During orientation new students are introduced to staff, facilities and services that are available to them during their stay and study at the university. The programme combines presentations, talks, campus tours and hands-on activities to make them feel at home, and give them a sense of belonging during their time at UMP.
Welcoming the students, UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso congratulated them for making it to university and completing their school years during very challenging times.
“You successfully completed Grades 10 and 11 while the country was in the grip of Covid-19. By passing your matric you have already demonstrated your mental toughness. May the lessons you learned under challenging conditions help you navigate this new terrain of higher learning.
As we all know, passing matric is an important milestone towards achieving your educational and career goals. You don't go far without matric because it is the foundation for future educational success and progress. It is actually a great achievement to get a place at a university, and in particular at our institution.”
UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thoko Mayekiso, congratulated the first-years for making it to university.
Professor Mayekiso further noted that the students had chosen wisely by coming to UMP, an institution where excellence is cherished, pursued, and celebrated for producing well-rounded, forward-thinking and innovative graduates.
She further assured the newcomers that UMP has a rich array of social and academic opportunities and has invested in the latest technology so that online learning can be optimized.
“As students, you can have the full benefit of all cyber platforms, the lecture venues, laboratories library and the Conference and Wellness Centre are all state of the art and well equipped.”
The Vice-Chancellor went on to explain that the institution thrives on partnerships and collaborations, which the institution enjoys with neighbouring and international universities.
SRC President, Mbongeni Mnisi, encouraged students to join social clubs.
“When the opportunity arises, we send our students to these partner institutions. We have two students who went to Austria last year, and another three who are still in Germany at present. These are the partnerships that we would like you to benefit from,” she concluded.
During orientation, first-year students also have the opportunity to learn more about student affairs and social clubs.
SRC President, Mbongeni Mnisi, explained the role of the student leadership and encouraged students to join the different clubs. Participating in social activities, he said, will assist them in maintaining a healthy balance between academic and social life on campus.
"The university has enabled a number of initiatives that allow students to form part of a step in the implementation of its slogan: creating opportunities – by offering a number of different societies and sports codes,” he said further encouraging the students to approach the SRC leadership with any matters they may need assistance with.
Migrating from high school to university can be an overwhelming adjustment, which is why the university has appointed student mentors to assist and guide first-years. The mentors are selected from senior students who during their stay at university, have been exemplary in behaviour and academic performance, and have also demonstrated good leadership qualities.
Student mentor, Lungelihle Dlamini, explained that each mentor is allocated a group of first-year students to nurture throughout the academic year. They are also allocated students in the programmes that they themselves belong to or have completed.
“We are expected to discover and understand causes of difficulties experienced by first-year students, and use this understanding to unlock the mentees’ potential to enable them to succeed.”
UMP Registrar, Mr Sello Legodi, discussed institutional rules and procedures.
Adapting to online learning can also be a challenge. The orientation programme assists students with the opportunity to learn how to use Moodle (UMP’s online learning platform), ITS and how to use email.
First-year seminars, workshops and presentations focus on academic literacy, study skills, time-management, financial literacy, university policies, student wellness, use of library and information resources, and other identified pertinent issues. These are meant to address areas of need.
UMP also offers the First-Year Experience (FYE) programme, which involves a series of activities that are aimed at developing students holistically, in order to initiate them into a successful academic life. These activities include orientation for first-year students, peer mentoring and academic support seminars and workshops.
These seminars and or workshops are offered fortnightly, and they are facilitated mostly by UMP staff and student mentors. When applicable, guest speakers are invited to give talks. The FYE programme gives students the comfort, courage, energy, strength, and confidence they require for the academic journey at UMP and beyond.
@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures @Chrisplphoto