Unisa is transforming lives beyond barriers

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

— Robert Frost

Unisa’s Department of Tuition Support and Facilitation of Learning (DTSFL), led by Professor Meahabo Magano, took the road less travelled and went on a national journey in 2024 to the Department of Correctional Services’ centres to extend support to Unisa’s incarcerated students.

As one can imagine, this was met with an overwhelmingly positive response. Thus, kicking off 2025 with a virtual pre-registration orientation workshop that included incarcerated students across all Department of Correctional Services’ centres on the morning of 8 January 2025, was yet another realisation of the university’s vision to be the African university in the service of humanity.

The five-hour interactive programme provided a detailed overview of the range of support services, from a step-by-step guide to registration, funding opportunities, and curriculum overview from all Unisa’s colleges to study materials, work-integrated learning, and recognition of prior learning.

Unlocking Potential: Beyond Barriers should have been the theme of the programme, as the mandate to support students and ensure no student is left behind, has never been clearer. Students were empowered in various ways to communicate with the university, declare their disability, and learn about the various technology support resources that are available. This collaboration between the Department of Correctional Services and all Unisa’s academic and support departments continues to emphasise the transformative power of education.

To continue nurturing this seed of hope, Unisa’s DTSFL team will also be visiting correctional centres across the various provinces between 3 February and 27 March 2025, with the aim of creating a better and more inclusive approach to student support services.

Our heartfelt gratitude to all Unisa staff members who joined the 2025 programme and worked tirelessly to provide students with a memorable workshop, while also answering all student questions through the live chat and interactive question-and-answer sessions. Without the hand-in-hand support of the Department of Correctional Services team, led by Dr Moyo, none of this would have been possible. To that we say: “Nangamso! Sithi makwande izibusiso!” to our most important stakeholders: Unisa’s students.

* Nangamso – From isiXhosa, meaning thank you (sincerely/eternally thankful).

* Sithi mkwande izibusiso" is isiZulu for “We say let there be more blessings/growth in blessings”.

* By Ziyanda Febana-Mkila, Student Success Practitioner, Department of Tuition Support and Facilitation of Learning