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Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is ushering in a new era of collaboration and innovation following the success of its inaugural Student Success Deep Dive Seminar, hosted at the Potsdam Campus. The two-day event, organized by the Institutional Research and Planning (IRP) unit in partnership with the Directorate for Learning and Teaching (DLT) and Student Affairs, aimed to strengthen coordination between departments to better serve students.
The seminar’s outcomes have now paved the way for an institutional action plan focused on enhancing student support, academic integration, and overall success across all campuses.
Breaking Down Silos for Better Results
Director of Institutional Research and Planning, Mr. Louis Mapatagane, said the seminar represented a major turning point in how the university approaches collaboration.
“The most important insight? We must break down the silos. The walls separating academic and support departments must fall,” he emphasized.
He described the event as a milestone that allowed the institution to deeply reflect on data from Student Experience Surveys, ensuring that the voices of students directly inform decision-making processes.
“For the first time, the lived experiences of our students were given the attention and institutional weight they deserve,” said Mapatagane.
“It was powerful to witness how seriously the findings and recommendations were received, and how diverse the participation was. Every corner of the university was represented — a clear signal that we are beginning to truly uplift the student voice.”
A Unified Commitment to Change
The Deep Dive Seminar brought together representatives from every sector of the university — academic, administrative, and student support — demonstrating WSU’s collective commitment to transformation. The IRP unit will now lead the implementation phase, ensuring that recommendations made during the seminar translate into tangible improvements in the student experience.
The initiative underscores WSU’s goal of creating a cohesive, student-centered academic environment where collaboration and innovation drive excellence.
