Meet the team of academic success coaches (ASC) who aim to nurture the potential of undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of Pretoria (UP) and play an integral role in ensuring that they achieve their academic goals.

The all-women ASC team comprises UP alumni Khetsiwe Nkosi, Ncumisa November, Nthabiseng Mofokeng and Zinhle Sibiya, who will be catering to about 8000 students in the EMS Faculty. Having obtained master’s qualifications from UP and with backgrounds in psychology and social work, they are well-placed to understand student challenges and provide the necessary support.

Why an academic coach?

University life can be challenging, often requiring students to strike a balance between their personal and academic lives. For first-year students, the transition from high school to university involves them navigating a new environment and adjusting to new academic demands. EMS academic success coaches, formerly faculty student advisors, support first-generation students by providing them with the requisite resources for a seamless transition. Well-being is central to academic success, and this is a key focus for the ASC team, which aids students who may be dealing with personal challenges.

The team promote a positive university experience that is conducive to learning by fostering a supportive academic environment. To enhance throughput and promote academic progression, the team monitors the performance of students and provides guidance to ensure they reach their academic milestones.

Reaching the finish line

November, a PhD social work candidate at UP, says helping students reach the finish line and witnessing them overcome difficulties amid academic and personal challenges is fulfilling.

“Being a guide and support system to students is incredibly rewarding and provides a sense of daily purpose,” she says. “As the ASC team, we feel privileged to be able to make a positive impact on the lives of students, knowing that we provide holistic support.”

While reaching the finish line is the end goal for most students, the journey to this line is not always smooth. Nkosi says one of the biggest hurdles to achieving academic success is time management and procrastination, as students often struggle to use their time effectively. She advises them to follow a structured schedule with dedicated study times and breaks to manage academic pressure and avoid last-minute stress. Prioritising physical and mental health by incorporating a healthy diet, exercise and sufficient sleep is also important.

“Students who are grappling with personal and academic challenges should not hesitate to reach out to us and utilise the full range of services available to them at the University,” Nkosi says. “Embracing the support of your academic success coach and connecting with fellow students can provide the assistance needed to overcome obstacles. External pressures, such as family issues, work commitments or financial worries, can add to the stress. Addressing these stressors by seeking counselling or financial aid resources can offer much-needed relief, enhance the academic journey of students and help them achieve success.”

Planning for success

Sibiya points out that it’s vital for ASC team members to navigate burnout and achieve a work-life balance to ensure that they render exceptional services to students. In the face of high-volume requests, her commitment to the academic success of students fuels her.

“Effective planning is important to ensure that we cater to every student that needs our services,” Sibiya says. “Plans provide motivation and commitment. Planning also reduces uncertainty and indicates what everyone is expected to accomplish. Having a clear idea of what students expect from me as an academic success coach makes it easier for me to execute my duties with diligence. Being flexible is also important to respond to urgent requests and sudden changes. When you’re flexible, you’re versatile, resilient and responsive to change.”

She adds that as part of planning and preparation to assist students, it is important to first identify the precise challenges that students might be struggling with during each quarter or block.

“We are then able to assist the student to the best of our abilities during coaching sessions,” Sibiya says. “This also makes planning easier, and we are able to prepare ourselves mentally and better for the academic roller coaster that students face each quarter or semester.”

Women in the workplace

Juggling multiple roles can be challenging for ASC team members, who attribute their professional success to the support of their colleagues, family and friends. In light of Women’s Month, they say they’re grateful for the opportunities for professional and career development that have been presented to them. For Mofokeng, seeing better representation of women in the workplace has been empowering.

“An important aspect that has had a significant impact on my growth and continuous desire to grow in my profession is representation,” she says. “Seeing other successful women from diverse backgrounds inspires me to continue pursuing my career goals and dreams – this instils hope that it’s possible for me too.”

The development of women leaders is equally important to her. She believes everyone has the innate ability to lead and should be given opportunities to hone their leadership acumen through mentorships, workshops, events and various programmes. In recognition of the potential of women, UP launched the Women’s Leadership Programme last year. The programme, hosted by the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute at UP in partnership with the University’s Gordon Institute of Business Science, aims to empower women within the institution by offering them growth and mentorship opportunities to ascend into leadership positions.