New students oriented on varsity life at UMP

More than 500 first year University of Mpumalanga students were oriented about life at the university this morning. This exercise will continue for the rest of the week.

“The activities for this week are what we call orientation week where we introduce students to life at the university.

There is quite a big difference in the way schools are structured and how a university is structured as a result, we spend a week with the first year students helping them learn about the support that is available, extra mural activities available through the student council and they start to learn how to succeed in a university, how to plan and how to be a young academic,” explained Prof Rick Bernard, the deputy vice chancellor.

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Welcoming the students, the Vice Chancellor Prof Thoko Mayekiso urged students to never forget the reasons why they are at the university. “If you keep the primary focus of why you are here. We want you to study, get qualifications and prepare yourselves for your careers,” she said.

She motivated the students to be committed in their studies. She also told them about the vice chancellor’s scholarship available at the university, which is a full scholarship available for 20 top students every year.

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SRC president, Castro Mashabane warned students against peer pressure at the university. “You actions have a potential to make you or destroy it, raise your family’s name or tarnish you. I urge and warn you not to be consumed by peer pressure, substance abuse or any other abuse,” he said

He called on the students to use time profitably and to make education fashionable.

While the orientation proceeded without any glitches, another queue of students lining up to check their admission status and others submitting their applications for the first time was also seen on Monday. Admissions at the university still continue.