The University of Pretoria (UP) Strategic Plan 2022 – 2026 and beyond requires us to continue reimagining our future to make UP a world-class institution. In keeping with THE UP WAY, we need to constantly evolve and innovate. A significant part of this reimagined future requires us to reconsider the use of current technologies and identify new technologies to become a leader within the digital transformation space. For this reason, I am happy to announce the launch of our new Digital Transformation Strategy.

Allow me to take this moment to thank our internal task team who worked tirelessly to contribute to the development of this strategy. The team conducted research and benchmarked their work internationally to ensure that the recommendations and suggestions were on par with global standards and trends.

The strategy articulates UP’s vision to fundamentally change how we operate and deliver value to our customers through the integration of technologies across the institution. Adopting the much-anticipated Digital Transformation Strategy in our institution is essential for us to not only remain competitive but become a leader in this space, staying relevant, and able to successfully serve the requirements of students, academics, and staff in the fast-paced, technologically driven world of today.

Through this Digital Transformation Strategy, we aim to achieve the following:

Enhancing the Learning Experience: There are multiple ways to leverage digital technologies to improve the learning and teaching processes. This includes access to instructional materials at any time and from any location, participation in engaging, interactive learning experiences thanks to online learning platforms, virtual classrooms, interactive multimedia resources, and collaboration tools. A deeper level of student engagement and better learning outcomes are fostered using multimedia components, tailored instruction, and quick feedback by instructors who are empowered by digital transformation.

Increasing Operational Efficiency: Digital transformation enables and promotes operational efficiency and streamlines administrative operations. Elimination of paperwork, quicker processing, and improved accuracy are all benefits of integrated student information systems, automated processes, and online registration systems. Tools for data analytics and business intelligence offer insights for programmes aimed at resource optimisation, student success, and well-informed decision-making. The management of campus facilities, financial operations, and library services can all be streamlined through digital transformation.

Supporting Research and Innovation: Digital technologies accelerate research and innovation in higher education. Programmes aiming at resource optimisation, student success, and well-informed decision-making will benefit from insights provided by business intelligence and data analytics tools.

In order to afford staff members an opportunity to engage with the digital transformation task team, unpack the goals and objectives of the Digital Transformation strategy and ask questions about the strategy, we will have a number of sessions at our various campuses as indicated below.

Please click here to register and indicate whether you will be attending in-person or online.

You are encouraged to attend these sessions and show your continued support in making the Digital Transformation strategy a success and a living reality for us all.

In line with the UP WAY, embracing change and continuously seeking innovative solutions is essential for UP to remain at the forefront of education and make a lasting impact on society.