2022 Wits Annual Report Final Web View

The University of the Witwatersrand continues to achieve its strategic goals for the period under review. The seven strategic priorities of the Wits Vision 2022 Strategic Framework, which is now drawing to an end, are: 1. Research and Knowledge Leadership; 2. Innovation and Social Leadership; 3. An IT-Savvy University; 4. Extensive Networks and Partnerships; 5. Wealthy and Well Resourced; 6. Excellence in Governance; and 7. The Wits Experience.

The University continues to steadily improve in the global rankings and occupies one of the top two positions on the continent in all five of the Times Higher Education, QS, Center for World University Rankings, US News, Shanghai Rankings, also known as the Academic Ranking of World Universities. These improvements have occurred simultaneously with the transformation of the University into a socially inclusive, diverse, non-racial and cosmopolitan community.

In addition, we exceeded targets on several metrics, including the number of permanent academic staff publishing and reporting research. Measured on a rolling three-year average basis, the number stands at 687, up from the last three years by 56. In fact, research output grew strongly in 2021 and 2022, both in terms of quantity and quality. Using approved data from the 2021 publications the University’s research publication units have increased by 59% in the last seven years. The graduate student profile in 2022 stood at 16 387 (38.5%). A total of 10 183 students graduated in 2021 and 10 385 in 2022.