Mpumalanga Business 2022-23

FOCUS
University of Mpumalanga
Creating opportunities for sustainable
development through innovation.
The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) was
established in 2013 and it enrolled the
first cohort of 169 students in February
2014. Thereafter, the University has been
experiencing rapid and gratifying growth. The
University now offers 48 qualifications and has a
total of 7 100 students enrolled in 2022. UMP is a
comprehensive University which offers variety of
undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the fields
of Agriculture, Nature Conservation, Hospitality and
Tourism Management, Information Communication
Technology, Development Studies, Early Childhood
Education, Arts, Administration and Economics.
Among some of the key highlights that UMP
has been able to succeed with, in line with our
strategic key focus areas, includes broadening
access to higher education and promoting equity
of access and with a fair chance of success. The
student population at UMP is predominately from
previously disadvantaged communities and female.
Of all the students enrolled this year 62.8% are
female and only 37.8% are male.
Teaching and Learning: taking centre stage to
advance the academic project
Teaching and Learning at UMP focusses on the
development of our students as independent and
critical thinkers with a passion for knowledge and
its application. UMP has been able to attract and
retain established academics in various disciplines.
Currently 47.1% of UMP academic staff have
doctoral degrees. As part of student support, First
Time Entering students (FTEN) are supported
in the transition from school to university by a
well-developed Orientation Week and a First Year
Experience (FYE). Ongoing support is provided
by peer mentors and tutors. As a result of these
interventions, student success is generally high with
more 85% success rate annually.
The University seeks to produce quality
graduates who are: resourceful, responsive and
responsible; innovative and entrepreneurial; confident
and effective communicators; ethically and sociallyaware
change agents; adaptable and have sound
discipline knowledge.
Annually UMP holds a graduation ceremony to
celebrate the achievements of students who have
completed their qualifications during the past academic
year. This year, a total of 1 112 students were awarded
qualifications during the seventh graduation ceremony
of the University. Some of the notable achievements for
this year’s graduation included:
• Tree-planting ceremony of the umkhanyakude indigenous
tree by the Chancellor of the University of
Mpumalanga, Justice Mandisa Maya
• 25 different qualifications will be awarded during
the graduation ceremonies and among the 25
qualifications, six of them are new
• A total of 15 Master’s degree to be awarded
• 40 students will be awarded their qualifications with
a Cum Laude (distinction)
• A total of 33 recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s
Scholarship will be graduating
• 13 students who are recipients of the UMP Excellence
Awards will be graduating
• Graduating students are from five different countries,
including South Africa
• Member of Parliament, Mr Timothy Mashele (MP)
will be graduating with a Bachelor of Development
Studies Honours
Research and Innovation: generating new
knowledge in support of social and economic
development
As a new University, UMP has built its research project
from a zero base and has made good progress. Active
researchers are supported through the Research Office
and staff without a PhD are supported to complete
their doctorate. The University has identified seven
research focus areas and has set aside funds and
supported the appointment of Postdoctoral Fellows
to promote these. Our research focus areas are Ethics
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