Page 30 - Transformation Report 2021

The digital inclusion scheme continued, and close to 1 500 the recipients were Black (African, Coloured, Indian and
laptops were issued to NSFAS-funded first-time entering Asian), and 59% were female students. In addition, 109
students in April. postdoctoral fellowships were awarded, of which 71%
recipients are Black and 33% female, which is aligned with
9.2 PG research funding our transformation agenda to continue to increase the
In 2021, Council allocated R40 million to the Office proportion of women.
of Research Development for Postgraduate Research
Scholarships and R9.2 million for postdoctoral fellows. As The university has also allocated/administered the following
of 25 October 2021, 372 Honours, 755 Masters and 360 number of bursaries and merit awards for undergraduate
Doctoral scholarships were awarded funding from Council, and PG Dip / Cert, BTech and Advanced Diplomas, i.e.
the NRF and other external funders. Of these, 80% of excluding Postgraduate Research Scholarships:

CATEGORIES NO. OF BENEFICIARIES

PG Scholarships 966
Scholar merit 324

Student Merit 801
Vice-Chancellor Scholarship 21

Sport 100

NSFAS Pre-funder 803
External Bursaries 957

Total students 3 972

9.3 Improve student-centeredness of academic research, engagement, and work processes. Attention was
administration processes devoted to improving the student access and enrolment
As a critical dimension of our future sustainability, the value chain. The following projects were implemented:
Enrolment Management Task Team led the process to the Integrated Tertiary System Chatbot to improve
ensure that applications were converted to enrolments. communication to prospective and current students, the
Their efforts have resulted in more applicants being customer relations management solution for the contact
provisionally accepted in 2021 compared to the same centre, and central timetabling.
date in 2020. Wide-ranging efforts were implemented to
broaden our national and international student recruitment 10. Increased Provision of Student Accommodation
footprint while also improving system efficiencies to The Department of Student Housing focuses on
promote a more integrated student access and enrolment providing an environment conducive to living, learning
value chain. and intellectual engagement for our students living
in residences in Gqeberha and George. With lectures
The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) continuing to be conducted in mixed modes, students
Services Department developed systems to assist with need access to WIFI connectivity, with living conditions
online registrations, such as a Virtual Registration Readiness conducive to learning. Our on-campus residences were
portal; online information sessions for orientation and first- occupied by about 3 609 students, up from 3 299 in 2020,
year registration; MS Booking system for students needing while our accredited, off-campus residences housed about
faculty assistance (this will also be set up for financial aid 14 058 students, up from 12 569 students in 2020 (see
queries); online information sessions via webinars and MS Figure 3).
Teams; ad hoc timetables online; and an online iEnabler
registration system to provide for qualification and module All the living and learning programmes are being
registration, timetable, AD password, opt-in for laptops conducted online to ensure that students continue to
and residence registration online. access these important support services.

ICT fast-tracked the automation of learning, teaching,

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