Every step matters. Every student matters.

A student’s journey to academic success begins long before the first virtual lecture. At Unisa, the Student Retention Unit (SRU) supports students throughout the Student Walk, from their first interaction with the university to the completion of their studies.

Through early engagement and targeted support, the SRU helps students understand what is expected of them, prepare for the demands of open distance and e-learning (ODeL), and take informed steps towards academic success.

Step 1: Choose and Apply

For many prospective students, applying to university is both exciting and daunting. Before registering, it is important to understand what studying in an ODeL environment involves and what is required to succeed.

The SRU offers several initiatives at this stage to help prospective students prepare for university, build confidence and make informed decisions about their studies.

One of the key interventions is the First-Year Experience Massive Open Online Course (FYE MOOC), First Steps. The compulsory course must be completed before a student can accept an offer to study at Unisa.

The MOOC introduces prospective students to university life, familiarises them with the realities of ODeL learning and encourages them to take responsibility for their academic journey from the beginning.

The FYE MOOC also incorporates quality assurance activities that help the SRU understand and respond to students’ needs.

Through the You@Unisa survey, students are encouraged to reflect on practical issues that could affect their studies, including access to digital devices, connectivity and managing challenges such as load shedding. This allows prospective students to identify potential barriers and consider how they will prepare for them before beginning their studies.

The FYE MOOC Feedback Survey provides further insight into the profile of incoming students, the support they may require and how the SRU can strengthen its interventions. Feedback from students also informs ongoing improvements to the FYE MOOC, helping to keep the experience relevant to their needs.

Preparing students before registration

The Student Walk continues with Pre-registration Orientation, a proactive student-success intervention designed to help prospective students make the transition into higher education.

During the orientation, students receive guidance on Unisa’s systems and support services, as well as practical information about what to expect as a Unisa student.

Feedback from participants is used to refine the programme and strengthen future SRU interventions, ensuring that student support continues to respond to emerging needs.

The successful delivery of Pre-registration Orientation is supported by the Orientation Task Team, colleges and support departments. Their collaboration is central to ensuring that students receive consistent guidance during each application cycle.

Together, these interventions form an important part of the Student Walk, helping students prepare for university before they begin their formal studies.

The journey does not end with an application.

In the next instalment, we explore Step 2: Register and examine how the SRU supports students as they move from prospective applicants to registered Unisa students and begin navigating university life.

* Ziyanda Febana – Mkila, Student Retention Unit: Student Success Practitioner & Siyaphumelela Institutional Co-Lead