Page 23 - Transformation Report

The total number of Masters’ enrolments was 1 732, this graduates below the target of 106 (see Table 6). Enrolment in
may be indicative of a higher influx of graduates from doctoral programmes has decreased over the past two years,
other universities enrolling at NMU for qualifications at this from 627 students in 2018 to 528 students in 2020. During
level. To continue attracting and retaining PG students, the the same two-year period, the graduates at the University
mobilisation of sufficient resources (such as competitive declined from 102 in 2018 to 80 in 2020. Doctoral enrolments
bursaries and scholarships) for students at PG levels is critical. and graduations showed an overall decline from 2017 to
In 2020, there were 405 Masters graduates, with the majority 2020 of -3.3 and -13 percent, respectively (see table 7). The
being African and female (see Table 4). However, from 2017 number of South African Doctoral enrolments increased by
to 2020, there has been a general decline in Master’s level 11.9 percent over the same period.
enrolments and graduations for both South African and
International students (see Table 5).

Doctoral graduates at Mandela University declined from 97
in 2019 to 80 in 2020, which is a 17.5 percent decline and 26

Table 6 Percentage Change in Doctoral Enrolment Profile According to Nationality (2017 to 2020)

Percentage Change in Doctoral Enrolements and Graduations (2017-2020)
Qualification Type Nationality Enrolled Graduates

International -38.3% -14.7%
Masters
National 11.9% -12.1%

Masters Total -3.3% -13.0%

Table 7 Doctoral Graduate Profile According to Gender and Population Group

2020 PhD graduates by gender & population group
Gender Graduates %

Female 35 44%
Male 45 56%

Population Group

African 44 55%
Coloured 5 6%

Indian 2 3%
White 29 36%

Grand Total 80 100%

In view of this decline in postgraduate enrolments and and international enrolments and identify factors affecting
graduate outputs over the last number of years, as well these trends, with a view to developing strategies and
as the sharp decline in international enrolments, the interventions to overcome factors negatively affecting
University has established a dedicated postgraduate and national and international postgraduate enrolments and
internationalisation task team. This task team will focus on graduations.
analysing the trends across the spectrum of postgraduate

23 TRANSFORMATION REPORT