KZN Regional SRC rallies students for mental health readiness sessions

From 10 - 14 March 2025, The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Regional Student Representative Council (RSRC), kick-started the 2025 academic year with a student-centred programme that focused on mental readiness for academic success.

Members of the SRC with students and staff members from Newcastle

The programme, presented at various Unisa campuses in KZN, facilitated meaningful engagements on mental readiness for academic success between the RSRC, Unisa management and the students. The programme primarily focused on equipping students with the necessary skills to study at Unisa by offering them information about mental awareness, available services and support, and various study skills that will aid their academic development and success.

Throughout the event’s activities, various regional departments gave presentations on different services offered, such as counselling and career development, library services, tutorial support, student administration, and computer laboratory services.

Unisa is a well-known open, distance and e-learning institution that offers academic services through online teaching and learning. However, this does not mean that students never have an opportunity to interact with academic staff face to face.

Members of the SRC with students and staff members from Richardsbay

The programme sparked hope among students. It reinforced the idea that the university shapes itself by defining tomorrow, along with the notion that, in John C Maxwell’s words, “the future belongs to the curious – the ones who are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it, and turn it inside out”.

This is the ideal that the RSRC holds paramount - an initiative like this one that champions students’ interests is what defines the KZN RSRC as a vanguard student body shaped by its collective student activism.

The programme on mental readiness for academic success is one of many that the KZN RSRC will present to promote unity of purpose driven by a focus on studies and to ensure that the mental health of students remains a priority.

* By Sanele Luthuli, Deputy Chairperson, KZN RSRC