Update on 2009 Registrations, 2008 Exam Results to Date, 2008 Student Satisfaction Survey

1. Update on 2009 Registrations, 2008 Exam Results to Date, 2008 Student Satisfaction Survey Presented to Council 20 March 2009

2. Cumulative Enrolments, 1st Registration Period, 2008-9

3. Provisional & HEMIS Enrolments, 2006-9

4. Enrolment Trends, 2008-9 • As the 2009 registration process was very different this year, comparison with last year is very difficult • It is therefore too early to determine clear trends • Given the 2009 headcounts to date (235 873), the indications are that we will not reach last year’s headcount total for the 1st Registration Period (256 129) • However, the 2009 course counts to date (1 003 752) already exceed the 2008 total for the 1st Registration Period (973 120). This indicates a higher course load per student – a worrying factor for success and throughput • The higher S2 registrations to date indicate that the final provisional enrolments for 2009 may yet exceed last year’s total of around 285 000 as we can expect increased registrations during the 2nd Registration Period • Projections of HEMIS active total for 2008 (261 231) exceed 2010 Ministerial target (258 013) • DOE more flexible regarding targets. However, as HE allocations are made on a 3-year rolling basis according to the MTEF, any enrolments above approved target will not be subsidised. • Any appeal for further funding will have to have Treasury approval

5. 2008 Student Satisfaction Survey • Along with staff satisfaction survey, this is a key indicator of management and operational service delivery & priorities for improvement • Fourth annual survey: allows tracking institutional performance & service delivery over time • 5 Indices and composite USSI: • General Unisa Student Satisfaction Index (GUSI) • Unisa Registration Efficiency Index (UREI) • Unisa Student Support Service Index (USSSI) • Unisa Academic Performance Index (UAPI) • Unisa Administrative and Professional Services Index (UAPSI) • Combine to form the composite Unisa Student Satisfaction Index (USSI)

6. Scores of 5 Indices & Composite USSI, 2005-8

7. Key Findings • Between 2007-8: • Composite USSI declined by 1,7 points • Key issue in 2008: Registration – drop of almost 10 points between 2007-8 • Between 2005-8: • Composite USSI declined by 4,9 points • All indices down, except Unisa Academic Performance Satisfaction Index (UAPSI) • Satisfaction levels stabilising around 70 points – well below 2015 target of minimum threshold of 90 • Students’ unrealistic study expectations – key issue in improving success & throughput: • Reported average time available for study: 14 hours – serious mismatch with average course load of 4-5 • Reported expected time-to-completion: 4 years – serious mismatch with average of 6 years

8. Exam Success Rate to date by College, 2005-8

9. Key findings: 2008 Exam Pass Rates to date • These figures reflect the 2008 provisional exam pass rates to date (ie including 2008 May/June and November sittings) • Key findings: • 2008 EPR up 5,44% on 2007 and 3,59% on 2005 • All Colleges showed increases, with CHS still dominant (79,61% in 2008) • All race groups showed increases, with whites still dominant (75,69% in 2008) • Both gender groups showed increases with women still dominant (65,97% vs 61,51% in 2008) • While these increases in the exam pass rate to date are really encouraging, the final Course Success Rates (upon which subsidy and institutional performance against the ministerial target of 56% are measured) are uniformly lower. It remains to be seen whether these increases will translate into higher final Course Success Rates