Unisa Western Cape service centres host first-year student orientations

The Cape Town campus and the George regional centre were hives of activity recently when the Western Cape Region hosted its annual face-to-face orientation for first-year students.

Student Counsellor Chantal Adams addressing students at the Cape Town orientation

The event, which rounded off the Student Retention Unit’s weeklong online orientation, saw both the Cape Town campus and the George regional centre buzzing with activity as students joined in-person and online to familiarise themselves with the services offered by the regional offices, as well as the policies, procedures, interventions and achievements of the university.

The programme ran concurrently at both locations and featured presentations from Student Administration and Finance, the Library, the Counselling and Career Development Unit and the Facilitation of Learning Unit.

A representative of the Law Clinic highlighted the vital services that the clinic offers to local communities. In addition, the regional student representative council (SRC) attended the orientation in George in person for the first time. Nomfundo Khumalo, Chairperson of the Western Cape Regional SRC, said it was a pleasure to welcome the first-year students of 2025. “A big congratulations to all the new students who have become part of the biggest higher learning institution, the University of South Africa,” she stated.

Owing to the more intimate setting of the George orientation, it was possible for the audience to engage with speakers in their mother tongues. During her presentation, Dr Zamangwane Khanyile, Western Cape Senior Student Counsellor, encouraged students to speak in their mother tongues. “Multilingualism plays a crucial role in the orientation of first-year students by fostering a sense of belonging. When students hear their native languages spoken, they feel valued, respected and welcomed, which reduces anxiety and builds a sense of community," she said.

Senior Student Counsellor Dr Zamangwane Khumalo presenting to students in George

In Cape Town, 218 first-year students attended the event in person and 197 attended online. 

Students provided positive feedback on the event, indicating that the orientation was not only informative but also effective in providing useful tools and contacts for navigating online studies at Unisa.

Students participating during the question-and-answer session

John Abrahams, Head of Facilitation of Learning at the Cape Town Campus, reflected on the successful event, saying: “Welcoming our new students to our region is always an inspiring and exciting experience. Today’s energy and enthusiasm clearly reflect our students’ commitment to embracing academic challenges with vigour and dedication. Equally, our regional office plays a pivotal role in enriching the students’ learning journey. Our dedicated staff deserve commendation for their unwavering support and pursuit of an excellent student experience throughout the student walk.”

Although the journey of obtaining a qualification through distance and online education may be a lonely one, Unisa’s commitment to providing student support through numerous regional interventions such as student orientation opens the door to continuing student engagement and offers a space for reflecting on ways of improving service offerings for students.

* By Lee-Anne Davids, Acting Communication Manager Western Cape, and Vicky-Lee Lee Shew, Communication Officer, Western Cape