The Registration and Orientation (R&O) programme kicked-off on Monday, 22 January and the campus community has welcomed the new intake of first-year students with open arms and warm smiles.
Day one of the programme saw all BEd, BA Law, BCom Law and BSc students registering, followed by the BCom and BA students on respectively 23 January (day 2) and 24 January (day 3).
Simultaneously the R&O programme saw the new intake of first-year students getting to know their new surroundings and finding their place within the campus community.
According to Mr Jacob Simango, director for student life on the campus, the R&O programme aims to prepare all first-year students for their transition into university life as well as prepare them for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. “We find that even students who have been academically successful in high school sometimes find the transition to learning at university difficult,” says Jacob and adds that to ensure that all students succeed the NWU has several academic support and personal support structures in place.
According to Prof Lumkile Lalendle, executive director for student life, the programme provides students with the opportunity to learn and master new strategies for adjusting to university life. During the course of the programme all first-year students will attend several information sessions and practical workshops that will outline the NWU policies on topical issues such as the responsible use of social media, human rights, a zero tolerance for initiation practices and anti-social behaviour such as sexual harassment and xenophobia.
The first years will – as part of the programme – also undertake a big community engagement drive. The following organisations are to benefit from this initiative: Bophelong Children’s Home, Ikemeleng Home for the Elderly, Kanana Mental Health Care, Lapeng Home for the Aged, Kgatliso Children’s Home, Matwala Children’s Home, Busy Bee Hospice, Vaal Echoes of Love and the Ikageng Old Age Centre.
The programme runs to a close on Saturday, 3 February when the campus will host its official Welcoming Ceremony for the first-year students and their parents.
