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Initiative

Siyaphumelela

The Siyaphumelela (“We Succeed”) Initiative Seeks to Broaden Evidence-Based Postsecondary Student Success Strategies in South Africa

Siyaphumelela Goals

 Improve institutional Capacity to Enact Data-Driven Strategies That Support Student Success

Create Models of South African Universities Using Data Analytics to Improve Student Outcomes

Create Greater Awareness and Support for Data Use to Improve Student Success in South Africa

Create a Shared Vocabulary and Consensus on Effective Practices to Improve Student Success

Grow the Cadre of Data Analytics Professionals Equipped to Support Student Success

Help Previously Disadvantaged Students Attain Quality Postsecondary Credentials in South Africa

South Africa is the only place The Kresge Foundation works outside of the United States. We began funding South African universities in 1989, and to date have invested nearly $30 million to promote South African postsecondary access and success – especially improving student graduation rates.

In 2014, we launched the Siyaphumelela (“We Succeed”) initiative to encourage the use of data analytics to enhance South African university student success. Specifically, Siyaphumelela seeks to build institutional capacity to collect and analyze student data to determine when and why students are not succeeding so that institutions can focus on the most effective interventions.

Led by the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) and informed by student success innovators from across the world, such as the University Innovation Alliance (UIA) and Achieving the Dream, Siyaphumelela reform efforts are taking shape at five universities: Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, University of Pretoria, University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and Durban University of Technology.

The initiative also supports the latest technological and productivity advances to identify cost-effective methods of delivering high-quality postsecondary instruction.

Siyaphumelela Grantees


Siyaphumelela Resources

2023 Inyathelo Annual Report: A Year in Review

For more than a decade, The Kresge Foundation has partnered with Inyathelo, the South African Institute of Advancement, to help develop and bolster the private fundraising efforts of South African…

Education


siyaphumelela Partners

South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE)

SAIDE stewards the Siyaphumelela initiative among South African educational institutions and partners.

Achieving the Dream (ATD)

ATD supports Siyaphumelela by training South African coaches to work with participating universities and facilitate knowledge exchange.

Institute of International Education (IIE)

IIE is a private higher education institution offering more than 70 registered and accredited higher education programmes.

Council on Higher Education (CHE)

CHE is an independent, statutory, quality-assurance and advisory council for South African higher education.

Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

DHET is responsible for tertiary education, post-schooling and skills development in South Africa.

South Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU)

SALDRU conducts policy-relevant research in applied empirical microeconomics with an emphasis on labour markets.

Universities South Africa (USAf)

USAf aims to promote a more inclusive, responsive and equitable national system of higher education.