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  • Welcome to Siyaphumelela Project 3.0

    WELCOME TO SIYAPHUMELELA 3.0 PROJECT

    The University of KwaZulu-Natal was awarded a three-year grant from the Kresege Foundation continuing to partner in the national Siyaphumelela Network. The Siyaphumelela (“We Succeed”) initiative seeks to broaden evidence-based postsecondary student success strategies across South Africa. The Siyaphumelela 3.0 Project is a 3-year project that focuses on student-centred integration of evidence-based practices by designing, implementing and testing interventions for Student Access and Success. In doing so, the University aims to move from Silos to Synergy towards Developing Academic Advising Units Towards Holistic Student Wellness and Enhancing the Academic Monitoring and Support System. Therefore, university will embark on Action Research project, that is participant driven to generate solutions that will be implemented to improve systems of academic advising towards student success. UKZN aims to create students that excel academically, complete their degrees in the minimum allocated time, are employment ready and achieve mental and physical wellness.

    The 2025 Siyaphumelela Conference was themed ‘Reimagining student success and expanding opportunity for all’ and held from 8-11 July 2025 at the Indaba Hotel, Spa and Conference Centre in Fourways Johannesburg. The opportunity for collaborative sharing of student success strategies encouraged UTLO to turn the conference into a Master Class. UTLO Staff and Siyaphumelela 3.0 project member attended and participated in the conference, contributing with 6 presentations pertaining to the theme.

    Siyaphumelela Conference 2025 - Photos

    Objective One:

    Improving data literacy competencies of staff for effective use of data for decision-making.

     

      Theme 1: Understanding higher education data for student success  Theme 2: Conducting institutional research for student success
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    Presentation Document

       Day 1 – Video

    • Presenter – Anil Pillay

    Day 2 – Video

    • Presenter – Anil Pillay

      Day 1 – Video

    • Presenter – Abdulbaqi Badru
    • Presenter – Ayanda Nongogo

    Day 2 – Video

    • Presenter – Ayanda Nongogo
    • Presenter – Michael Strauss

     

      Theme 1:Higher Education Data for Student Success  Theme 2: Conducting institutional research for student successTheme 3 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Student Success

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    The two-day workshops on this theme were chaired by Institutional Planning (IP) Manager, Ms
    Naveena Moodley and facilitated by Mr Anil Pillay, IP Principal Information Analyst. They drove
    the point that there is an abundance of data generated at UKZN, however, this data is too often
    underutilized. To address this, the IP team provided exposure to data definitions and platforms.
    They demonstrated in real time accessing such platforms as the Institutional Intelligence Web
    Portal, ITS Reports, and PowerHEDA, Dashboards and Reports.

    Day 1 – Video

    • Presenter – Mr Anil Pillay

    Day 2 – Video

    • Presenter – Mr Anil Pillay

    The two day workshop on this theme was facilitated by Ms Ayanda Nongogo on Day 1 and Mr Tawonga
    Rushambwa on Day 2. Ms Nongogo is the Director of Monitoring, Evaluation & Research (MER)
    at Mangosuthu University of Technology with more than 16 years of experience in institutional
    research (IR), performance reporting, HEMIS data management, and strategic planning.
    She used real-world case studies to demonstrate techniques for institutional research such as
    monitoring and evaluation of student success metrics – empowering participants to apply IR
    principles

    Day 1 – Video

    • Presenter – Ms Ayanda Nongogo

    Day 2 – Video

    • Presenter – Mr Tawonga Rushambwa

    The workshop was facilitated by Ms Nozipho Ngwabi on Day 1 online, whilst Dr Braimoh Bello facilitated the
    MERLA workshop in-person on Day 2. The MEL workshop focused on the critical link between learning and
    decision-making to enhance student outcomes. The session offered a blend of presentations,
    interactive discussions, and hands-on exercises to demonstrate how to incorporate evidence based practices into decision-making processes that foster continuous learning

    Day 1 – Video

    • Presenter – Ms Nozipho Ngwabi

    Day 2 – Physical

    • Presenter – Dr Braimoh Bello

    Objective Two:

    Advancing learning analytics towards student success in First-Year Experience and high-impact modules

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    Learner Analytics - Project Charter

    Objective Three:

    Moving from silos to synergy: Developing Academic Advising Units towards holistic student wellness and enhancing the Academic Monitoring and Support system

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    2025 Siyaphumelela Objective 3 Events
    Action Research Retreat
    Date : 8-9 May 2025
    This Action Research Retreat was centered on exploring Action Research (AR) as a hands-on, reflective approach to improving academic advising at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Through discussions and collaborative sessions, participants learned about AR’s cyclical process of planning, acting, observing, and reflecting, with a focus on its practical value in driving meaningful, context-specific change. A significant part of the retreat involved embracing Indigenous methodologies, particularly drumming and talking circles, as powerful tools for building community, sharing stories, and fostering collective learning. These practices, rooted in the philosophy of Ubuntu, created inclusive spaces for emotional, spiritual, and intellectual connection. The retreat also highlighted the use of semi-structured interviews and surveys to gather insights from both staff and students, supporting a more holistic and responsive approach to advising. Overall, the retreat aimed to blend academic research with culturally grounded practices to create more relevant, compassionate, and effective support systems for students.
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    Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Retreat
    Date : 21-23 May 2025
    Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Retreat This retreat brought together staff to explore the differences between M&E, MEL, and MERL. Participants engaged in Theory of Change sessions to map pathways for institutional change. Student involvement in MERL was discussed, including through governance and residence structures. Teams developed MERL models and aligned data strategies with UCDP and Siyaphumelela reporting. The retreat ended with task team formation and planning for implementation. Facilitators guided small group discussions to ensure practical and context-specific outcomes. Daily recaps reinforced learning and helped consolidate key concepts and insights. Working tea sessions supported collaboration and informal reflection throughout the retreat. The retreat fostered a strong sense of purpose, shared accountability, and institutional synergy.
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    Action Research Liasons Inaugural Workshops
    Date : 3 June (CHS) | 27 June (CAES)) | 25 July (CLMS)
    The Siyaphumelela 3.0 project seeks to strengthen Academic Advising by shifting from silos to synergy for a more integrated and collaborative approach aimed at enhancing student success. The project focuses on addressing key challenges that hinder student success, with particular emphasis on improving throughput rates, supporting student wellness, and enriching the overall university experience.To achieve this, the project adopts an Action Research approach, in which both staff and students actively participate as co-creators of knowledge. Rather than developing solutions for participants, Action Research works with affected communities to identify challenges and generate contextually relevant solutions, making it an inherently empowering research methodology.In 2025, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) initiated the Action Research process through a series of inaugural workshops aimed at introducing the Siyaphumelela 3.0 project to staff and students. These workshops created a platform for participants to articulate their concerns, reflect on their academic experiences, and identify factors that have supported their success. As Action Research is a cyclical and iterative process, it involves ongoing stages of data generation, solution development, implementation, reflection, and revision.The 2025 workshops therefore served as a foundational phase, laying the groundwork for the full implementation of the Action Research process in 2026.
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    Siyaphumelela Team at Poetry Africa
    Date : 2025
    Five Siyaphumelela Dream Scholars who hail from different universities were featured at UKZN’s Poetry Africa.Pharmacy student Nomfundo Dlamini entered the Siyaphumelela Dream Scholar competition from UKZN. She also presented at the iSoTL conference. Ms Dlamini and academic mentor Khululiwe Biyela in CHS (front row, second from the right) participated in the 2025 Siyaphumelela Conference in Johannesburg which was used as a Master Class for Siyaphumelela project personnel across the university.
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    EDTP-SETA Academic Advising Training Session
    Date : 8-10 October 2025
    UTLO ETDP-SETA Training in Collaboration with UKZN HRD Academic Advising for Leaders in the context of Project Renewal Implementation. The training was attended by Senior Lecturers with a few Associate Professor and Professors.Day 1 laid out the Foundations of Academic Advising, including the UKZN framework for AA, transitions and developmental advising as well as moving from theories to praxis. Day 2 involved Learning Science, Theories and Systems Thinking such as understanding how students learn as well inclusive culturally competent AA. Day 3 deepened design thinking methodologies to centre on AA and Project Renewal implementation together with development on one’s own AA philosophy.
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    2024 Siyaphumelela Objective 3 Events
    Academic Advising Professional Development Training
    Date : 26-29 February 2024
    The Academic Advising Professional Development Programme (AAPD) offers a Short Learning Programme (SLP) that certifies professional advisors in the South African higher education sector. This Programme was offered by the University of the Free State.This programme allows participants to adopt a standard of excellence in their advising profession and practice. The AAPD further aims to equip academic advisors in South Africa with the necessary theoretical, knowledge, and skills to develop an intentional advising practice at their institutions or departments and enhance their professional advising skills.
    Student Success Retreat – Moving from silos to synergy
    Date : July 2024
    To generate the movement from silos to synergy when it comes to AA and AMS, the Siyaphumelela Project 3.0 team organised a 2.5-day retreat in July 2024 which laid the foundation for the rest of 2024. Delegates came from across the colleges such as CDLT, T&L Unit Heads, counsellors, ALs, academics – including Foundation Programme lecturers, ADO, and other AMS providers. The thrust of the event kept school reorganisation in mind. The programme is attached as an annexure. Of the 42 delegates, 12 were from CHS, 9 from CHUM, 8 from CAES, 8 from CLMS and 5 from Professional Services. The photographs below depict plenary sessions.
    Academic Advising Professional Development Training
    Date : 11- 14 November 2024
    The Academic Advising Professional Development Programme (AAPD) offers a Short Learning Programme (SLP) that certifies professional advisors in the South African higher education sector. This Programme was offered by the University of the Free State.This programme allows participants to adopt a standard of excellence in their advising profession and practice. The AAPD further aims to equip academic advisors in South Africa with the necessary theoretical, knowledge, and skills to develop an intentional advising practice at their institutions or departments and enhance their professional advising skills.
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    Certified Academic Advisors and Development of AA Units
    Date : 12 & 13 November 2024
    here was a seminar on 12 November 2024 followed by a workshop on 13 November 2024. The seminar gave certified AA champions the opportunity to evaluate the UFS training. Their comments are being used in the design, development and delivery of the SLPs on AA being planned by the relevant task team. The AA SLP is being developed on two levels as subsequently discussed. In addition, the certified AAs reported on progress in applying their skills and knowledge post-training, as well as the extent to which they have trained other colleagues.
    Retreat on ‘Moving from silos to synergy: Developing an institutional framework for Academic Advising
    Date : 05, 10 & 20 December 2024
    With the college-specific AA framework in mind, as it pertains to the AA functional unit in the portfolio of the CDTL, college delegates came together to create an institutional AA framework task team for coherence and synergy. This was followed by several sessions convened by a few of the task teams.