The University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Centre for Higher Education, Teaching and Learning (CHETL) recently hosted a delegation from The Kresge Foundation and Saide. This meeting took place at the CHETL Boardroom. The visit underscored UNIVEN’s ongoing commitment to enhancing student support and success. The event featured two key presentations highlighting the university’s progress and future aspirations in transforming student life and academic achievement, mainly through the partnership with The Kresge Foundation and Saide.
The Siyaphumelela Student Success initiative, established in 2014, is now in its third phase, having grown from five partner institutions in 2014 to 20 partner higher education institutions in 2024. This new phase is designed to promote and embed student success practices within South African higher education. The University of Venda has been a member of the Siyaphumelela Network since 2020, where it joined as a participant institution and progressed to being a full partner institution in 2024 when UNIVEN received a 3-year grant from the Kresge Foundation to a total of $240,000.00 to accelerate and embed their student success practices.
A group photo: University of Venda staff members and the Kresge Foundation Team
In her welcome remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Teaching and Learning Prof Eusebio’s Lekalakala-Mokgele emphasized the importance of holistic student support systems. Despite its financial constraints, she pointed out that UNIVEN has made a significant stride in supporting stu-dents from disadvantaged backgrounds. She explained that the university’s support extends far beyond academic, focusing on student wellness, mental health, and community integration.
Prof Lekalakala-Mokgele highlighted that the university receives students from rural and under-re-sourced areas, making it essential to have robust structures that address academic and non-academic challenges. Prof. Lekalakala-Mokgele also acknowledged the valuable contribution of the Kresge Foundation in bolstering the university’s efforts to uplift students and create an environment that prioritises their well-being.
One of the key initiatives discussed was the integrated approach to student support, particularly through the Siyaphumelela student success initiative, which addresses the challenges faced by first-entering students. This programme offers tailored interventions and ensures that students receive the support they need to thrive academically and emotionally.
On the photo: Prof. LMP Mulaudzi
Prof Lindiwe Mulaudzi emphasised the pivotal role of student success in shaping the future of UNI-VEN, highlighting the university’s 40-year legacy of offering diverse undergraduate and postgradu-ate programmes that have significantly contributed to regional and national social and economic development. She underscored that UNIVEN’s commitment goes beyond enrolment, focusing on strategic planning to enhance student learning and success. The university’s improved graduation rates and outcomes reflect this mission, with initiatives like the biographical questionnaire helping identify students’ challenges and tailor support. Prof. Mulaudzi also highlighted that many students come from rural areas with limited English exposure, necessitating targeted interventions.
She further explained UNIVEN’s involvement in Siyaphumelela, a student success initiative enabled by Saide and The Kresge Foundation, which has fostered initiatives such as the First Year Experi-ence programme, designed to provide continuous support for students, especially first-entering students. The university also addresses challenges in high-impact modules and strengthens career planning services to better align academic programmes with career goals. The partnership with The Kresge Foundation and Saide will continue to play a key role in expanding UNIVEN’s support for students, with plans to increase targeted interventions and use data more effectively to ensure timely, impactful outcomes. She appreciated Prof. Nthabiseng Ogude’s assistance in developing the logic model for UNIVEN Siyaphumelela 3.0 objectives.
On the photo: Bill Moses, Managing Director of The Kresge Foundation’s Education programme, United States of America
Mr. William Moses (Bill Moses) mentioned that the U.S. government mandates that this foundation spend 5% of its assets annually, equating to around $200 million in grants. While the foundation primarily focuses on enhancing opportunities and equity in American cities, its international work includes the Siyaphumelela initiative in South Africa. His role involves leading education initiatives promoting post-secondary access and success for low-income, first-generation, and underrepre-sented students, which aligns closely with their work in South Africa. He praised Professor Ogude, the UNIVEN coach, who has been instrumental in Siyaphumelela. He noted her long history with the programme and its development, especially in addressing institutional changes that help uni-versities better serve students with diverse backgrounds and challenges.
Moses also discussed the broader impact of their work in South Africa, particularly through Si-yaphumelela, which is expanding across the country. He emphasised the importance of student success, noting that South African students demonstrate remarkable resilience despite facing sig-nificant challenges like poverty and limited resources. He believes that by improving university structures and support systems, the programme can help students succeed, thereby strengthen-ing the nation. Moses expressed his excitement about the foundation’s continued involvement in South Africa, affirming that despite potential shifts in leadership or policy, their commitment remains strong due to the meaningful impact of their work in the region.
On the photo: Prof Eucebious Lekalakala-Mokgele, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) of Teaching and Learning at the University of Venda
As the meeting concluded, Prof Lekalakala-Mokgele thanked the Kresge Foundation and SAIDE team for their ongoing collaboration with UNIVEN, emphasising the vital role the partnership has played in advancing the university’s mission to provide quality, accessible education and improve student success. She highlighted the importance of such alliances, noting their impact on enhanc-ing student outcomes and addressing the broader needs of students.
The visit by the Kresge Foundation’s Managing Director, the CEO of Saide, and the project manager for the Siyaphumelela initiative reinforced UNIVEN’s commitment to providing a comprehensive support system for students, ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have the re-sources needed to succeed academically and personally.
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