Please complete the 2021 South African Survey of Student Engagement

Dear students

The 2021 academic year is coming to an end. This year, similar to 2020, has not been easy for anyone and I believe you are all looking forward to the summer break, so that you can relax and spend quality time with loved ones. Amid the fatigue and other challenges thrown our way, there are always gains, important realisations and opportunities for growth. This is as true for us as individuals, as it is for the university as a community.

One area of growth for the University of Cape Town (UCT) is student engagement – the idea that the more students participate in their own learning the better the quality of the educational outcomes. And here outcomes do not refer only to marks but to the actual learning that takes place in a course. Teaching under COVID-19 has brought student engagement to the fore, unlike the pre-COVID era where we had often detected lack of engagement. There are many possible explanations for this, and in order to be able to address these issues which seem to hamper student engagement we need to identify them clearly.

We want to hear from you

UCT is participating in the 2021 South African Survey of Student Engagement (SASSE) and we want to hear what you have to say. The SASSE collects information from undergraduate students to explore the extent to which they engage in educational activities and behaviours, and the extent to which they experience the institutional environment as supportive and engaging.

Why?

The SASSE collects data from several South African universities in order to improve curriculum, campus life and to support student development.

The survey will give you the opportunity to tell us about:

• how you participate in university life
• your participation in a range of academic activities
• your educational and personal growth since starting higher education
• how you engage with other students and academic staff, both inside and outside the classroom.

The survey will also provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your opportunities to engage in research with staff, to make use of academic advising, peer learning, academic literacy or numeracy courses, the First Year Experience, and service learning, among others.

Let your voice be heard

Please complete the SASSE survey by 15 November 2021. The link will also be made available via Vula.

• Access the South African Survey of Student Engagement 2021.

Please continue to take care of yourselves.

Warm regards

Associate Professor Lis Lange
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements