GEORGE NEWS – There was an air of nervous excitement among the more than 300 first-year students who were welcomed on the George Campus of Nelson Mandela University on Saturday 3 February for the 2024 academic year.

The campus is expecting more than 2 995 students across its academic programmes.

Senior director Dr Kaluke Mawila encouraged students to be actively involved not only in the classrooms but also in communities surrounding the campus.

Broadcast from Gqeberha campus

“Remember, each one of you brings a unique perspective and set of talents to our campus community. Whether you are interested in the sciences, business, sustainability and entrepreneurship, there's a place for you here to thrive and excel,” Mawila told students.

The opening address of the university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Sibongile Muthwa, was livestreamed to other campuses from the Indoor Sport Centre on South Campus in Gqeberha. She said the students were part of a fortunate few who had been accepted into first year.

“Our first-year students here today worked hard to qualify for access to higher education and for this we applaud them. In this application cycle, we received almost 111 000 applications from prospective students, and you were selected as part of a cohort of approximately 7 200 first-time entering students for 2024.”

Muthwa said the university also welcomes the announcement by Government to provide funding for the so-called 'missing middle' students, many of whom would not have been able to pursue higher education studies without this support.

"Think and dream big, work hard, persevere in the face of adversity. Yes, adversity will be inevitable as you engage with learning, and with growing up.

“Always be respectful and considerate of others and be adaptable as you embrace the inevitability of change. These qualities will set you apart and ensure that you succeed," she told the students.

An important dimension of promoting student success is ensuring that academically deserving, economically deprived students have access to financial aid. 

“As at the end of January 2024, more than 17 700 of our students had received firm offers for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and this number is expected to increase further over the next few weeks.”

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