a major overhaul after a Council on Higher Education (CHE) report found the degree to be lacking in certain areas, among others, critical thinking. This followed a CHE national review of the qualification that was prompted by the legal profession drawing the CHE’s attention to its dissatisfaction with the quality of recently graduated law professionals.
Top 5 in SA UP improved its ranking in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings for 2020. It bettered its global position in two of the six indicators, which ranks it fifth in the country and in the top 52% of universities in the QS rankings. UP was also recently named among the top four South African universities in the QS 2020 Graduate Employability Survey, which shows that its graduates are well-equipped for the world of work and highly sought-after.
In the Informatics Institute’s Universal Ranking by
Academic Performance (URAP) for subjects, UP came third locally with 22 subjects ranked. UP’s Faculty of Veterinary Science was ranked 48th in the world while Zoology featured 54th. The main objective of URAP is to develop a ranking system for the world’s universities based on academic performance indicators that reflect the quality and the quantity of their scholarly publications.
Tops in Africa The Gordon Institute for Business Science’s Executive MBA is still among the best in the world. It was ranked 48 out of 134 Global Executive MBA providers by the global business school analyst Quacquarelli Symonds. This is a major achievement as it is the first time GIBS entered these rankings. GIBS also ranked as the top business school in South Africa and top in Africa according to the UK Financial Times rankings.
DEVELOPING AN INTEGRATED SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT
A student’s tertiary education success depends on a multitude of factors, some as tangible as funds and a safe place to stay; others less tangible, such as leadership potential and emotional wellbeing. UP recognises this and its response to its students’ needs is equally nuanced.
Access to Financial Aid
UP has for many years been providing funding support to enable financially disadvantaged students progress to higher education. The portfolio of bursaries consists of the University’s own funds, funds raised through donations, gifts, grants, and funding administered on behalf of third parties such as state departments, foundations and provincial governments.
In 2019, UP disbursed close on R1.7bn in financial aid, with contributions from UP’s own funds increasing by 12% to R163m.
The Vice Chancellor’s Discretionary Award made 55 awards to students who are high achievers and represent a talented group of individuals on campus. UP will be consolidating and elevating its talent programmes for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, in part to embed the idea that UP is a place of excellence where talented students seek to be admitted.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Programme, which started at UP in 2014 with 19 students, is one of its most prestigious scholarships. It provides an opportunity for academically gifted students, from all over Africa, to study at UP. In 2019, a total of 63 students (23 undergraduates and 40 postgraduates) from 15 African countries were awarded the Mastercard Scholarship, bringing the total number of UP Mastercard scholars to over 200.
Top talent chooses UP
UP remains a destination of choice and again succeeded in attracting students with outstanding school-leaving results. We know that these young people will enhance UP’s reputation for being a significant contributor to the scarce skills talent pool. • David Dodkins from North West province was the top achiever nationally in mathematics and physical science. He registered at UP for a degree in actuarial and financial mathematics. • Tiisetso Molata from Dobsonville, Soweto, achieved a 94.5% matric pass. He registered for an Electrical Engineering degree. • Mongezi Mbatha graduated from the Prinshof School for the visually impaired, and was the top performing student nationally in the special needs category. He registered for a
BCom degree in Informatics. • Misimiswa Magoro is studying Chemical Engineering, and
Natasha Hlogwane Dentistry, both having achieved excellent marks with an average of above 90% . • The top achiever from Pretoria Girls High School, Vanessa
Annor, is studying Medicine at UP. • Taleah Ayob achieved 100% for mathematics and accounting and had an average of 94%, with seven As. She is studying
Electrical Engineering at UP.
Student profile
n Female 27 188
n Undergraduate 35 746
44+ 26+
n Male 21 344
n Postgraduate 12 786
Student success
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857 Diplomas and degrees awarded
Student improvement 91.3 Examination pass percentage (2018: 90.4%) 5.8 Drop-out percentage (2018: 7.3%) 83.5% Module pass percentage (2018: 82.5%)
LAW Faculty of Law ranked #76 in the world by THE World University Rankings
Top subjects
ENGINEERING PLANT & ANIMAL SCIENCES UP ranked top among SA universities by InCites Essential Science Indicators
Student support 95.5 Percentage of undergraduate modules that have an active online presence R1.7 bn Financial aid provided to students
GIBS MBA Ranked #48 out of 134 Global Executive MBA providers by Quacquarelli Symonds
Student wellbeing
The Student Health Services Unit provides basic health services to students on all campuses through professional nurses, medical doctors, dieticians, optometrists and HIV testing professionals, all based under one roof in an accessible clinic on each of the campuses.
Food insecurity among students is a cause for concern. UP’s Healthy Eating campaign aimed to help students make smarter food choices, while the Back2Varsity campaign collected enough food to provide 170 students with meals for six months. There was a marked increase in the number of immunisations against communicable diseases, in particular flu, meningitis, rabies and hepatitis B, from 666 in 2018 to 6 142 in 2019. There was a positive response to the free contraception provided, with significant numbers of women being assisted and free condoms made available to all students.
UP places a high priority on the mental health and wellness of its students. The Student Counselling Unit provides professional psychological support on all UP campuses and in 2019 held 18 800 counselling sessions. The Unit offers academic counselling and assessments, therapeutic services, psycho-education and emotional support to students to ensure that they are equipped to deal with trauma or personal and academic stress, to make correct career choices, and to be academically successful. Life skills enable students to develop holistically, ensuring well-rounded individuals and socially responsible citizens.
A peer support programme was launched in 2019 in partnership with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) to enhance the University’s capacity to provide emotional and psychological support to students. The programme has been very successful and UP will continue implementing it. The agreement with SADAG to offer 24-hour telephonic counselling to students who have been exposed to trauma and to deal with crises of immediate concern was also renewed.
Student hunger and nutrition
Food insecurity – whether through undernourishment or lack of food – denies students the chance to achieve their full potential. In a food survey, UP found that 30% of its students do not have the R50 a day needed for three meals and that only 38% of students eat breakfast, the most important meal of the day.
Informed by these findings, the University launched a Healthy Eating Campaign. The campaign involved handing out free fresh produce to students, infographic posters, scientific articles and social media activations to raise awareness among students of the importance of nutrition.
Affordable nutritious meal-of-the day options are now available in the residence dining halls. “Fryless Wednesdays”, where fried and fatty foods were eliminated from the menu for one day a week, was the first step in a phased project to change students’ eating habits.
The Student Nutrition and Progress Programme provides meal credits or food parcels to students in need. R700 000 was made available from the UP budget in 2019 and was supplemented by private cash donations of more than R200 000, and food donations from the private sector. Students and staff also made food donations, under the auspices of the University’s Mandela Day Zero Hunger campaign.
Tuks FM again teamed up with Menlyn Park Shopping Centre to help UP students in need. The campaign, Back2Varsity, called on the public to donate nonperishable foods, stationery, toiletries and clothing. This wonderful initiative underscores the philosophy of “together for each other” – communities survive because people help one another.
In 2019, the University continued providing a loan advance to each qualifying student in a UP residence to enable them to afford meals until NSFAS or bursary funds are paid out. All NSFAS students received a R15 000 living allowance, and all other qualifying students living in UP residences, including those in the missing middle category, received a R14 400 loan advance for meals. The rationale for this advance is to prevent students from going hungry and to enable them to concentrate in class without worrying whether they will have a meal or not.
CREATING A CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Student wellbeing is integral to the general development and overall success of students and we continue to invest in programmes that ensure that our students not only succeed during their time at university, but also develop into well-rounded individuals, socially responsible citizens, and employable graduates. Besides the professional services for the support and personal development of students, creating a safe and welcoming space form the foundation of UP’s strategy in this regard.
THINK smart
The Rand Merchant Bank THINK Bench is a 13-metre public artwork donated to the University by Council Member, Laurie Dippenaar. The bench was launched on 13 August and is now part of the unique sculpture scene that the Hatfield Campus offers. Designed by Louis Olivier and created by the Workhorse Bronze Foundry, THINK bench celebrates and encourages innovative and collaborative thinking. More than 20 students can use it simultaneously.
Laurie Dippenaar, co-founder of RMB; UP Vice-Chancellor Prof Tawana Kupe; David Kabwa, UP SRC President; and artist Louis Olivier at the unveiling of the RMB THINK Bench at UP’s Hatfield Campus.
Student housing
In addition to providing a physical environment that is conducive to student success and wellbeing, the residences at UP have developed programmes to promote a psycho-social environment that fosters academic success, diversity, and a sense of community. The residences’ Triple L + 1 programme aims to achieve understanding (Listening), create a sense of belonging (Living), promote Learning, and leave a positive and innovative Legacy. Dialogue sessions cover topics such as life skills, healthcare and mental health, diversity, financial training, sexual behaviour, addiction, academic skills such as exam preparation, and managing stress.
The system of residence benefactors, which was introduced in 2018 to enhance interaction between resident students and the University’s management team, was continued in 2019. This also provides an opportunity for the University’s academic leadership to build relationships and develop a deeper understanding of the challenges facing students in their daily living environment.
Student development
The University provides student development programmes for a variety of student governance and student life structures, including day houses, faculty houses, residence house committees, other student committees, organisations and societies. Peer mentorship and peer support groups, as well as student-initiated tutor programmes, were expanded in residences and organised student structures. A leadership development training event was held for all elected student leaders and committee members. The aim of the training was to create a shared understanding among all student leaders at UP of their respective roles, and to unlock the potential of students as leaders, responsible citizens and contributors to the community.
Campus stability
A stable and peaceful campus environment is essential for students and the University’s leadership meets regularly with the Student Representative Council (SRC)
and affiliated student structures to identify and discuss key issues and provide correct information to increase the level of information flow and trust across all levels of governance.
The portfolio-based structure of the SRC is one of the contributing factors to the current effectiveness of student governance and stability at UP. This structure allows for all aspects of student life and students’ needs to be addressed. Free and fair student elections also contribute to campus stability and 2019 was again marked by smooth election processes for the SRC and other student structures. A successful round of audited electronic voting, facilitated by the Independent Electoral Commission, helped make the hand-over from the 2019 SRC to the 2020 SRC near seamless.
Campus safety and security
The safety and security of students and staff remain a priority. Throughout 2019, students who felt unsafe could request campus security to escort them to their residences and make use of the publicised green routes, especially after hours. UP’s campus security officers were also placed strategically across all campuses. Students without airtime could send a ‘please call me’ message to a dedicated number and campus security would call them back.
As an anchor institution, UP is actively involved in the City
of Tshwane and the Hatfield CBD Improvement District. A 24-hour Hatfield Tshwane Metro Police Department satellite station opened its doors in 2019. It employs eight police officers and has two support vehicles (provided by UP) and 79 CCTV cameras. This will go a long way in protecting the Hatfield community of which UP staff and students form a major part.
A vibrant student life
The extramural student life programme at UP is aimed at supporting the holistic development of students. It entails a wide variety of sporting codes, cultural events and activities. The Arts remain a cornerstone of such activities, and UP’s sporting achievements are legendary.
Arts and music There were outstanding events and achievements for the arts and music at UP in 2019, most notably the Principal’s Concert, which has been held every year since 1977 to recognise the important role played by the arts, including music, in building a community and in uplifting our spirits.
The 2019 Concert set a new standard when Abdullah Ibrahim, coming all the way from New York, mesmerised the audience with his great talent. Everyone agreed that he is indeed a “jazz master” as he was officially crowned in 2019 by the National Endowment for the Arts in the US. Tuks FM won the best campus radio station of the year award at the Liberty Radio Awards, making it the only radio station to have won this award five times. Furthermore, they also walked away with awards for the best afternoon drive show, best breakfast show, best music show (locals only), best night-time show (Hip Hop show) and radio innovation (Hear the sights). Tuks FM also won CV-Magazine’s 2019 Small Business Award for best radio station in South Africa.
Sport Sport has continued to be a source of pride for the University and its performance during 2019 confirmed that UP is indeed a sporting powerhouse in Africa. UP’s deserved Sportsman of the Year (2019) was Akani Simbine while Sportswoman of the Year was Tatjana Schoenmaker, both world-class athletes. For the second consecutive year, UP teams were the overall Varsity Champions, winning three tournaments.
The following teams showed great sporting prowess in the 2019 Varsity Tournaments: • Assupol TuksCricket beat University of Johannesburg (UJ) in the final by eight wickets. It was the fourth time in five years that Assupol Tuks has won the tournament. • Delta Drone Tuks women's sevens team won the
The annual Principal’s Concert was an extraordinary showcase of African talent with Jazz Master Abdullah Ibrahim supported by acts such as UP Ovuwa.
Advantage: Wheelchair Tennis
South African and Tuks wheelchair tennis rising star Donald Ramphadi (right) won three successive titles: the Thailand Open, the Pattaya Open-final and the Bangkok Cup Tournament. He has remained unbeaten in his last 12 international encounters. Mariska Venter won the BNP Paribas International Tournament in France.
Tennis South Africa (TSA) and UP sealed an exciting new partnership whereby TuksSport and TuksTennis became the official home for the TSA Wheelchair Tennis high-performance programme from November 2019. The partnership makes
provision for extensive sport science and medical services at the Tuks High Performance Centre, partnering with the Sport Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI).
inaugural Varsity Tournament by beating Fort Hare 46-0. TuksNetball beat University of Stellenbosch in a humdinger final 48-43. What is remarkable about the team's performance is that it became the first team in the history of the Varsity Tournament to not lose a game.
In the Universities Sports South Africa (USSA) tournaments, UP teams and athletes fared exceptionally well. The teams that came out tops were TuksJudo, winning the tournament for a fifth consecutive time; TuksHockey, making it the third time they have won the tournament; TuksGolf; TuksRugby; Tuks men's sevens rugby; DeltaDrone Tuks women's sevens rugby; and TuksSwimming.
Assupol TuksCricket International prowess Assupol TuksCricket’s celebration of 100 years of cricketing excellence was made even more special when they won the Red Bull Campus Cricket T20-tournament in Dubai. Captain Jiveshen Pillay was the best batsman and was also rated the most valuable player. He has the distinction of being the only batsman to score a century.
Tatjana Schoenmaker deservedly won the South African Sportswoman of Year award as well as the South African Sports Star of the Year award. She was responsible for one of the most significant breakthroughs in South African women's sport when she won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke during the World Championships in Korea. It was the first time that a local swimmer medalled at a world long course championship (50m). She also won two gold medals (100m as well as 200m breaststroke) at the World Student Games in Napoli, Italy. She topped it all with two gold medals at the Tokyo World Cup (100m and 200m breaststroke).
Another TuksSwimming champion is Kaylene Corbett who won three gold medals (50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke) during the African Games in Rabat.
TuksAthletics saw many of its athletes grab the global spotlight, with just a small sample featured here: • South African sprint champion, Tebogo Mamathu’s win proved that 100m in 11.04s is possible during the 40th Resisprint Meeting in La Chaux, Switzerland.
The absolute hunger to be the best led to the Tuks rowers setting four firsts during the USSA Boat Race Regatta. The highlight was the performance of the men’s A-crew who won for the 11th consecutive time, a new USSA record. The Tuks women’s A-crew won for a fourth consecutive time, which is another first. The men’s B and women’s B teams were also victorious. No university has ever managed to win all four races, making Tuks the overall USSA rowing champions.
Her time is the second-fastest ever by a South African female sprinter. Sokwakhana Zazini won a silver medal in the 400m hurdles for men during the World Student Games in Napoli while Zeney van der Walt won a silver medal in the same race for women. Akani Simbine finished fourth in the 100m final at the World Championships in Doha. His time of 9.93s was the best result by a South African sprinter in a 100m final at a world championship. He and Clarence Munyai were also part of the South African 4 x100m relay team that set a new African and South African record at the World Championships. The team clocked a time of 37.65s in the heats. Earlier in the year, Simbine made his own history when he won the 100m during the London Diamond League Meeting. 17-year-old Thomas Breytenbach won a gold medal at the Borsa Open Judo Tournament in Bosnia and Herzegovina, competing in the under-81kg category.
Akani Simbine and Tatjana Schoenmaker were UP’s Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year.
