College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2023 20 OVERVIEW The 2023 academic year may be described as anything but subdued. The renewed energy that permeated the academic environment was evident in the re-emergence of a campus culture that invigorated both staff and students. Notwithstanding the long-term disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 represented an unambiguous and much-welcomed shift away from the darkness and isolation associated with the previous two to three years. Indeed, the South African economy remained sluggish against the backdrop of a stagnant global economy and heightening geopolitical uncertainty. Students had to contend with a high cost of living, exorbitant interest rates, growing debt intensified load shedding and water crises, just some of the key factors that deepened inequality and pushed many into greater economic hardship. Notwithstanding these challenges, the CBE remained committed to enriching student life and creating an environment that enables effective teaching and learning. Effective teaching and learning results in the kind of empowerment that is critical for sustainable human development. Student experience and performance lies at the heart of the CBE’s academic mission. The Undergraduate Experience Survey Report (UGES) of 2023, identified various areas of undergraduate students’ experience of teaching and learning at UJ. The CBE accounted for a sizable 4 215 participated in the survey, which accounted for 27,1% of the total responses. A faculty breakdown of the Report revealed an overall satisfaction rate of 89.2%. this overall satisfaction rate compares to the UJ satisfaction rate of 88,3%. CBE undergraduate (UG) fourth- year students had the highest satisfaction rate at 92,7%, followed by the satisfaction of firstyear students at 90,2%. When it came to student performance, the CBE viewed the 2022 decline, reflected across several key indicators, in a very serious light. Various engagements were organised at College level with key stakeholders aimed at identifying measures to improve student performance in 2023. Several measures were adopted by schools and departments, with variations in nature and scope. These included additional tutorials for support and revision; specific actions to identify at-risk students after assessments; workshops for staff and students; study skills workshops with ADC; assessment-related amendments in terms of model, mix and design; special governance and control measures; management of student workload; monitoring and management of class attendance; revised pedagogical strategies aimed at encouraging greater student interaction; use of alternative online platforms for student engagement; and revision classes. A special workshop on student performance was held on 17 August 2023 with view to developing a CBE Student Performance Strategy. The efforts of the CBE already started to bear fruit with an improvement of close to 4% in the UG module success rates (MSR) in the first semester Prof Thea Tselepis Vice Dean (Incoming): Teaching and Learning College of Business and Economics Prof Sivan Chetty Vice Dean (Outgoing): Teaching and Learning College of Business and Economics TEACHING AND LEARNING
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