University management believes the sample was too small for the ranking to be reflective of the feelings that students and alumni have of Wits.
Wits University (Wits) was placed seventh in StuDocu’s world ranking for South African universities, according to current and past students’ perception of South African higher learning institutions.
The University of Pretoria (UP) took the top spot in the survey, which looked at factors such as the quality and range of food options that are available, the safety of students, accessibility, the location of the institution, and even the social and dating life of students at institutions.
Rikus Delport, the director of UP’s department of institutional advancement says that the fact that students rate the university so highly is particularly exciting. “We are especially pleased as it appears that the university was highly rated by students in terms of their online teaching and learning experience,” Delport said.
Jerome September, dean of student affairs at Wits University said that the university hadn’t known about the rankings before. “The university was not asked to participate in any such ranking and is not aware of any of its students participating either, although their website says that 60 students or past students were surveyed per institution.”
According to September, since such a small portion of students were included in StuDocu’s survey, it is not completely reflective of the feelings that students and alumni have of Wits. He added that this ranking should not be confused with any major global rankings which usually focus on academic and research performance. “We are confident that the internal processes we have, give us a better sense of the student experience and perception as they are also linked to efforts to help us improve.”
Mongameli Shozi, a UP alumnus currently working to attain a postgraduate diploma in business administration says that he understands why UP is placed so highly on the rankings, since he found the institution accessible and fair. “Really, the challenges lie with trying to balance having fun but still striving to do well academically. I think based on that it was very balanced. However, first year was a lot more fun and third year was more academic-focused”
Zainab Gafoor, a Wits English honours student who participated in the StuDocu rankings said that Wits’s place was somewhat surprising. She said that the university does well academically, and within her faculty, there is enough support, but the work load doesn’t allow for a healthy work-life balance. Gafoor also mentioned that there isn’t enough variety of Halaal food currently, but she was happy with it before.
“There isn’t much of a school/life balance. Before covid, maybe, but now it has taken over my life. In general, however, I really like Wits. It was one of my minor dreams to come here. I think the academic support is really good, but I do know that’s not the experience of other students.”
The ranking comes as a result of a survey shared via email to students that use StuDocu in the period between July and August of 2021. Only 2 000 out of the nearly 10 000 South African students on the platform participated.
This is the second time that the company releases their annual rankings and the first time that South Africa is included. According to Martine Peeters, the company’s marketing and communications manager, South Africa was StuDocu’s fastest-growing country on the site, with almost 10 000 South African students. “Because of this growth we were able to collect enough responses to include the universities in the ranking.”
FEATURED IMAGE: Students passing time on the Wits East Campus near the Oppenheimer Life Science building. Photo: Rebecca Kgabo
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