NWU business model

In this section, you can read how we use and transform our capitals to create value for ourselves and our stakeholders through the input, activities, outputs and outcomes in our value chain – all regulated by Senate.

The functions of the NWU Senate are related to our core academic business, which in turn comprises important aspects of our value chain. That is why we present the Senate report in the format of our business model diagram, followed by a discussion of our value chain.

Click on the tabs below to read more about our business model.

• INPUT
• ACTIVITIES
• OUTPUT
• OUTCOME

INPUT

784

Schools reached by our student recruiters through direct marketing campaigns and activities.

(social and relationship capital)

9 708

First-time entering undergraduate students

(human capital)

Total number of students per qualification type (human capital)

TOTAL: 53 469

Budget (financial capital)

INCOME (R’000)

EXPENSES (R’000)

R 481
million

Spent on infrastructure
(Manufactured capital)

14,9%

increase in total assets

476 599

square metres

The total usable floor area of the NWU

1 110

hectares

The total area occupied by the university’s campuses natural capital)

Academic and support staff (human capital)

Personnel category	Permanent	Temporary	2019	2020	2021
Crafts/trades			23	26	26
			0	0	24
Executive/ administration/ management professional			90	83	85
			5	3	5
Instructional/ Research professional			1 575	1 632	1 648
			450	373	1 414
Non-professional administration			1 289	1 285	1 321
			3 755	3 329	3 452
Service			327	323	304
			40	57	51
Specialised / support professional			522	492	510
			229	184	234
Technical			251	245	246
			50	46	79
Grand total			8 606	8 078	9 399

ACTIVITIES

Spending according to the APP (financial capital)

TOTAL: R4 778 million

Goal

Goal 1   (teaching and learning)

Goal 2   (research and innovation)

Goal 3   (community engagement and sustainability)

Goal 4   (student value proposition)

Goal 5   (staff and student equity)

Goal 6   (digital business strategy)

Enabler

Goal 1   (govern, lead and manage)

Goal 2   (integrated technology platform)

Goal 3   (communication and stakeholder engagement)

Goal 4   (financial sustainability)

Student support
activities

(intellectual and human capital)

Read more about nwu value chain, our performance against our strategy

Staff
development
activities:

(intellectual and human capital)

Read more on nwu value chain, our performance against our strategy

Conducting
research

(intellectual capital)

Read more on nwu value chain, our vice chancellors review , our performance against our strategy

Community
engagement

(social and relationship capital)

Read more on our performance against our strategy

Presenting over 975 academic programmes

(intellectual capital)

OUTPUT

Graduates: educational subject matter
distribution (human capital)

TOTAL: 14 484

All other humanities and social sciences
2 939,08

Education
5 029,17

Research output 2020 (intellectual capital)

Journal articles	1 264, 2
Conference proceedings	38,84
Books and chapters	233,43
Total article equivalents published	1 536,59
Master’s degrees conferred	722
Research master’s	521, 605
Research master’s weighted	521,605
Doctoral degrees conferred	251
Doctoral degrees weighted	753
Total weighted research output	2 811, 1914
Postdoctoral fellows	215
Publication units per permanent Academic staff member	0,93

Total number of graduates per qualification type (human capital)

TOTAL: 14 484

62,64%

Number of graduates who completed their studies in minimum time

R238,8 million

The university, from its own resources, contributed R238,8 million or 8,9% of the total funds allocated for financial aid

97%

Success rate of the NWU merit bursary holders

R67,6 million (28%)

of the funds allocated to financial aid used to award students for academic performances

Collaboration

(Social and relationship capital)

We had in access of 2 147 active agreements and memoranda of understanding

Financial sustainability

(financial capital)

R1 422,6 million

Net surplus for 2021 as reflected in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income

OUTCOME

The Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings announced on 13 October 2021 indicated that we excelled in the field of law and education and was placed globally in the 201+ and 401 to 500 categories respectively. It also shone in social sciences and business and economics, where it was ranked in the 501 to 600 category.

The external environment sets the context in which we use our business model to create value.