Page 25 - Transformation Report 2023

the 2016 and 2017 cohorts, at 46 and 44 percent, respec- A deeper qualitative analysis of the pass and throughput The University is reliant on a licensed tool, IntelliBoard,
Analysis of the 2017 student cohort for three-year UG de- tively, across all the qualification types. rates will be done to enable us to fully understand the for learning analytics-related academic performance, ac-
grees showed that one in every two (50 percent) White reasons for the declining pass rate and the gaps between tivity, and participation of staff and students. IntelliBoard
students completed their studies in the minimum time, The level of inequality in South Africa is the worst in the the throughput rates of the different population groups, is used to analyse patterns and behaviours. The annual
relative to 46 percent of the 2016 cohort. Only 21 percent world. The above profiles of throughput rates across the to then align our intervention strategies accordingly. licensing cost of the tool is R350 000, and if not renewed,
of African students of the 2017 cohort completed in the different qualification types, using population group as a the data generated will be lost. Efforts are being made to
minimum time, relative to 24 percent of the 2016 cohort. variable, bring into sharp focus the copious ways in which There are however academic support services that al- t enhance the inhouse RADAR tool to align and exceed
This equates to a difference of 29 percent in the com- inequality plays itself out in the lives of disadvantaged ready exist which will be discussed in the following sec- the IntelliBoard learning analytics capabilities.
pletion rate of these two population groups for the same South Africans. Despite the provision of concessions, and tion.
qualification type. the unintended consequences of enormous debt levels Previously, each faculty was allocated an e-technologist
for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, academ- to provide support; however, due to resource constraints,
Further analysis of the four-year UG degrees for the 2016 ic support provisions are critical in enhancing the com- Targeted UG Student Success these capabilities were reduced, despite the increased
cohort found that the proportion of students completing pletion rates of students. In addition, since the factors need for capacity as the University embraces the fourth
in minimum time for White and African students were 60 contributing to these low throughput rates are not fully Interventions industrial revolution (4IR). The DigiReady project, which
and 38 percent (22 percent difference), while for the 2017 known, further investigations need to be undertaken to is linked to first-year success (FYS), is conducted by EBET
cohort this gap increased to 68 and 34 percent (34 per- inform the suitability of current and further support provi- and continues to assist first-year students to enhance
cent difference), respectively. The overall completion rate sions. Improving completion times will positively impact Student Success Framework their computer literacy. Various academic programmes
in minimum time for four-year degrees were highest for subsidy provision. have dedicated modules embedded to address comput-
The LT Collab is in the process of formulating a Student er literacy. The provision and distribution of laptops to
Success Framework that will be institutionalised through students includes further training and support from ICT.
the Mandela Way programme for staff and students. A
series of programme development workshops were con- Knowledge Assessments to Enhance
ducted to ensure broad stakeholder participation. The Learning
programmes, guided by existing input from staff and stu-
dents, include themes such as Beginning Your Journey
(BYJ), Early Career Academics Advancement Programme The archaic approach of regurgitation of disciplinary
(ECAAP), Student Success Coaching and related success knowledge as a form of knowledge assessment is being
initiatives. An application for further distillation of needed addressed by the TD Unit. The TD team provides training
skills will be submitted to SAIDE and funding for the es- on Knowledge Assessment for Learning as part of the Ear-
tablishment of the programmes is envisaged through the ly Career Academics Advancement Programme (ECAAP),
Siyaphumelela 3.0 funding. as well as the Beginning Your Journey (BYJ) programme.
Academics participated in the Dynamics of Humanisation
Learning Analytics Symposium hosted in October 2023, providing an oppor-
tunity to engage in scholarly debates relating to assess-
The HE sector continue to be plagued with low through- ment. All Faculties participated via presentations, show-
put rates. Learning analytics is one of the strategies that casing how issues relating to assessment were addressed
is being focused on as part of the student success frame- through a humanising pedagogy lens.
work.Learning analytics have been shared through the
Deanery and LT Committee (LTC). However, more work
is needed, as academic staff readily use Moodle as the
official Learning Management System (LMS). Better ana- Universal Accessibility – Enhancing
lytics can be drawn from Moodle to inform and support Teaching and Learning Environment
success interventions. for Students with Disabilities

Moodle provides tools that academics can use to assist
them to enhance their pedagogical approach to content. The University is an environment that must support stu-
Academics need to be made aware of these tools and dents and staff and ensure reasonable accommodation
trained on how to optimally use these to enhance their for students living with disabilities. The institution is ex-
academic support interventions. pected to respond through comprehensive and integrat-
ed support for students and staff with disabilities. The
Patterns generated by RADAR assist with improving stu- lived experience of these students and staff, however,
dent success through timeous interventions. During the does not align with the principles enshrined in the inter-
year under review, RADAR could only be rolled out to national instruments to which South Africa is a signatory.
some faculties in 2023 due to technical challenges which Our Constitution is clear: no citizen should experience
disabled its full functional capabilities. Meetings were
Table 11: Percentage Graduates Completing in Minimum Time Various Qualification types (2016 and 2017 cohorts). any form of unfair discrimination based on their disability.
held between faculties, the LT Collab, and ICT, since
more faculties wish to use the tool. The role of the Universal Accessibility and Disability Ser-

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