Siyaphumelela Conference programme and support materials

Mobilising key stakeholders towards systemic initiatives based on empirical research to improve student success in South African universities.

The goals of the Siyaphumelela programme are to:

• Improve capacity to collect student data and integrate it with Institutional Research, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), academic development, planning, student support and academic divisions.

• Create South African models of universities using successful data analytics to improve student outcomes.

• Create a greater awareness and support for data use to improve student success in South Africa (collaborating with existing and new South African national initiatives wherever possible).

• Create and highlight a shared vocabulary and consensus on effective practices to improve student success.

• Enlarge the cadre of experienced data analytics professionals supporting student success.

This year's conference builds on the highly successful May 2015, June 2016 and June 2017 conferences and features a number of international speakers as well as key South African role players and students. While the work of the five Siyaphumelela grantees is profiled, we are keen to hear of other developments from a cross-section of universities in South Africa. The conference will be preceded by three concurrent workshops.

The conference includes a number of foci:

• Basic needs and student success

• Leadership for student success

• Design for student success.