Download the Annual report 2011 - Unisa

Unisa is the largest open distance learning (ODL) institution
in South Africa and on the continent, and one
of the world’s mega-institutions. Unisa enrols nearly
one-third of all South African students. The student profile
reflects South Africa’s democratisation process and
its status on the continent since 1994, underscoring the
pivotal role that Unisa plays in higher education, and its
strategic position on the continent and in the world as a
key vehicle for transformation, growth and development.
As it has developed and matured into an effective and
efficient 21st century university since the merger with
Technikon SA in 2004, Unisa’s institutional and management
structures have been continually adapted and
adjusted to meet emerging regulatory requirements,
socioeconomic dynamics and institutional transformation
and growth requirements. The top management for
2011 reflects the most recent iteration of that process
(refer to page 9).
The institution has embraced the fact that it needs to
adapt quickly to the fast-paced higher education environment
of the 21st century and this is reflected in its
management style and leadership practice. Unisa
continues to operate in an environment characterised by
pressing and complex challenges, emanating largely
from the ongoing transformation imperative. Key among
these are: unrelenting demands for access to higher
education by school-leavers, many of whom are underprepared
for the rigours of university education;
unachievable and perhaps unrealistic enrolment ratios
and targets; increasing reporting requirements over a
broad planning and governance front; and a shrinking
academic cohort of appropriately qualified academic
staff.
UNISA ANNUAL REPORT 2011
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In line with its ODL character, Unisa must also implement
the upgrading and integration of all of its ICT and
other systems and processes, and the ongoing rationalisation
of the programme qualification mix (PQM)
toward a more efficient and effective matrix of qualifications
on offer. The ICT implementation plans have
been constrained to some extent by the national ICT
infrastructural environment whose disparities echo those
which exist in the country, and whose affordability and
availability are extremely concerning in the context of
ODL. Unisa is, however, working in a concerted manner
to overcome the challenges and to provide quality
distance education to all of its students, and has spent
large sums of money to support the ICT initiatives. This
focus is clearly evidenced in Goal 7 of Unisa 2015 revisited
which asserts: “Redesign organisational architecture
in line with institutional strategy and the ODL model.”
Additionally, Unisa’s commitment to being a highperformance
university demands a thorough embedding
of the emerging plethora of governance and sustainability
dynamics, principles and practices across the institution
in line with strategic Goal 6 to establish Unisa as
a leader in sound corporate governance and the promotion
of sustainability. Multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary
(MIT) research was also a key focus area for 2011,
together with the promotion of indigenous knowledge
systems (IKS) and the creation of courses that can be
used as open educational resources (OER) and for
e-learning, as set out in Goal 2: “Increase innovative
research and research capacity.”
Much of the work will be described in more detail in this
report, which sets out Unisa’s operations and performance
for 2011. Any further information that may be
required on any matter in this report may be located
on the Unisa website or by contacting the office of the
University Registrar by email at molaml@unisa.ac.za.