2014 Annual Report

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is a comprehensive university, constituting seven faculties located across six campuses, five in Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape) and one in George (Western Cape). As a comprehensive university, NMMU provides a diverse range of educational opportunities across general-formative, professional/vocational and career-oriented academic programmes, and is ideally positioned to facilitate the integration of post-school education and training via alternative access routes, such as articulation from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. Being ideally positioned on the Eastern shores at the Southern tip of the African continent, NMMU is in the process of expanding its academic offerings and research projects to include Marine and Maritime Studies, in alignment with South Africa and Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy associated with the “blue economy” that focuses on marine and maritime spatial planning and development.

The NMMU student headcount has increased to 26 630 in 2014, compared to 26 408 in 2013, of which 22 912 (86%) are enrolled for undergraduate programmes and 26 287 (98.7%) are contact students. Our student profile is 53% female and 60.5% African, 23.7% White, 14.0% Coloured and 1.8% Indian, with a permanent staff complement of 1 734 serving our students in their academic, professional and
support services roles. Council is satisfied with the demographic and equity profiles, under the circumstances, whilst acknowledging the need for continuous improvement in this regard.

This annual report will provide an overview of the key achievements, innovations and operational challenges identified in 2014, as well as how these challenges have been managed to reduce Institutional risk.