UP – an engaged university University of Pretoria
Annual Review
Our vision To be a leading research-intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, and also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally.
Our goals
n to be a leading research-intensive university n to strengthen the University’s international profile n to strengthen the University’s impact on economic and social development n to pursue excellence in teaching and learning n to increase access, throughput and diversity
CONTENTS |
ISBN: 978-0-621-44099-7
Contents Engagement for PUBLIC good Message from the Chancellor
4
Skilful navigation towards strategic focus Message from the Chairperson of Council
6
Target-driven performance Message from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal
8
CHAPTER 1 12
Student engagement CHAPTER 2 Working with society, for society
23
CHAPTER 3 UP’s impact on the African continent
31
CHAPTER 4 UP’s international outreach
35
CHAPTER 5 39
Top-rated staff CHAPTER 6 Sport and culture
46
Financial statements
49
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 1
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UP as an engaged university The University of Pretoria is an institution that is engaged with society at large, and that operates on the basis of the public good. This identity guides how we shape students’ appreciation of their tertiary experience, how we empower staff to be more than conduits of knowledge, and how we contribute to – and sometimes set – national and international agendas.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 3
| CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE
Engagement for PUBLIC good Message from the Chancellor As a public institution, the University of Pretoria cannot afford to be insular, an “ivory tower” removed from the reality of everyday life. We also choose not to be. Instead, we enlist the best academia has to offer to help answer society’s questions and solve its problems. We are proud to proclaim UP an engaged university.
T
he vision and strategic goals of the University of Pretoria (UP) deliberately position the University as a central player in the country’s transformation and socio-economic development. In
this context, the University strives to be an institution that is engaged with the broader society and operates on the basis of the public good. We see ourselves as a university that fosters mutually beneficial interaction with our communities and contributes to their advancement. Our purpose is to impact society meaningfully, be socially responsive and contribute to South Africa’s socio-economic development. Our identity as an engaged institution finds expression in our vision of becoming “a leading research-intensive university in Africa, recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, and also for developing people, creating knowledge and making a difference locally and globally”. As a university, our primary functions are to generate, transmit, apply and preserve knowledge. But this is not done in isolation. The University is aware that its political, social and economic context demands of it to be an active agent of transformation and socio-economic change. In the pursuit of knowledge, one of our top priorities is cutting-edge research that benefits society. We help secure the future of our country and our continent by focusing our research efforts on issues such as food, nutrition and well-being, energy and water security, urbanisation and its impact on the environment, and animal and human health. We are already among the top research-intensive universities in South Africa and are recognised globally for our contribution to plant and animal sciences, molecular biology, genetics, forestry and agricultural sciences, clinical medicine, environment and ecology, engineering and social sciences, including law. One of the cornerstones of our mission is to increase the diversity of our student population. In our view, providing opportunities to South Africa’s diverse citizenry is the only way to achieve social justice, socioeconomic stability and the sustainable development of our country. Our efforts are bearing fruit in terms of student numbers as well as academic and support staff. Attending university should not only broaden students’ knowledge and skills; it should also prepare them for the challenges of a diverse and changing world, and equip them to contribute to society through critical citizenship and civic responsibility. To achieve these goals, we have
Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu
implemented an inquiry-led, student-centred educational approach. We also run a well-developed and well-managed community
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CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE |
engagement programme, currently involving projects at 931 universityaccredited sites. The key to community engagement is linking the research and teaching
12 416 Graduates in 2014
skills of staff and students to the specific needs of communities. In turn, student life and the attributes students develop while studying are enriched through their community service and engagement. As an engaged university, UP strives to have a positive impact on its immediate and broader communities and environments. To understand our progress in this regard, we published a study in 2013 that measured our contribution to the broader South African economy. The results showed that UP generates value that far exceeds the monetary worth of
222 Doctorates awarded
its resources, including the subsidies it receives from government. It is, for instance, one of the largest producers of skilled graduates in the country in fields such as engineering, life and physical sciences, initial teacher education and health and animal sciences. The University has also created and/or sustains more than 30 000 formal sector jobs as a result of direct employment or its multiplier effects in the national economy. Many of the jobs we generated were in skilled occupations.
1 485
Master’s graduates capped
The study confirmed the University’s value and status as an engine of economic growth to the City of Tshwane, the Gauteng Province and South Africa as a whole. This achievement is only possible because of our philosophy – and practice – of engagement. As you turn the pages of this report, it will become abundantly clear that for the University of Pretoria “engaged” is not an adjective; for us it is a verb and we work very hard, every day and in all we do, to bring the word to life in its broadest sense.
Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu Chancellor
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 5
| CHAIRPERSON’S MESSAGE
Skilful navigation towards strategic focus Message from the Chairperson of Council
H
ow does one measure the impact and achievements of an organisation as complex and dynamic as a university? And how does one ensure that it keeps progressing towards ever-
increasing relevance and sustainability? The answer lies in a robust strategy that is inspired by a compelling vision and reflected in every action and decision. The University of Pretoria’s Strategic Plan, better known as UP 2025, is our north star. It provides the roadmap and navigational markers that guide the University to achieving, by 2025, the vision and strategic goals it has set for itself.
Our overarching aim is to strengthen the University’s position within the cluster of research-intensive universities in South Africa, and within the highly competitive international arena of higher education. We want to achieve this in each of our core functions of research,
The members of the University Council are responsible for governance, determining the strategic direction of the University and approving major developments. It is a task we approach with care, diligence and pride.
teaching and learning, as well as the community engagement activities integrated into these. Achieving such ambitious goals requires planning, as well as rigorous monitoring. Our approach follows a nested institutional model whereby UP 2025 is supported by a five-year implementation plan (20122016) that identifies broad implementation strategies, and one-year implementation plans. The one-year implementation plans are derived from a review of the performance of the previous year and the extent to which the implementation strategies and priorities were effective. Therefore, every year, the University’s planning process prioritises activities and initiatives, and determines which activities need to be reshaped and which are to be discontinued. In this planning process, Council and its committees consider in detail the University’s performance as measured against the strategic goals, targets and key performance indicators contained in UP 2025. As a result, we can confidently say that the University remains on track to achieve its vision. Evidence of this statement is captured in this report. The overall picture that emerges is that the University is truly an engaged institution. Responsiveness to the needs and aspirations of its stakeholders and society as a whole permeates all aspects of its academic enterprise. As a public university, our priorities are aligned with the national
Ms Futhi Mtoba
imperatives expressed in the White Paper on Post-School Education and Training. The University’s policy framework and planning processes are
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CHAIRPERSON’S MESSAGE |
Leadership of the highest calibre The Chairperson of Council, Ms Futhi Mtoba, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Limpopo (UL) in recognition of her contribution to society and to the accounting profession. She was also appointed to the African Union Foundation, established by the African Union Assembly, which aims to finance African priorities through voluntary contributions. Two external Council members were honoured for their business leadership and contribution to South Africa’s economic growth in the 2014 Sunday Times Top 100 Companies Awards. Mr Laurie Dippenaar, Chairperson of FirstRand financial group, received the Lifetime Achiever Award and former UP ViceChancellor and Principal, and current Group Chief Executive Officer of Sanlam, Dr Johan van Zyl, was voted 2014 Sunday Times Business Leader of the Year by executives of the Top 100 companies.
well-aligned with the objectives and goals targeted for achievement in 2030, the target year specified in the White Paper. We furthermore took our cue from the White Paper when preparing our 2015 Institutional Plan. Together with the trend of an ever-increasing demand for university places, the White Paper played an important role in the deliberations on enrolment targets as agreed with the Department of Higher Education and Training, and in the development and refinement of the University’s smart growth policy during 2014. As a result of these actions, we are satisfied that UP’s core functions are optimally aligned with national needs and priorities. This level of national alignment is fundamental to achieving sustainability – one of the pillars of UP 2025. We recognise that stakeholder engagement is essential for UP’s effective governance, addressing the various challenges that confront us and, ultimately, the realisation of the University’s vision and strategic goals. The University has many stakeholders, the main ones being students, staff, government, parents, alumni, communities, business and industry, and funders. Social capital is a multifaceted driver of sustainability. In the UP context, we focus on instilling social capital-enhancing attributes in our students and using research – in areas as varied as governance innovation and food science – to build social capital in the broader society. However, one of our most important contributions to sustainability is with regard to preparing students for success. The University actively supports efforts to improve student success and is committed to achieving equity in student outcomes across population and social groups. The University has endeavoured to establish an educational environment where all students have the best opportunity to succeed, and a commitment to equity which ensures that achieving high rates of success and completion for all students is possible. In short, ensuring student success is central to our role as an engaged public university.
Ms Futhi Mtoba Mr Laurie Dippenaar
Dr Johan van Zyl
Chairperson of Council
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 7
| VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE
Target-driven performance Message from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal
T
he year 2014 was a successful one for the University of Pretoria. We made solid progress towards realising the UP 2025 strategy by attaining almost all the targets we
have set ourselves. Success is intentional at UP. We set ourselves inspirational and aspirational targets, underpinned by a clear vision. We remain focused and on course to achieving our vision and strategic goals. UP has positioned itself as a research-intensive university in a differentiated post-school higher education and training system
Success is intentional at UP. We set ourselves inspirational and aspirational targets, underpinned by a clear vision. We remain focused and on course to achieving our vision and strategic goals.
in South Africa. The University has an established reputation for excellence in research and is regarded as one of the top five research-intensive universities in the country. As an engaged public university, our priority is to pursue research that is inspired by the “grand” challenges of the world. Through focusing our research enterprise on central issues such as food, nutrition and well-being, energy, the environment and sustainability, human and animal health, and sustainable development, governance and human rights, UP intends to build world-class research capacity that will produce knowledge that improves the human condition, and advances the future of our country and that of the African continent. Without the appropriate profile of academic and research staff it will be impossible for us to realise our desired identity as a research-intensive university. It is therefore pleasing to note an increasing number of academic staff gaining in international stature through highly cited publications, membership of scientific academies and participation in international scholarly networks. Postgraduate education is central to broadening the University’s research base. Accordingly, it is a strategic priority to increase postgraduate enrolment, particularly in doctoral programmes. In 2014 the University made steady progress in increasing postgraduate enrolments and in attracting postdoctoral fellows. As an engaged university, UP is intensely aware of its developmental role and has deliberately positioned itself as an important actor in the social and economic advancement of South Africa. The most visible contribution UP makes to the South African economy and society is in the number of graduates produced. This contribution is more pronounced with regards to the urgent scarce skills areas identified by the Department of Higher Education and
Prof Cheryl de la Rey
Training (DHET) in fields such as engineering, life and physical sciences, initial teacher education and health and animal sciences.
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VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE |
In 2014, a total of 4 257 UP students graduated in these areas and about 45% of contact-enrolled students were registered in scarce skillsrelated study programmes.
Top 1%
UP is among the top 1% of institutions internationally in the fields of agricultural sciences, clinical medicine, engineering, environmental sciences/ecology, plant and animal sciences, and social sciences. (Web of Science (WoS) Essential Science Indicators (ESI))
Top 50
At 42nd place the University’s business school, GIBS, is ranked among the top 50 worldwide.
Another important strategy through which UP contributes to the country’s socio-economic development is community engagement. The University has a well-developed and well-managed learning-directed community engagement model. Currently, the University’s community engagement projects are spread across 931 University-accredited sites, most of them located in Mamelodi, Eersterust, Pretoria North, Pretoria West, the Pretoria inner city including Sunnyside and Hatfield, and parts of Mpumalanga. The pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning at UP is integral to the research-intensive identity and the international profile the University continues to pursue. Our goal is to create a learning experience in which teaching and research interact to promote discovery, creativity and innovation. We seek to prepare our students for the challenges of a diverse and changing world and promote the values of critical citizenship and civic responsibility. The University fosters excellence in teaching and learning through various strategies, inter alia, an inquiry-based teaching and learning orientation, in-class technologies that enhance students’ engagement in class, utilisation of Online Educational Resources and high quality student support. A success rate of 82.67% was achieved in 2014, again raising the bar in line with the consistent improvement shown since 2012. Providing access to university study to the diversity of South African citizens and ensuring their success is central to UP’s role as a public institution. Equally, we are committed to creating a nondiscriminatory, inclusive and enabling environment in which staff and students can thrive; and further, to embracing diversity so as to enrich the intellectual, social, work and study environments. We use enrolment planning as a mechanism to attain a “shape and size” that is aligned with our vision and the institutional goals we pursue. This means maintaining a balance between general formative and professional qualifications at undergraduate levels, focusing on scarce and critical skills areas, and pursuing strong growth at postgraduate research levels. We are pleased to report that at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels, the percentage of black students exceeded the targets for 2014, and that women accounted for 58% of all undergraduate students. During the past year, we registered growth in the number of international master’s and doctoral students and around 51% of papers
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 9
Funding and financial health The University has two main revenue streams, namely state funding and tuition fees. However, to maintain its financial health in the context of the resource-constrained environment in which it operates, UP has to generate income from alternative sources. We raise this so-called third-stream income from individuals, companies, foundations and trusts, embassies and international donors, local government, local and international nonprofit organisations, local and international aid agencies, and sponsorships. Third-stream income is used for innovations in teaching, institutional research, bursaries for financially challenged students and the development of infrastructure. Prof Jan Verschoor (seated), professor in the Department of Biochemistry, with Carl Baumeister, one of his students. The MARTI (Mycolic Acid Antibody Real-Time
Without the generosity of a large
Inhibition) Tuberculosis Diagnostics team won the Gauteng Accelerator Programme
number of external parties,
(GAP) Innovation Competition for novel technologies and innovations in the
we would not be in a position
biosciences. UP will fund a start-up company to patent and commercialise the MARTI technology. The venture was also selected to represent South Africa in the Swiss-South African Venture Leaders Programme in Switzerland in June 2014.
published by UP researchers were with international collaborators, both of these indicators being manifestations of the University’s internationalisation strategy. Universities function in a world where connectivity is ubiquitous and international alliances are being forged to address the more complex challenges that shape our daily lives. The central premise of the University’s internationalisation strategy is that through collaboration and partnerships globally, the University will be in a position to leverage increased capacity, visibility and impact in the national, regional and international arena.
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to offer our students and our stakeholders the value we currently do. The University’s overall financial position is satisfactory. We concluded the 2014 financial year with a positive sustainability ratio (indicating that the University can continue with its core business without new funding in the next financial year) and a positive cash flow position.
| 03 | VICE-CHANCELLOR’S VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE MESSAGE
Overall, during 2014, the University of Pretoria made meaningful strides towards achieving its strategic objectives as set out in the UP 2025 Strategic Plan and concomitant shorter term plans. We will continue to pursue our vision with vigour and enthusiasm. We remain committed to the improvement of the human condition through
200
UP is ranked among the top 200 universities in the world for
cutting-edge research, strengthening of the country’s social and
Geography (top 150), Agriculture
economic fabric, the provision of a holistic learning experience to our students, and the creation of a non-discriminatory, inclusive and enabling environment in which staff and students can thrive.
and Forestry (top 100), Development Studies (top 100),
As Vice-Chancellor and Principal I wish to express my heartfelt
English Language and Literature
appreciation to the staff and students of the University for their
(top 150), Linguistics (top 200),
commitment, hard work and loyalty to the University. I also wish to
Education (top 150) and Law
thank the Chairperson of the Council and Council members for the
(top 150).
exemplary manner in which they execute their governance mandate and for their support. It is also a special privilege to have as the Chancellor of the University, Prof Nkuhlu, who is a role model for our university community. The University of Pretoria can only achieve its goals with the support of the wide variety of stakeholders we interact and collaborate with. These include the DHET and other government departments, our many local and international research partners, donors and funders, professional bodies, corporates, employers, members of faculty advisory boards and the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. Our network of alumni is a valuable asset to the University, as are our community partners and the parents and families of our students. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, which is integral to the achievements of our staff and students highlighted in this Annual Review.
13
A-rated researchers recognised as leading international scholars
Prof Cheryl de la Rey Vice-Chancellor and Principal
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 11
CHAPTER 1 | STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Student engagement The University’s main function is to prepare students for the world of work, and to function as responsible members of society. We pursue this goal both through teaching and learning and how the curriculum, through student engagement, can be applied to impact meaningfully to the broader society of South Africa.
A
student’s tertiary education success depends on a multitude of factors, some as tangible as funds; others as imperceptible as esprit de corps. Recognising this fact, UP’s response to our
students’ needs is equally multifaceted and nuanced.
Quality learning and teaching One of the immutable realities of tertiary education is that students who have a record of success or who have the potential to succeed, given additional support, benefit most from the experience. Quality undergraduate education therefore has to start with the careful recruitment of students. To this end, and to foster greater transparency and consistency, the Senate reviewed admission criteria in the past year. In some programmes (notably architecture, drama, medicine and veterinary science) additional selection criteria, over and above the APS and other subject-specific requirements, are set. These might require, for instance, interviews, portfolios or supplementary tests. Once students start their studies, they are supported in numerous ways. Both our Hatfield and Mamelodi campuses run successful BSc and BCom foundation programmes, while the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT offers an augmented programme (ENGAGE). Augmented modules deliver the necessary background knowledge and develop the conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills students need to succeed in the mainstream modules.
OUR pillars of quality undergraduate education n Face-to-face contact n Technology n World-class library n Excellent lecturers n Mentoring n Tutoring n Summer and winter schools n Workplace/community learning
As of 2014, first-year students have access to UPO 101, our new online academic orientation programme that is available to them anytime, anywhere throughout their first year. UP places great emphasis on the role of contact between lecturers and students to support learning. We make sure our students enjoy the full benefit of lecturers that are recruited specifically for their outstanding disciplinary and research credentials. Contact extends beyond the lecture hall into high-impact practices such as mentoring, tutoring, summer and winter schools, and opportunities for workplace and/or community learning. Technology supports human contact at UP. We have a state-of-the-art learning management system, called clickUP, and other disciplinespecific technology. Technology also supports our so-called flipped classroom approach, which involves pre-class online reading or viewing and quizzes, and in-class use of clickers to assess students’
12 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
understanding of conceptual issues. Class time is increasingly used for
Contact between lecturers and students
in-depth discussion and peer learning.
extends beyond the lecture hall into practices such as mentoring and
In an exciting new development, the University Council has approved a
tutoring.
proposal for the development of a hybrid model of instruction that will promote the wider of use of technology, particularly online, in future. We already teach more than three-quarters of our undergraduate modules with online as an important complement to the contact mode of delivery; many postgraduate programmes have an online presence as well. A few master’s programmes are fully online and a Veterinary Science master’s programme celebrated a decade online in 2014. A highlight of the past year was UP securing a Siyaphumelela (“We succeed”) grant from the Kresge Foundation. Funding to the value of
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CHAPTER 1 | STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
$100 000 per year for the next three years will enable us to further develop our data-driven approach to improving first-year student success. Specific initiatives include technological innovations (such as the design of a mobile application to provide course choice advice from as early as Grade 9 in schools) and more blended learning. We will also use the grant to pilot another high-impact practice, namely learning communities, and to review high-risk first-year modules.
Learning about our students
28% Percentage of top achievers in the National Senior Certificate exam who choose UP
Although our student engagement levels are already quite high and deliver positive results, we know that our students are a complex and ever-changing community that can only be served effectively if we continuously improve our understanding of it. The University therefore has a unit that actively studies student success at an institutional level. Its ongoing longitudinal study into first-year students confirmed once again that course choice is the main reason for dropout. Other research in 2014 related to student academic readiness; the relative predictive validity of the NSC and NBT for the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences; the mentorship programme; the orientation programme and practical modules.
80% Percentage of new firstyear students in 2014 who came from public schools
Furthermore, and courtesy of the Teaching Development Grant, the University participated in the South African Survey of Student Experience (SASSE). The survey offers actionable data on student experience, enabling universities to put interventions in place that use resources effectively. Supporting financially challenged students is a priority for us and an expression of our belief in equitable access to good quality education. As a public institution, our admission policy is need-blind; in other words, a student’s ability to pay tuition fees is not a factor in determining admissibility.
Investing in tomorrow’s researchers Given UP’s vision of being a leading research-intensive university, we focus on broadening our research base, growing postgraduate enrolment in research master’s and doctoral degrees, and streamlining the postgraduate administrative processes. We achieve these objectives through the Graduate Support Hub (GSH) that provides support in three areas: n Funding applications and support; n Academic and technical research skills and broader life skills development; and
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91% Percentage of our graduates who are employed within six months of graduating
UP continuously aims to improve its understanding of students’ experience of university life. These students studying in the Mining Engineering Study Centre bear testimony to high levels of engagement.
n Through the Postgraduate Forum, opportunities for transdisciplinary conversations and fostering a sense of belonging to a community
In 2014, UP allocated
of scholars.
bursaries to the value
The GSH partners with UP academics to offer workshops on specific topics. Significant among these are the week-long statistics boot camps presented by our Internal Statistics Consultation Service (ISCS). In 2014, ISCS also ran a winter school on descriptive statistics.
of R712,48 million to deserving students. R153,63 million was awarded from the
Our young researchers are already making their presence felt, as is illustrated by the following awards that students received during 2014:
University’s own funds.
n Leoné Walters and Mariska Steyn, postgraduate students from the Department of Economics, received Economic Research Southern Africa (ERSA) scholarships. ERSA is a research programme funded by the National Treasury of South Africa. n Lungile Sitole and Cynthia Joan Henley-Smith, both PhD students, won Department of Science and Technology (DST) fellowships in the DST Women in Science Awards. n Dr Steven Hussey, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Genetics and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) in the
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 15
The TuksMonate dining hall opened its
Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, was awarded a Biotech
doors in 2014 and can accommodate
Fundi Student Award for his PhD research. The award was made by the
approximately 900 students of the Maroela, Mopanie, Katjiepiering, Taaibos, Boekenhout and Olienhout residences. The new dining hall incorporates a multifunctional hall that can be used for events or can serve as a study area for students since it offers internet and Wi-Fi access.
Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD), in partnership with The Innovation Hub. n Victoria Rautenbach, a PhD Geoinformatics student in the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, received the SABS Young Standards Professional Award for her exceptional contribution to the standards development fraternity. n James Shorten won first prize in the 2013 National Student Project Competition of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) for his project “Image-guided robotic feeding system for disabled people�. n Werner Cordier, a PhD student in pharmacology, won the Innovative Pharmaceutical Association of SA (IPASA) award for the best research in basic pharmacology. n Stefan de Bruin, a BSc (Hons) (Geoinformatics) student from the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, was awarded first prize in the category Best Student Project at the first annual STATS SA Isibalo Award Evening for his presentation on the use of official statistics in evidence-based decision making.
An environment of excellence UP is a people-centred institution that believes in providing its staff and students with a physical environment that is conducive to, and supportive of, achieving success. To this end, our campus master
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STUDENT ENGAGEMENT | CHAPTER 1
plan serves as a blueprint for the maintenance and development of infrastructure to support our future growth. 2014 saw several highlights in terms of university facilities. UP and the City of Tshwane (CoT) signed a formal land swap agreement transferring the Hammanskraal Campus to the CoT in exchange for land next to to the High Performance Centre (hpc) and the LC de Villiers Sports Campus in Hatfield. The new multifunctional TuksMonate dining hall, which serves all five residences on the TuksRes Hillcrest Campus (as well as the self-catering TuksVillage on demand), comprises a consolidated dining area, a coffee shop and study area with Wi-Fi, and a mini-market. A state-of-the-art language laboratory complex and resource centre, aimed at training students in African and other languages, and the promotion of and research on multilingualism at UP, opened in the Humanities Building on the Hatfield Campus. The complex is on par with the best of similar facilities internationally.
30 000
Students who access the UP teaching management system, clickUP, via mobile devices
A discussion on the University’s facilities would not be complete without noting the work done by the Disability Unit in the Department of Student Affairs. Over the past year, the unit supported 538 students with assistive technologies, special test and examination assistance and by providing dedicated facilities. The unit also guided departments to provide reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities.
Staying in touch Past students are a highly regarded stakeholder group and the University goes to great lengths to ensure they remain involved with their alma mater.
600
Trained tutors employed at UP
TuksAlumni promotes ongoing engagement and participation through alumni functions. Seven regional events took place in four provinces and international events were hosted in London, Australia, Toronto and New York. Travelling academics hosted alumni in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, New York, Toronto and Oxford. There are regular business breakfasts featuring well-known figures in the corporate world and the annual TuksAlumni Laureate Awards that honour alumni who have distinguished themselves. The various alumni clubs, such as Tuks Club60+, and interest groups arrange social events like wine tastings and get-togethers. The Young Alumni and Student Committee (YASCOM), was established
8 428
Students accommodated in University facilities
in 2013 to cultivate a spirit of philanthropy amongst current students. In 2014 the YASCOM “R5 Pledge” event raised a substantial amount in donations from staff and current students to assist students in need.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 17
CHAPTER 1 | STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Non-perishable food, toiletries and clothes were also collected via the annual “Bins of Hope� project. The visibility of Alumni Relations, the role of active alumni and the importance of giving back to UP amongst students were promoted actively. The Tuks Club 60+ alumni also donated towards the Tuks Scholarship Fund, reinforcing the notion of intergenerational giving back to the alma mater. In keeping with the spirit of giving back, TuksAlumni Pretoria East launched a young alumni mentorship programme aimed at supporting young alumni in the workplace.
Financial support Ensuring access and participation
Mr Laurie Dippenaar, chairperson of the FirstRand financial group, was a speaker at one of the regular TuksAlumni business breakfasts.
of students from diverse backgrounds is a mission-critical priority for UP. However, the
Funding obtained from the NRF postgraduate scholarships increased from R29 072 308 in 2013 to R62 226 950 in 2014.
University is aware that many students experience financial difficulties that prevent them from participating successfully in higher education.
100
Traditional sources of financial 75
support for students, such as the Scheme (NSFAS), cannot keep pace with growing demands. Not wanting students with academic merit to be excluded for
R Millions
National Student Financial Aid
50
financial reasons, the University administers a comprehensive
25
financial aid programme. We also provide merit-based aid to attract and support high-achieving students. In terms of our own funds, we have been running the
18 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
0
2013
2014
UP-NSFAS programme for a number of years and the intention is to raise the amount of funding for this programme significantly in 2015.
The Mining Engineering Study Centre on the Hatfield campus boasts the largest rain water harvesting system integrated with a building in the Southern
The Tuks Scholarship Fund is a new addition to our own funding portfolio. The Vice-Chancellor and Principal established the fund in 2014 in response to the difficulties that the NSFAS was experiencing. Our staff, students and alumni responded generously to a widely publicised appeal for regular structured giving to the Tuks Scholarship
Hemisphere. The rain water collected in a 130m3 underground tank is used to irrigate the University’s botanical garden.
Fund, which boosted UP’s own available funds for bursaries for deserving students. We also actively seek external funding to support students and to improve their chances of success. The first MasterCard Foundation Scholars registered in 2014 and three students who were enrolled for honours programmes will graduate in 2015. The programme took in its first cohort of 19 students from the intended 347 students over the next nine years. The Michael and Susan Dell Foundation Young Leaders Programme (DYL) was extended to a further 50 students in the past year, bringing the total number of students on the programme to 147. The first students who registered for three-year programmes will graduate in 2015.
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CHAPTER 1 | STUDENT ENGAGEMENT
Faculty student advisors support students with: ime management T n Workload management n Stress management n Study skills n Test-taking skills n Career and course advice n Curriculum structure n Personal problems n
Giving students a voice We believe that participation in decision-making is one of the best ways to prepare students for the future leadership roles in business and society. The UP’s Student Representative Council (SRC) is elected and functions in accordance with the Constitution for Student Governance. Through the SRC, students are represented on all the major governance bodies of the University, including the Council, Senate and the various Senate Committees, Faculty Boards and the Institutional Forum. They are invited to participate in selection committees that appoint academic staff members, as well as support services staff in the departments of Student Affairs and of Residence Affairs and Accommodation. The SRC’s numerous portfolios give students ample opportunity to get involved and to develop their leadership skills. These areas include academic matters, residences, student societies/associations, culture and sport, transformation, study financing, day students and external campuses, community engagement, international students, communication and facilities.
Our student success rates Average undergraduate module pass rates for contact students, 2011 – 2014
Term Number of MPP % EPP % DP % AP % modules Total 2011 2 440 79.2 88.4 7.7 2.8 2012 2 425 80.3 88.8 7.1 2.5 2013 2 346 80.2 88.8 7.8 2.0 2014 2 172 81.7 90.1 7.6 1.8 KEY: MPP = module pass percentage: Proportion of students who passed the examination in relation to the total number of initial registrations expressed as a percentage. EPP = examination pass percentage: Proportion of students who passed the examination in relation to the number of students who wrote the examination, expressed as a percentage. DP = drop-out percentage: Proportion of students who dropped out (cancellations PLUS exclusions) in relation to the total number of student registrations, expressed as a percentage. AP = absenteeism percentage: Proportion of students who were absent from the examination in relation to the number of students admitted to the examination, expressed as a percentage.
20 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
The UP student body Contact students
Undergraduates (33 774): Students also serve on the board of TuksFM, the campus radio station
Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 443
of which the University is the licence holder, and on structures of other
Women . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 331
providers of services to students.
Postgraduates (14 269): Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 226
The executive committee of the SRC meets regularly with the
Women . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 043
Vice-Principal responsible for student affairs, other members of
Total contact students = 48 043
the Executive, along with the directors of Student Affairs and of Residence Affairs and Accommodation. The aim is to afford the Executive a first-hand account of students’ experiences and their responses to
Black contact students = 50,3% International contact students = 9%
some of the policies and decisions that are taken at the senior and middle management level, and to jointly seek solutions to pressing issues. The Vice-Chancellor also hosts quarterly breakfast sessions with the SRC. The University’s Residence Advisory Board involves all residence heads (30) as well as the elected student chairpersons of the house committees
Distance education students Undergraduates (2 388): Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753 Women . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 635
(30). The board deals with issues of student housing and related concerns
Postgraduates (11 146):
and advises the management of the portfolio.
Men . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 585 Women . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 561
An innovative channel of student participation is the Constitutional Tribunal. It is a body of student “judges” appointed from the ranks of top-performing senior law students, whose responsibilities include ensuring that students’ rights are protected in disciplinary processes. The “judges” sit on the panel of the Committee for Discipline for students and the Student Discipline Advisory Panel.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 21
Community engagement in numbers
931
University-accredited community project sites
109
Community engagement modules included in curricula
1Â 000+
Community sites of learning
10Â 000
Students doing community projects for credits
5Â 000
Students involved in community projects as volunteers
22 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
WORKING WITH SOCIETY | CHAPTER 2
O
ne of UP’s strategic goals is to strengthen its impact on South Africa’s economic and social development. We do this in a multitude of ways. Our research efforts cover topics ranging from nutrition to
the broader intellectual debate on self and community. Our staff share their time and expertise in national forums and we create opportunities and platforms for the robust exchange of ideas.
Working with communities, in communities The University’s community engagement projects are a continuous source of pride and inspiration for us. On the one hand, they link the research and teaching skills of staff and students to the specific needs of a community. On the other, staff and students are enriched through their community service and engagement. The following two examples illustrate these principles in action. During the year, 120 students from the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Onderstepoort participated in a mass treatment and vaccination programme of livestock and pets in Rust de Winter. They treated 4 035 cattle, 1 200 goats and 358 sheep, and vaccinated 68 dogs and 12 cats against rabies. The programme, a joint venture between UP, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the farmers, focuses on farmers from Gauteng and Limpopo. It provides a valuable service to the farming community, while the students benefit from the practical experience of working with livestock.
Working with society, for society The purpose of our academic programmes is to prepare students for the challenges of a diverse and dynamic world, contribute to greater adaptability and promote the values of critical citizenship and civic responsibility. As an institution we model these behaviours through our engagement with our immediate and broader communities and environments.
The South African-Washington International Programme (SAWIP), which promotes student service and leadership, was launched at UP in 2014. The programme was previously offered at the three Western Cape universities only, but has now been extended to Gauteng, with UP as the first SAWIP partner in the north. Three UP students were selected to participate in the programme. SAWIP consists of weekly workshops with professionals and leaders, field trips to historic sites and 30 hours of community service for each participant. The second stage of the programme includes four to five weeks spent in Washington DC in the USA. Nolo Mokoena, a final year BCom (Economics) student, was also chosen to serve as a member of the SAWIP Leadership Programme 2014.
Research that offers solutions The pursuit of knowledge for the sake of knowledge has merit and is necessary, but it cannot be all a university does. At UP we pay specific attention to research initiatives that build social capital in the broader society. One of society’s most pressing issues is food insecurity. The Institute for
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 23
What is RhODIS? The Rhino DNA Index System was developed by researchers at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. With RhODIS, horn and other DNA samples can be used to identify individual rhinos – an important capability in the fight against rhino poaching.
Food, Nutrition and Well-being (IFNuW) at UP involves seven of our nine faculties and facilitates the exchange of information and research findings through transdisciplinary projects, platforms and think tanks. The DSTNRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security is co-hosted by the University of Pretoria and the University of the Western Cape. An example of the practical results flowing from this concentrated effort by IFNuW is the biscuit that Prof John Taylor of the Department of Food Science and his students have spent several years developing. This inexpensive rusk, based on sorghum and cowpeas, is high in protein and antioxidants, gluten-free and rich in dietary fibre. It is an effective means of combatting protein-energy malnutrition. Training communities to produce the biscuits as a means of earning income is part of a bigger project sponsored by the Howard G Buffet Foundation through the Norman Borlaug Institute. On a different, but no less important, topic the Sentech Chair in Broadband Multimedia Communications is doing research into broadband wireless connectivity and educational products. The goal is to improve access to education in remote locations. We are also proud of the fact that our research projects successfully bridge the gap into commercialisation, putting our results in the hands of people who need it most.
24 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
WORKING WITH SOCIETY | CHAPTER 2
Again, the diversity of recent innovations that have made this jump bears testimony to just how in touch UP is with its stakeholders’ needs. hearScreen™, for example, is an innovative, cost-effective hearing screening solution that will improve both early detection and primary treatment of hearing impairment, while Motswadi is an application that helps parents to monitor their young children’s online activities in order to prevent cyber bullying.
Service through our time and expertise The University plays an active part in both the broad higher education landscape in South Africa and in senior staff members’ particular fields of expertise. We involved, for instance, more than 100 staff and students in workshops to produce a self-evaluation report on the four themes that the Council on Higher Education (CHE) had identified for the first round of the Quality Enhancement Project (QEP). This was the highest number of participants of any university. A team was also sent to the first round of consultations after the submission of the report. The Vice-
61 577 Total number of students in 2014 (includes distance education students)
Principal: Academic is an active member of the project steering committee. Furthermore, during August 2014, UP hosted a workshop for council members of the universities of Pretoria, Limpopo, South Africa and Venda, the Tshwane University of Technology and the Sefako Makgatho Health and Allied Sciences University. The event was part of a capacity development initiative for university council members driven by the Department of Higher Education and Training in partnership with the University Council Chairs Forum-South Africa (UCCF-SA). On a more personal note, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Naledi Pandor, appointed our Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, as the chairperson of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI).
Events that broaden mindscapes Our UP Expert Lecture Series is an annual, public platform for our researchers to engage with a general audience on significant developments in their fields of expertise. It is a way of sharing our work and stimulating debate. The 14th lecture in the series, and the first for 2014, was delivered in March by UP Council member Prof Maxi Schoeman, Head of the Department of Political Sciences and Chair of the Core Social Sciences cluster in the Faculty of Humanities. Her topic was “A crisis of leadership? Reflections on 20 years of democracy”. Two more lectures took place in 2014, delivered by
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 25
CHAPTER 2 | WORKING WITH SOCIETY
The word Tshepo means “hope” and
Prof Nick Binedell, Dean of GIBS, and Prof James Ogude, Research Fellow
this is what Continuing Education at the
and Deputy Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship.
University of Pretoria Trust (CE at UP) and the City of Tshwane are inspiring in the participants of the Tshepo 10 000 project. The project aims to combat unemployment in the Tshwane area by providing 10 000 unemployed people with valuable training in creating and managing cooperatives.
The first AS Geyser Commemorative Lecture took place in February. Delivered by Prof Jimmy Loader, it honoured the memory of the cleric, scholar and anti-apartheid theologian that was accused of heresy for his principled opposition against apartheid on theological grounds. Prof Geyser was in the Theological Faculty of the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika at the University of Pretoria from 1946 until 1963. The University also regularly hosts public lectures by high-profile public figures. The 2014 list included the likes of Ms Navi Pillay, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Prof Brian Kobilka, 2012 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry; and world-renowned scholar of capital cities and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Cambridge, Prof Göran Therborn. Among the several national and international conferences we hosted in the last year was the 4th Apartheid Archive Conference on the theme “Race, Space, Location, Dislocation: Then and Now”. The conference forms part of the Apartheid Archive Project, which comprises a study involving 30 principal researchers from South Africa, the UK and Australia.
The power in partnerships Many languages across the globe have sayings that attest to the human imperative to connect. In Africa we know this as ubuntu. At UP we live
26 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
WORKING WITH SOCIETY | CHAPTER 2
The SAIMC control laboratory was unveiled by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, and the President of the Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Measurement and Control (SAIMC), Mr Vinesh Maharaj. This laboratory, which is situated in the Engineering 2 Building on the Hatfield Campus, is used by postgraduate students and undergraduate project students in the Control Group of the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.
ubuntu through partnerships with public and private entities. In this sphere, too, we engage in many and varied arenas, driven by an imperative of our own: to be relevant and impactful. Relevance and impact are certainly needed to address job creation and economic development. To this end, our Continuing Education Department has partnered with the City of Tshwane to create and implement a programme for sustainable entrepreneurship development and employment creation. Tshepo 10Â 000, as the partnership is called, has already trained 8 994 beneficiaries in entrepreneurial skills and established
Industry partnerships in numbers
140
48 new cooperatives in the City of Tshwane.
New agreements in 2014
In another partnership with the City of Tshwane, the University established
R119,4 million
a new institutional research theme (IRT), Capital Cities, in the Faculty of Humanities. Capital Cities now involves several disciplines in the faculties of Humanities, Law, Economics and Management Sciences, and in Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology. The IRT forms a node around which postgraduate training and postdoctoral support are organised, and collaboration takes place with other universities, local and international communities and government departments and municipalities. Our success in working with government and industry is reflected in the number of research chairs funded by industrial partners. UP now has
Value of industry-funded research contracts
R22,4 million
Value of support from the national Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP)
more than 40 industry-sponsored research chairs. The latest additions are the Research Chair in Maintenance Engineering in the Department of
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 27
The Virtual Reality Centre (VRC)
Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, sponsored by Weir Minerals
for mine design not only creates a
Africa (Pty) Ltd, and the Sedibeng Research Chair in Water Utilisation
safe environment for study but, by
Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
mimicking reality, will deliver mining engineers to the industry that are better prepared for the conditions they might face when deployed to a mine. In addition, mining engineers can test their mine designs in an immersive 3-D setting before actually building them. This saves both time and money.
Research chairs are only one aspect of our industrial partnerships. During 2014, for instance, we entered into several commercial contracts and interactions with industry through the Enterprises at University of Pretoria Trust (E at UP). These partnerships cover topics as wide-ranging as airquality monitoring, fatigue and strength testing on engineering-related structures, socio-economic impact modelling for infrastructure-related projects and clinical trials for the pharmaceutical industry, both nationally and internationally. Three other projects, each addressing a very different sector of the economy, that inspire us are: n The National Exotic Leather Cluster (NELC) that we are establishing under the auspices of the Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) Competitiveness Improvement Programme (CIP). The dti is investing R45 million in this initiative. n UP Natural Hazard Centre, Africa, in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, which is being sponsored by MMI Holdings, Munich RE, AON Benfield and the University. n Africa’s first virtual reality mine and the new Mining Resilience Research Institute. Kumba Iron Ore sponsors both projects, while execution resides with UP’s Department of Mining Engineering. Not all our industry partnerships are as big and eye-catching as a virtual mine; some, like the free online Laws of South Africa database, make their contribution in a more understated way. This hugely valuable endeavour was made possible by a R750 000 grant that the library received from the Constitutional Court and a number of reputable South African law firms.
28 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
Daspoort – 50 years of caring Daspoort Clinic started in 1964 as a UP student initiative with the purpose to support the local community and to gain practical work experience. Medical students see patients with the support and supervision of a medical doctor. Daspoort Clinic is essentially a clinic by students for students and the community. Besides exemplifying UP as a university that engages with its communities, the Clinic supports the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach that sees various departments and schools utilising Daspoort Clinic for communitybased service learning of their students. The Clinic falls under the Department of Family Medicine, in the Faculty of Health Sciences, in cooperation with the Gauteng Department of Health.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 29
Dr Nasima Carrim of the Department of Human Resource Management in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences received the 2013 Emerald African Management Research Fund Award, in association with the International Network for the Availability of Publications (INASP) and the International Academy of African Business and Development (IAABD).
30 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
IMPACT ON AFRICA | CHAPTER 3
A
frican universities are keenly attuned to the developmental objectives and goals of their specific societies and of the continent in general. In many ways it is up to scholars,
researchers and students to bring the subtleties of Africa to the attention of the rest of the world. Far from a homogenous landmass populated by one-dimensional citizens, Africa’s variety of questions and answers never fails to reward those willing to apply a fresh perspective.
Relationships for the greater good The University engages with its African counterparts largely through institutional relationships. Many of our institutes, centres and units support research that extends into the continent. These include the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa, the Centre for Human Rights, the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation, the African Tax Institute, the Centre for Mediation in Africa, the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership, the Sports Law Centre in Africa and the African Centre for Gene Technologies. Several targeted research programmes have strong links with Africa, such as the work undertaken by the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Well-being in the area of food security. Two other faculties whose African ties deserve to be highlighted are Veterinary Science and Health Sciences. The Faculty of Veterinary Science’s involvement is formalised through
UP’s IMPACT ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT With almost 700* universities and other institutions of higher learning, Africa is home to significant academic activity. The University of Pretoria proudly links itself into this rich network of teaching and learning, both drawing on and contributing to the work of our colleagues across the continent. (*Source: http://www.4icu.org/Africa/)
three initiatives. The first is its membership of AfriVIP, the African Veterinary Information Portal that operates across parts of southern, eastern and central Africa. Secondly, the Faculty has built a community of practice involving open education resources (OER) experts from the University of Cape Town and Unisa, as well as deans from other veterinary schools in the southern African region. The third avenue is LINQED, an international network that provides training in human and animal tropical medicine and public health. LINQED consists of educational institutions and government-related partner institutions from all over the globe who work together to strengthen training capacity in this field in developing countries. The Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases (DVTD) in the Faculty of Veterinary Science represents UP in this network. Given its tenacious status as one of Africa’s most serious threats to life expectancy, it makes sense that malaria would be a particular area of interest for UP’s Faculty of Health Sciences. The Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control started as a multidisciplinary, interfaculty initiative at the University. Following a successful application to the Medical Research Council (MRC), it now enjoys the status of an MRC
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 31
UP’s presence in African networks and consortiums n Abdus Salam International Centre of Theoretical Physics (ICTP) n Africa Mathematics Project (AMP) n African Academy of Management n African Academy of Sciences, Nairobi, Kenya n African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Banjul, Gambia n African Consortium for Malaria Vaccine Research, which includes the universities of Ghana, Ibadan (Nigeria), Nairobi (Kenya), Zambia, Makerere (Uganda) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) n African Economics Research Consortium (AERC) n African Mathematics Millennium Science Initiative (AMMSI), Nairobi, Kenya n African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE) n African Network for Internationalisation of Education (ANIE) n African Network of Scientific and Technological Institutions (ANSTI), Nairobi, Kenya n African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) n African Union Commission (AUC) n African Veterinary Information Portal (AfriVIP) n African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Senegal/South Africa n Association of African Business Schools n Association of African Universities (AAU) n Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN) n Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) n Institute of Mathematics and Physics (IMSP), Porto Novo, Benin n International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) n Mentoring African Research in Mathematics (MARM) n Network of African Science Acadamies (NASAC) n Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) n Southern African Biochemistry and Informatics for Natural Products (SABINA) n Southern African Regional Universities Forum (SARUA) n Third World Academy of Sciences n United Nations Africa Institute for Development and Economic Planning (IDEP) n International staff and students
32 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
29
The number of African bodies, networks and consortiums in which UP is involved
IMPACT ON AFRICA | CHAPTER 3
Collaborating Centre for Malaria Research. Although the centre is housed in the Faculty of Health Sciences, it is independently funded by the MRC. The Centre for Malaria Research coordinates and promotes
€2 million The Centre for the Study of
collaborative research into safer and sustainable malaria control and
Governance Innovation (GovInn)
management, and it generates new knowledge and supports new
secured a grant worth more than
activities pertaining to safe malaria control in Africa.
€2 million from the Belmont Foundation to study changing
The University is furthermore a founding member of the African
investment patterns in Africa over the
Consortium for Malaria Vaccine Research, which was recently
next three years.
established at a symposium on malaria vaccine studies in Africa held in Ghana. Seven African universities are members of this consortium.
€474 000
Talks that matter
The Bosch Foundation has committed
Complex issues require sustained and intelligent dialogue, debate and discussion. The University provided several platforms for such
€474 000 over the next three years
interactions during the past year.
to the African Science Leadership Programme, which forms part of the Future Africa initiative.
We hosted two prestigious public lectures with a focus on Africa. The first was delivered by Her Excellency Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, on “The role of research universities such as the University of Pretoria in the development of Africa”. In introducing the lecture, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal announced plans to establish an African Development Policy Focus at UP. The second lecture saw the then Honourable Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe arguing in favour of establishing a complementary African equivalent of the International Criminal Court. Mr Motlanthe was the keynote speaker at an occasion celebrating 15 years of the University’s Master’s Programme (LLM/MPhil) in Human Rights and Democratisation. In April 2014, the University hosted the Australia-Africa Universities Network (AAUN) International Africa Forum. (The Vice-Chancellor and Principal is the co-chairperson of the AAUN.) Vice-Chancellors of African universities and specialist researchers participated in an agenda that focused on a range of development issues, including food security, health, mining, public sector reform and higher education. The Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership hosted a meeting between representatives from the African Union’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Centre. The meeting explored partnerships that can contribute to the continent’s transformation, such as an African Union Transformative Leadership Programme.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 33
CHAPTER 4 | international OUTREACH
UP’s international staff and students
78
Permanent and fixed term contract academic staff (5%)
4Â 324
Contact students (9%)
2 250
Postgraduate students (16%)
124
Postdoctoral fellows (68,9%)
Prof Xiaohua Xia is the director of both the Centre of New Energy Systems and the National Hub for the Postgraduate Programme in Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management at the University. He obtained his PhD degree from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics in Beijing, China, in 1989. He joined UP in 1998 and became a full professor in 2000. He has been recognised by the National Research Foundation (NRF) as a world leader in his field (A-rating) and is, among others, an elected Fellow of the South African Academy of Engineering and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.
34 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
international OUTREACH | CHAPTER 4
T
he University’s vision states the importance it attaches to international recognition, a fact that is underlined by the second of its five strategic goals, which is to strengthen the
University’s international profile. During 2014, we have done much to build our profile beyond the borders of our country and the shores of our continent. The most visible contribution to our international outreach goal remains the numerous collaborative agreements and initiatives with higher education institutions, notably in Africa, Europe, the USA, South America and Australasia. A number of our senior academic staff have over the past year either become involved, or continued their involvement, in influential institutions. The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, has been appointed as vice-chairperson and member of the steering committee of the Talloires Network of 300 higher education institutions in 72 countries. She was also elected to the executive board of the International Council for Science (ICSU). This non-governmental organisation has a global membership of 121 national scientific bodies representing 141 countries and 32 members representing international
UP’S INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH Despite being proudly South African and African, the University of Pretoria pursues an agenda of international inclusion, relevance and impact. We interact with visiting scholars and students, and embrace intellectual and technological breakthroughs. Equally, we seek out and create opportunities to introduce our work globally at international conferences.
scientific unions. The University of Uppsala awarded Prof Maxi Schoeman, Head of the Department of Political Science and UP Council member, the Claude Ake Visiting Chair in its Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Prof Michelo Hansungule, Professor of Human Rights Law at the Centre for Human Rights, was elected for a second term as a commissioner on the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). The ICJ, which consists of 60 eminent judges and lawyers from all regions of the world, works to promote and protect human rights through the rule of law. At an institutional level, UP is the only South African university selected to collaborate with institutions around the world in a series of projects to address hunger and malnutrition. The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for
227
Faculty agreements UP has with international universities
Collaborative Research on Sorghum and Millet, a consortium of leading researchers established in 2013 at Kansas State University, USA, funds this initiative. Another research programme with international impact is the Centre for the Study of Governance Innovation (GovInn) in the Department of Political Science. It is Africa’s first research institution entirely dedicated
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 35
We have agreements and collaborative programmes with universities, research groups and institutions in:
to governance innovation. Funded
n Africa n Central and Eastern Europe n Scandinavia and the Baltic countries n Asia n Oceania and the Middle East n North and South America
governance processes and attracts
by the Belmont Foundation, the Centre’s innovation laboratory generates new thinking about governance innovators from all over the world. GovInn is currently leading the Africa/South Africa component of a three-year international research programme dealing with energy cooperation and interregional environmental governance between Africa, Europe and the Americas. GovInn’s international standing is attested to by the fact that its
Of the 1 359 papers published by UP researchers in 2014, more than half were with international collaborators (Papers published in journals indexed by the WoS)
week-long Governance Innovation Conference attracted 400 academics and researchers from
51%
across the world. Among them were acclaimed scholars such as Dr Johan Galtung, founder of Peace Studies, Prof Peter Katzenstein of Harvard and Cornell universities, and worldrenowned environmental and
36 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
international OUTREACH | CHAPTER 4
gender activist and best-selling author Dr Vandesa Shiva. Staff and student exchanges are a central component of internationalisation. The UP Travel Abroad Programme gives academic staff opportunities to advance
R110 395Â 512
The value of international research funding UP secured in 2014
their scholarship by developing international networks, while visiting international scholars and students enrich our academic programmes and enhance our diversity profile. Complementing the contribution of international staff and students are the numerous international high-profile visitors and events hosted by the University. Our Visiting Profs Programme promotes and supports the short-term presence at the University of highly distinguished academics from institutions in other countries and regions whose research interests hold specific benefit for UP. Their contribution revolves around the knowledge and new ideas they bring to the University and share with researchers and postgraduate students, and the potential role that they can play in promoting the University internationally through their research networks. In 2014, UP hosted 11 international distinguished scholars. In addition to raising its academic stature, the University’s international profile greatly supports its fundraising efforts. Current funders include embassies and international donors, non-profit
GovInn is located in the beautiful Old College House at the University of Pretoria.
organisations and aid agencies.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 37
UP has 393 NRF-rated researchers: A-rated = 13 (recognised as world leaders in their field of expertise)
B-rated = 80 (with high international reputation)
Y-rated = 61 (young stars)
Prof Maxi Schoeman, Head of the Department of Political Sciences and Chair of the Core Social Sciences cluster in the Faculty of Humanities delivers a lecture in the University’s Expert Lecture Series in the Senate Hall. The theme of Prof Schoeman’s lecture was ‘A crisis of leadership? Reflections on 20 years of democracy’ and she reflected on the many gains made by South Africa - domestically and internationally - over the past 20 years and on the constraints and challenges facing the country at the dawn of its third decade of democracy.
38 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
TOP-RATED STAFF | CHAPTER 5
A
t the University of Pretoria we do not want any staff member, academic or not, to ever feel that he or she just works here. We therefore create a variety of opportunities for participation,
career enrichment and recognition.
Recognising excellence Our academics are committed to realising the University’s vision of being a leading research-intensive university in Africa and it is most gratifying when external recognition confirms the value of their research. The following selection of the awards our researchers received in the past year illustrates just how wide-ranging the University’s contribution to society is. n Given the pressing need for science, engineering, technology and
TOP-RATED staff The University of Pretoria’s employees are the giants on whose shoulders this institution stands. We take care to engage with them in ways that recognise their value and express our appreciation.
innovation (SETI) in our country, we are particularly proud of our four NSTF-BHP Billiton Awards: – Profs Brenda Wingfield and Don Cowan shared first place in the capacity building category for their outstanding contribution to SETI through research capacity development over the past five to ten years. – Prof Wanda Markotter won in the category honouring emerging researchers who have made an outstanding contribution to SETI over a period of up to six years after obtaining a PhD. –P rof De Wet Swanepoel was the winner in the category for an outstanding contribution to SETI through research leading to innovation. n Prof Mike Wingfield is the founding director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at UP, and as a researcher is broadly interested in the health of trees. In 2014 he was appointed the new President of The International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), the only worldwide organisation devoted to forest research and related sciences.
23
UP academics participated in the Nuffic doctoral supervision course that is part of the Dutch–South African capacity development programme focused on strengthening doctoral supervision skills.
n Prof Namrita Lall, an expert in medicinal plant science, received the Presidential Order of Mapungubwe for outstanding research in medical sciences. n Prof Stella Nkomo, Deputy Dean for Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, received the National Research Foundation’s “Champion of Research Capacity Development at South African Higher Education Institutions” award.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 39
n Prof Kobus Maree, from the Department of Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Education, was awarded the Stals Prize of the South African Academy of Science and Arts for his exceptional research and contribution to education. n Prof Carl Roux, emeritus professor of the Department of Genetics, was awarded a gold medal by the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) in acknowledgement of exceptional services rendered to further animal science over many years. n The Game Ranger Association of Africa (GRAA) honoured
Prof Wanda Markotter
two of our veterinarians, Drs Gerhard Steenkamp and Johan Marais, for their efforts in
Prof Stella Nkomo
protecting endangered species at the annual Rhino Conservation Awards Ceremony.
Quality of staff We engage with our staff through various channels, both formal and informal, in our quest to give effect to our shared governance approach. The University has a number of other formal avenues that allow employees to participate in University affairs. These include the Institutional Forum, which advises Council on a range of issues, and the Employment Equity Forum and Skills Development Committee, which advise the Executive on issues pertaining to employment
40 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
equity, staff training and skills development. We also have faculty-based transformation committees. The five employee members of Council furthermore ensure that our staff’s voices are heard at the highest level. We believe, however, that it is often through the less formal forums that the most valuable contributions are made. This conviction is supported by the unfolding impact of our open dialogue programme, called Re-a-
Prof Namrita Lall
Bua (a Sesotho phrase for “we are talking”). The programme gives staff and students a psychologically safe space where they can talk about and freely share their fears, beliefs, concerns and perceptions related to diversity – equity specifically and transformation in general. We are finding that people are having conversations that would not necessarily be possible in formal University structures. By the end of 2014, a total of 1 164 staff members had attended the Re-a-Bua sessions.
Transforming the face of academia We pursue the goal of a truly diverse workforce for three reasons. Firstly, it is a precondition for creating a representative, inclusive and multicultural university. Secondly, it is a social justice issue in terms of addressing the country’s transformation imperative. Thirdly, and in our view most
Prof Brenda Wingfield
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 41
CHAPTER 5 | TOP-RATED STAFF
Forty-four senior members of staff have participated in the Programme for Academic Leadership, which has been presented by the University’s business school, GIBS, since 2012. The programme focuses on academic leadership knowledge and skills to help staff be effective in their career progression, and to provide a
importantly, diversity enriches teaching, learning and research, and gives students the educational benefits that only a diverse learning environment can deliver. Employment equity is therefore a critical element of the University’s transformation framework. We have already implemented several initiatives, such as the UP
foundation for developing a strong
Leadership Programme (UPLP) and the Programme for Academic
academic leadership career.
Leadership, to equip our leaders and managers to achieve our transformation goals. Additional programmes are currently being
This group, who participated in the
considered to make sure that leadership at all levels have the necessary
programme in 2014, is pictured here
change navigation and management skills.
with deans from various faculties and heads of departments. In the centre front are Prof Helena Barnard, GIBS Programme Integrator (fourth from the left) and next to her is the ViceChancellor and Principal, Prof Cheryl de la Rey.
Better teachers for better learning At UP we know that an investment in our academic staff is also an investment in the success of our students and the sustainability of our institution. Examples of this investment are grants that lecturers receive to support the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), and the two communities of good practice that promote SoTL: SCITAL in Natural and Agricultural Sciences and VetEd in Veterinary Science. We furthermore make it possible for lecturers to attend national teaching and learning conferences, while faculties arrange in-house seminars on topics such as mobile learning, teaching for competence, blended
42 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
TOP-RATED STAFF | CHAPTER 5
learning, and the flipped classroom. During the past year, a small
The third-year undergraduate practical
number of lecturers attended international teaching conferences or had
course in organic chemistry had been
the opportunity to work with global teaching innovators, such as Eric Mazur of Harvard who pioneered the flipped classroom.
purely recipe-based until 2012. For the 2013 student intake, the lecturers, Kgadi Mathabathe, Dr Darren Riley and
The University also received two collaboration grants that enable its academic staff to make a national contribution while enhancing their own skills. The Faculty Development for Health Professions Education aims to explore and describe the competencies and skills health professions educators need, and to identify activities in South African
Dr Lynne Pilcher, created an entirely new practical course, based on the enquiry-led approach for which they received a Teaching Excellence and Innovation Laureate Award.
faculties of health sciences that support the development of these educators.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 43
CHAPTER 5 | TOP-RATED STAFF
The second grant is for the Multilingual Open Education Resource Term Bank. This project wants to develop terminological resources and products (such as term lists, glossaries and electronic language corpora) for use in higher education. Its success will be ground-breaking for the development of indigenous official languages in South Africa, enabling people to use these languages for conceptual development. To encourage our academic staff to keep pursuing teaching and learning innovation and excellence, we host the annual Teaching Excellence and Innovation Awards.
Scholarly support In our mission to become a foremost research-intensive
UP academics with a PhD as highest qualification
university, we keep in mind that our researchers need an enabling environment to do their best
900
work. To this end, we provide our scholars with a variety of
800
support structures and resources that give them the freedom to
700
focus on their research.
600
From a governance point of view, the University’s Code of Ethics for Scholarly Activity
500
directs the ethical practice of research. It articulates the
400
rights and responsibilities of staff and students with respect
300
to the work undertaken and 2012
2013
2014
relationships encountered in the academic environment.
44 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
TOP-RATED STAFF | CHAPTER 5
Related to the Code is our Plagiarism Prevention Policy, which provides a framework for preventing, detecting and dealing with plagiarism consistently and across all faculties. The policy requires students and staff to act with integrity and to take responsibility for the production and presentation of academic work. In other matters of intellectual property (IP), the Innovation Support Division in the University’s Department of Research Innovation and Support (DRIS) supports researchers in invention disclosures, patent applications, licence agreements, trademarks and designs. In a related development, our Technology Transfer Office (TTO)
57,5%
Percentage of academic staff with doctoral degrees
received a National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIMPO) grant of R2,3 million to increase IP awareness activities on campus. The money will also be used to increase our capacity to effectively manage the IP produced by our researchers and postgraduate students. Ground-breaking research and creation of IP also depend on proper equipment and in 2014 the University acquired cutting-edge scientific instruments to the value of more than R55 million. The Department of Physics, for example, is now the proud owner of the
UPSpace, our institutional repository is ranked: n 1st in sub-Saharan Africa; n 73rd in the world.
first single-molecule spectroscope on the African continent, and the first molecular beam epitaxy system in South Africa. The latter is used to build crystals, one atomic layer at a time, in a highly controlled environment. The ultimate goal is to confine electrons within specific regions of the crystal so that researchers can study quantum effects. A final ingredient of our research success recipe that deserves mentioning, is UP’s Open Scholarship Programme, an initiative that helps to make research more accessible to the broader research community and the public. Our institutional repository, called UPSpace, supports access to over 32 000 items, including research
Over 6 million searches were conducted on UPSpace in 2014.
articles, theses and dissertations, conference proceedings, book chapters and special collection material. We have furthermore made the latest trends in academic publishing our own by putting in place a policy on open access publishing and establishing an article processing charges (APC) fund. The latter assists researchers with APC payments levied by open access journals. The Department of Library Services will closely monitor the fund to determine its feasibility and sustainability, and to gauge the possible changes this new business model will bring to the journal publishing industry and (long outdated) library subscription models.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 45
CHAPTER 6 | SPORT AND CULTURE
Sport and culture
O
ur university has a proud tradition of sport and cultural achievements that can hold their own next to our academic accomplishments. We take seriously our role in nurturing the talent
that propel artists, musicians and sportspeople to success on international stages and arenas.
The concept of the wellrounded individual is not new. Its familiarity, however, does not detract from its truth and value. At UP we present students and staff with opportunities for selfexpression that are as rich, rewarding and, yes, rounded as possible.
Our staff and students In the same way that the University campus focuses academic efforts, it is an environment that uniquely enables sporting and artistic pursuits. The achievements of 2014 bear this out. UP Camerata remains the jewel in our cultural crown. The choir participated in the International World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, and brought home two gold medals – as overall winners placed first in the Mixed Youth Choir category and as runners-up placed second in the Scenic Folklore category. This achievement earned the choir a motion of congratulations passed by the National Assembly in Parliament. Still on the music front, UP student Willem de Beer was named overall winner of the prestigious national instrumental classical music award, the ATKV-Muziq. He also won first prize in the piano category. Another pianist, André Breedt, won both the South African Music Bursary Competition and the Atterbury Piano Competition. Also on piano, Caryn Reed won the Lionel Bowman Beethoven Competition. On a lighter note, UP claimed both the men’s and women’s titles in the National Serenade championships. Curlitzia won the women’s competition and Vividus the men’s, and then went on to be named overall winner. Moving into the airwaves, TuksFM, our radio station, was a big winner at the annual MTN Radio Awards. It scooped the honours in nine of the 14
TuksCricket n Number 1 cricket club in the country n Winner of 2014 Red Bull Campus Cricket SA Championships n Winner of 2014 Momentum CSA National Club Championships n Winner of the 2014 Red Bull T20 Campus Cricket World Finals in England
categories in which it was nominated, including Campus Radio Station of the Year. The team was also selected to represent South Africa and UP at the first ever World Radio Challenge where student radio stations from eight countries competed for the best radio programme and the longest broadcast. At least three artists associated with the University enjoyed a remarkable year. UP fine arts graduate, Liberty Battson, was named overall winner of the 2014 Absa L’Atelier art competition, while Artist Daniel Mosako, curator of our Edoardo Villa Museum and Collection, was selected to represent South Africa at the 2014 UNESCO Art Camp held in Andorra. Gopala Davies, a drama student, won the best director award at the 2014 Student Festival of the National Arts for the production Barbe Bleu.
46 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
SPORT AND CULTURE | CHAPTER 6
Sport is a valuable aspect of student life at the University of Pretoria. The successes of the past year confirm that our effort is not confined to the major sporting codes – a fact that fills us with pride. Among the individual sportsmen and -women who excelled are RuanTobie Snyman, who won silver in judo at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and Karin Prinsloo, who was named 2013’s female African Swimmer of the Year. A significant number of our sportspeople were also selected for national cricket, hockey and netball teams. As far as team sports are concerned, we again performed well in the different Varsity Sport programmes. UP won the athletics and the football competitions, our netball team claimed second place and the men’s team finished third in hockey. Nolz van der Merwe won Afternoon Drive Presenter (Gautrain) at the annual MTN Radio Awards
UP at the University Sports South Africa tournaments Gold medals for:
AmaTuks retained its Premiership League status, TuksRugby won the Carlton Cup and TuksCricket was crowned the best varsity cricket team in the world. Our athletics, judo and rowing clubs dominated national club events, while the hockey and netball clubs provided most players in regional teams that won national titles.
n Athletics
Our communities
n Cricket
Our commitment to sporting and cultural excellence is not limited to the
n Men’s football
students and staff on our campuses. A range of initiatives have seen us
n Golf
extending our facilities, resources and expertise to talented individuals at
n Netball
different points in their sporting and artistic endeavours.
nR owing – boat race men A, men B, women A
In an event that showcases extramural variety, the University hosts
n Rugby
the Super 12 and Super 16 Schools Tournaments for primary and high
n Rugby 7s
schools respectively every year. Participating schools compete in activities
n Women’s softball
ranging from sporting events to chess and even choir competitions. The
n Swimming
tournaments have gone from strength to strength. In 2014, 24 schools from
n Taekwondo
across Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West participated.
Silver medals for:
At the opposite end of the sporting spectrum, our High Performance Centre
n Cycling
(hpc) announced the names of 57 athletes who have been selected for
n Badminton
support by the hpc, in conjunction with TuksSport, in their preparations for
n Judo
the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
n Fencing n Gymnastics
Building on the theme of fostering a national winning culture, the Cricket
n Women’s rugby 7s
South Africa (CSA) Centre of Excellence, a joint venture between CSA and
n Rowing – sprints
UP, was officially opened on 13 March 2014. CSA will use the facility for all
n Rowing – boat race women B
its national teams and affiliations. TuksCricket’s senior teams and senior
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 47
CHAPTER 6 | SPORT AND CULTURE
and junior cricket academies will also have use of the Centre. On the arts front, exhibitions on the Hatfield Campus included a
UP Camerata
n 20th best choir in the world n 4th best youth choir in the world (Interkultur Foundation World Rankings)
photographic show commissioned by the Australian High Commission. Entitled “Celebrating 20 years of democracy: Australia’s contribution to the new South Africa”, UP hosted the exhibition in the Edoardo Villa Museum. Arguably the most exciting arts and
The UP Youth Choir
n 84 members n 14-19 years old n 1st place at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Austria (mixed choir category) n 3 gold medals at the World Choir Games
culture development in the past year was the City of Tshwane’s announcement that it has approved a 30-year lease to UP of airspace over Lynnwood Road for the exclusive purpose of developing an art gallery and pedestrian bridge linking the main and south Hatfield campuses. This good news clears the way for fast tracking the development of the proposed Art Centre, for which the University
TuksFM
n Campus Radio Station of the Year n Best Campus Breakfast Show n Best Daytime Show n Best Weekend Show for Top 30 n Best Campus Afternoon Drive Presenter
received a generous donation of R75 million plus the loan of its significant art collection, from the Javett Foundation Trust.
48 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
(MTN Radio Awards)
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Financial statements Annual financial review for 2014 Income and expenditure The University’s total income increased during the reporting period by R1 173m to R5 977m. The single main source of income remains the block grant received from government, together with earmarked grants in respect of veterinary science, clinical training, foundation year programmes, research development and teaching development initiatives. The block grant of R1,59 billion in 2014 (2013: R1,56 billion) represents an increase of 1,9% on 2013. The second main source of income, tuition fees, increased with R99,55m (2013: R177,39m). Student fees in respect of the University’s programme offerings have on average increased annually by 9,5% (2013: 9,0%). The increase in fees can primarily be ascribed to this average increase. The following table provides a summary of the University’s sources of income: Total income of the University of Pretoria in 2014 and 2013 Income
2014
2013 Change
Rm Rm Rm Government grants
1 810
1 758
52
Tuition fees
1 363
1 264
99
Accommodation and meal fees
337
280
57
Investment income – profits on disposal
762
82
680
Interest/dividend income
234
221
13
42
30
12
1 274
1 085
189
149
145
4
6
(61)
67
5 977
4 804
1 173
Net interest income on defined-benefit plans Income from contracts and services Donations and gifts Profit/(loss) on disposal of property, plant and equipment Total
Operating expenses increased by 6,4% (2013: 12,2%), from R4,6 billion in 2013 to R4,8 billion in 2014. The main contributing factors to this increase in operating expenses were staff expenses, depreciation of assets and increased operational expenses related to increases in utilities, rates and taxes, and licences.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 49
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Investments The University has a diversified investment portfolio that is governed by the Investment Committee of Council. The figure below sets out the structure of the University in relation to investment matters:
Council
Overall oversight
Responsible for investment strategy within the mandate agreed by Council
Investment Committee
Management Committee
Responsible for ongoing monitoring and implementation
Investment-related service providers
Custodian
Investment managers
Investment consultant
The University’s investment funds serve three purposes: n Meeting part of the short-term financial requirements of the University – these liabilities have a maximum term of 24 months. The risk profile emphasises the need for capital protection over short periods, and a high degree of liquidity needs to be provided. n Meeting the long-term liabilities (five years and more) of the University – the main requirement here is a good return relative to inflation over the long term. n Addressing a special class of the long-term liabilities is the University’s obligation in respect of postretirement medical aid benefits.
50 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Three investment portfolios have therefore been established. The table below summarises the key results for the various portfolios over the period since inception to 31 December 2014 (performance is shown net of fees): Portfolio
Primary performance target Actual returns
Money Market Portfolio
Outperformance of the STEFl Composite 0,7% above the STEFl Composite
Index over a one-year period
Index over one year
Long-term Capital Portfolio
6% p.a. (net of fees) outperformance
6,4% p.a. real over seven years
of consumer price inflation over
8,5% p.a. real since inception
seven-year period
Continuation Medical Aid Portfolio
5,5% p.a. outperformance of
6,6% p.a. real over seven years
consumer price inflation over
8,8% p.a. real since inception
seven years, reduced to 4,5%
p.a. w.e.f. 1 January 2014
Conclusion The University of Pretoria has reported satisfactory results for the financial year ended 31 December 2014. The economic environment remained challenging in 2014, limiting, to some extent, the ability to raise third-stream income especially in the form of donations, grants and bursaries. The weakening of the rand to the dollar and the required VAT charge on media has also increased the cost of academic books, electronic media, software licences and research equipment. The University has managed pressure to increase tuition fees, because of the below inflation increase year on year in the Government subsidy, by limiting the growth in operational costs and in personnel costs, instituting a number of cost-saving initiatives and by utilising investment returns and other-third stream income to fund the difference.
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 51
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Summarised Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at 31 December 2014 2014 2013 Rm Rm ASSETS Non-current assets
11 112
9 635
Property, plant and equipment
3 641
3 174
Intangible assets
230 264
Deferred taxation
1 1
Available-for-sale investments
6 790
5 611
Investment in associate companies
2 2
Defined benefit pension plan asset
135 217
Defined benefit medical plan asset
238 284
Defined benefit provident plan asset
38 45
Non-current loans and receivables
37 37
Current assets
1 791
2 087
Inventories 17 15 Receivables and prepayments
407 404
Cash and cash equivalents
1 367
1 668
Total assets
12 903
11 722
10 652
9 838
1 543
1 719
Restricted funds
3 608
4 013
Council designated funds
5 501
4 106
Non-controlling interest
(11)
(9)
Non-current liabilities
736 536
Borrowings
22 22
Group life assurance liability
42 –
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES Total funds Non-distributable reserves Available-for-sale investment revaluation Reserve funds
Finance lease obligation
– 1
Deferred income
628 472
Agency funds
44 41
Current liabilities
1 526
1 357
Trade payables, accruals and other liabilities
640 628
Deferred income
599 493
Student deposits
286 235
Finance lease obligation
1 1
Total funds and liabilities
52 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
12 903
11 722
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Summarised Consolidated Income Statement for the year ended 31 December 2014 2014 2013 Rm Rm Operating revenue
4 933
4 518
Less operating expenses
4 809
4 540
Personnel costs
2 382
2 198
Other operating expenses
2 181
2 042
Depreciation and amortisation
246 300
Net surplus from operations
124 (22)
Income from investments
996 302
Net interest income on defined benefit plans
42 30
Other non-recurrent income
7 (46)
Finance expense (9) (3) Other non-recurrent expenses Surplus before tax
(21)
(2)
1 139 259
Less tax (1) (1) Surplus for the year
1 138 258
Surplus for the year attributed to:
1 138 258
University of Pretoria
1 141 260
Non-controlling interest (3) (2)
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 53
| FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Summarised Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 31 December 2014 2014 2013 Rm Rm Surplus for the year Other comprehensive income for the year
1 138 258 (326)
1 410
Re-measurements on defined benefit medical plan
(45)
72
Re-measurements on defined benefit pension plan
(97)
225
Re-measurements on defined benefit provident plan
(6)
76
Re-measurements on group life assurance
(2)
–
Fair value adjustment on available-for-sale investments
(176)
1 037
Total comprehensive income for the year
812
1 668
Total comprehensive income attributed to:
812
1 668
University of Pretoria
815
1 670
Non-controlling interest (3) (2)
54 | 2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended 31 December 2014
Unrestricted Council designated Council designated Restricted student Total operating fund
and restricted
and restricted
accommodation
funds – other property, plant and
fund
equipment funds
Rm Rm Rm Rm Rm Balance at 31–12–2012: credit
14
4 260
3 980
(87)
8 167
increase in funds
(14)
1 661
133
(109)
1 671
Net income – surplus
62
224
(110)
85
261
–
1 410 –
–
1 410
(76)
27 243
(194)
–
Net (decrease) /
Other comprehensive income Net transfers (to) / from other funds Balance at 31–12–2013: credit
–
5 921
4 113
(196)
9 838
reserves
–
1 719 – –
1 719
Council designated
–
3 472 634 –
4 106
Restricted – other
– 730
3 479
(196)
4 013
–
4 113
(196)
9 838
Non–distributable
Balance at 31–12–2013: credit
5 921
Net (decrease) / increase in funds Net income – surplus
– 519 307
(12) 814
107 931 6 94
1 138
Other comprehensive income
– – – – –
Net transfers (to) / from other funds
(107)
(412)
301
(106) (324)
–
6 440
(208)
10 652
reserves
–
1 543 – –
1 543
Council designated
–
4 302
1 199 –
5 501
Restricted – other
– 595
3 221
3 608
Balance at 31–12–2014: credit
4 420
Non–distributable
(208)
2014 University of Pretoria Annual Review | 55
UP is a leading research university in South Africa and one of the largest in the country.
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