The first few weeks of any academic year are chaotic as multiple things occur on campus. From Orientation Week, students move into their residences, set up their timetables, and attend classes. But some students often struggle to register for the academic year. So, what has the atmosphere been like at the start of this academic year?
The University of Pretoria officially launched the “Thrive UP 2038” strategy, which is designed to guide the university until its 130th birthday in 2038. The strategy was launched by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Francis Petersen who frequently employs the motto “Make Today Matter” to connect the university’s long-term 2038 vision with the realities of daily student life. One of these realities is the constant struggle of returning students’ difficulty to register as they have historical debt and cannot afford to pay the registration fee for the year.
The Student Representative Council (SRC) has tried to assist students by lifting various holds for undergraduate and postgraduate students. PDBY spoke to Edmond Tiebane, a final-year BCom Statistics and Data Science student. When asked what improvements he would suggest for the university, Tiebane said, “One major improvement would be extending computer lab access to 24/7. Many students, especially those from rural areas or underprivileged backgrounds, do not have personal laptops. During the day, they are in class, and by the time they are free, labs are often closed. Extending access would significantly improve academic support and equal opportunity.”
UP has welcomed nearly 9 700 first-year students – a massive undertaking. When interviewed, one of the first-year LLB students said, “I cannot believe I’m finally at [UP]. I have always dreamed of going [to] university.” Most of these students will be at Hatfield campus – the largest UP campus that has many exciting things for them to experience. One of these includes Sci-Enza, a building that has over 200 interactive exhibits and provides a fun, hands-on experience to engage with while you discover the wonders of science. There is also the museum at the Old Arts Building near the Aula grass where many students choose to relax during their breaks. The Piazza is always bustling with activity – on any day during the week, you can find yourself watching your favourite artist perform, win a laptop, audition for SuperSport, and many more.
In the second week of classes, UP hosted their first Varsity Cup match against FNB UCT-Ikeys where they convincingly won. A second-year student who watched the game live for the first time said, “I am so happy that I am finally in a school that is good [at] rugby.”
Marketing Week has also taken place, and it saw societies at the university showcasing themselves to students on different campuses – Hatfield, Groenkloof, Prinshof, and Onderstepoort. There are over 50 registered societies, and they help students in many different ways, some of which include feeling a sense of belonging, networking, and getting involved in campus life beyond academics.
A first-year student was asked if university life has met their expectations. They responded, “It’s been a bit overwhelming, but I’m learning to be independent and I’m enjoying it so far.” Tiebane also gave first-year students this piece of advice: “Find a community of people because you cannot do this university life alone. Find people who can guide you, who will keep you in line, and [who will] help you prosper.” This advice is relevant beyond university.
