Doctoral graduates: Celebrating the highest level of research contribution and scholarship Graduate Output 2025 The CBE continues to be a primary driver of highlevel skills development for the South African economy. In 2025, the College produced a total of 5 797 graduates, representing a robust pipeline of talent across the undergraduate and postgraduate landscapes. Graduate distribution: Approximately 4 174 graduates entered the professional world, equipped with foundational expertise in business, economics, and management sciences. A significant 1 623 graduates (comprising honours/postgraduate diploma level and master’s and doctoral levels) successfully completed advanced research and professional qualifications. To celebrate the pinnacle of academic achievement, the CBE hosted two prestigious Dean’s Honours and Awards ceremonies in 2025. These events were specifically dedicated to recognising: Doctoral graduates: Celebrating the highest level of research contribution and scholarship. Cum laude master’s graduates: Acknowledging exceptional academic performance and technical mastery. These initiatives are more than ceremonial; they serve as a strategic platform for strengthening the CBE alumni network and deepening relationships with industry stakeholders. By honouring our top-performing graduates, we ensure that our alumni remain lifelong ambassadors of the College, facilitating future mentorship, recruitment, and collaborative research opportunities. Student Access and Success and Support for Students The CBE remains dedicated to fostering a studentcentric learning ecosystem that prioritises both access and long-term success. By implementing evidence-based interventions and robust support structures, we ensure that our students are not only admitted but are also equipped to thrive academically and professionally. Our 2025 performance metrics highlight the efficacy of these support systems: The College achieved an impressive undergraduate module success rate of 89,8%. This high level of performance is bolstered by a decrease in the undergraduate dropout rate to 6,7%, a result of targeted advising and early alert practices designed to catch and support at-risk students before they exit the system. Our commitment to timely graduation is reflected in our throughput rates. The composite undergraduate throughput rate reached 48,1%, while the postgraduate throughput rate climbed to 68,2%, ensuring a steady flow of qualified professionals into the economy. Recognising that success extends beyond the classroom, we have significantly scaled our student support and career readiness initiatives. Our employability programmes, which include volunteering and work-integrated learning, reached 11 204 students this year. These initiatives are vital in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and the practical demands of the global job market. Cum laude master’s graduates: Acknowledging exceptional academic performance and technical mastery Africa by Bus: Students visiting the Women’s University in Africa, Zimbabwe Student Academic and Cultural Enrichment In 2025, during the University of Johannesburg’s 20th celebration, and as part of the University’s Pan-African, Global South, and globalisation agenda and continental collaboration initiatives, the CBE visited Zimbabwe from 29 August until 4 September 2025. Final year undergraduate students in a variety of business and economics programme qualification mixes were introduced to a small portion of the Indian Ocean Trade Route to enrich their studies, encourage cultural diversity exchange to broaden and deepen their knowledge, and develop skills for workplace and society preparedness. The Africa by Bus 2025 trip to Zimbabwe was an immersive educational and cultural experience. The purpose of the tour was to provide students with a deeper understanding of Africa’s rich cultural heritage, trade networks, and economic landscapes. The programme was designed to blend history, education, industry exploration and networking, and cultural exchange. Student Satisfaction (Survey 2025) Undergraduate enrolments remained strong, student success rates improved or held steady at a high base, and overall satisfaction with the teaching and learning experience reached 94.9% amongst respondents, with a derived overall satisfaction score of 90.8%, up from 89.2% in 2024. Concurrently, the Utrecht General Engagement Scale (UGES) highlights both strengths and areas for continued attention: strong lecture preparedness and approachability, improving tutorial participation and effectiveness, growing adoption of AI tools for learning, and robust perceptions of academic integrity; alongside workload pressure, internet access constraints for a segment of students, and wellbeing challenges that require sustained, systemic support. 20 21 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025
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