facts figures - home - wits university · facts & figures 2018/2019. the university of the...

2018/20192018/2019FIGURES

FACTS &

Vision StatementWits aspires to be a leading world-class research-intensive university firmly embedded among international

top league universities by 2022.

Mission StatementThe mission is to grow its global stature as a leading research-intensive university and a gateway to research engagement

and intellectual achievement in Africa. This it will achieve by building on the principles of intellectual excellence, international competitiveness and local relevance. We are committed to providing high-quality, internationally competitive education,

founded on high academic standards, cutting-edge research, public engagement, and productive partnerships with leading institutions throughout the world.

FACTS & FIGURES2018/2019

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Wits at a Glance

Wits is spread over 400 acres, in Braamfontein and Parktown, has 11 libraries and 17 residence halls accommodating 20% of the student population.

Wits is structured into 5 faculties comprising of 33 schools, over 30 service departments and 3 416 courses offered.

Wits has two commercial companies, Wits Enterprise and the Wits Health Consortium, which offer opportunities for contract research, short courses and tailor-made business solutions for the public and private sectors.

Wits staff and students have access to 1 248 540 book volumes, 199 771 print and electronic journal titles and 230 online databases. Wits has one of the largest independent and open acces archives in South Africa, the Historical Papers Research Archive, with 3 439 collections, some of which contain more than 2 000 archival boxes. The archive’s digital repository contains 1 257 online inventories and 29 604 digital objects.

2018 Summary Student Data

Total Number of Student Headcount Enrolments 40 259

% Female 54,63%

% African (Black South African) 58,55%

% Postgraduate 36,54%

% International 9,09%

Academic Staff Data

Total Number of Full-Time Permanent Academic Employee Staff Headcounts 1 112

% Female 49,28%

% African (Black South African) 16,52%

% International 25,67%

% with PhDs 64,47%

Research Data

Total Number of A-Rated Researchers 28

Research Data (continued)

Total Number of Other NRF-Rated Researchers 431

Total Number of SARChI Research Chairs 30

Total Number of Postdoctoral Research Fellows 200

Total Number of Research Outputs 2017 3 652

World University Rankings (WUR)

THE (Times Higher Education) WUR 2017/2018 251-300

QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) WUR 2017/2018 364

Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) [Shanghai Ranking] 2018 201-300

Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) 2018 181

Other Facts

Official Languages English, IsiZulu and Sesotho

Total Number of Courses Offered 3 416

Student HeadcountStudent Headcount Enrolments

Total Number and Percentage of Student Headcount Enrolments

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Gender Female 16 523 54,29% 17 019 54,68% 17 818 54,47% 18 552 54,93% 20 467 54,65% 21 061 54,87% 21 994 54,63%

Male 13 910 45,70% 14 103 45,31% 14 895 45,53% 15 221 45,07% 16 970 45,32% 17 311 45,10% 18 257 45,35%

Undisclosed Gender 2 0,01% 4 0,01% 0 0,00% 3 0,01% 11 0,03% 8 0,02% 8 0,02%

Total 30 434 100% 31 125 100% 32 712 100% 33 775 100% 37 448 100% 38 380 100% 40 259 100%

Race (Only South African students) and All International

African 14 901 48,96% 15 479 49,73% 16 705 51,07% 17 414 51,56% 20 380 54,42% 21 663 56,44% 23 571 58,55%

Chinese 139 0,46% 165 0,53% 166 0,51% 156 0,46% 144 0,38% 154 0,40% 157 0,39%

Coloured 1 035 3,40% 1 107 3,56% 1 206 3,69% 1 315 3,89% 1 461 3,90% 1 490 3,88% 1 583 3,93%

Indian 3 984 13,09% 3 941 12,66% 4 224 12,91% 4 327 12,81% 4 619 12,33% 4 655 12,13% 4 709 11,70%

White 7 260 23,85% 7 208 23,16% 7 101 21,71% 7 128 21,10% 7 174 19,16% 6 719 17,51% 6 575 16,33%

Undisclosed Race 2 0,01% 2 0,01% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 5 0,01%

International 3 114 10,23% 3 224 10,36% 3 311 10,12% 3 437 10,18% 3 670 9,80% 3 699 9,64% 3 659 9,09%

Total 30 434 100% 31 125 100% 32 712 100% 33 775 100% 37,448 100% 38 380 100% 40 259 100%

The student data in this brochure were extracted from the Higher Education Management Information System Model (HEMIS) which reflects the annual HEMIS student data submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The 2018 student data presented are all preliminary HEMIS figures subject to auditing in 2019. The data include occasional students.

- 4 -

Total Number and % of Student Headcount Enrolments (continued)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

UG / PG

Undergraduate 20 469 67,26% 20 960 67,34% 21 660 66,21% 21 867 64,74% 24 303 64,90% 24 621 64,15% 25 352 62,97%

Postgraduate 9 619 31,61% 9 798 31,48% 10 719 32,77% 11 566 34,24% 12 733 34,00% 13 261 34,55% 14 025 34,84%

Occassional 346 1,14% 367 1,18% 333 1,02% 342 1,01% 412 1,10% 498 1,30% 882 2,19%

Total 30 434 100% 31 125 100% 32 712 100% 33 775 100% 37 448 100% 38 380 100% 40 259 100%

Faculty Commerce, Law & Management

7 589 24,93% 7 923 25,45% 8 381 25,62% 8 604 25,47% 9 251 24,70% 9 283 24,19% 9 840 24,44%

Engineering and the Built Environment

5 753 18,90% 6 077 19,52% 6 316 19,31% 6 455 19,11% 7 172 19,15% 7 555 19,68% 8 023 19,93%

Health Sciences 5 095 16,74% 5 202 16,71% 5 448 16,65% 5 639 16,70% 6 040 16,13% 6 237 16,25% 6 619 16,44%

Humanities 8 204 26,96% 7 813 25,10% 8 350 25,52% 8 657 25,63% 9 886 26,40% 10 135 26,41% 10 349 25,71%

Science 3 794 12,47% 4 111 13,21% 4 218 12,89% 4 421 13,09% 5 099 13,62% 5 170 13,47% 5 428 13,48%

Total 30 434 100% 31 125 100% 32 712 100% 33 775 100% 37 448 100% 38 380 100% 40 259 100%

Postgraduate students

Doctoral Degree 1 424 14,80% 1 539 15,71% 1 646 15,36% 1 815 15,69% 2 019 15,86% 2 142 16,19% 2 153 15,35%

Masters Degree 5 628 58,51% 5 566 56,81% 5 935 55,37% 6 500 56,20% 7 127 55,97% 7 372 55,71% 7 664 54,65%

Honours Degree 1 319 13,71% 1 315 13,42% 1 562 14,57% 1 646 14,23% 1 727 13,56% 1 830 13,83% 1 938 13,82%

Student Headcount Enrolments (continued)

Total Number and % of Graduates

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Gender Female 3 914 57,47% 4 142 57,73% 4 310 56,25% 4 514 58,16% 4 945 57,55% 5 278 58,97% 5 387 58,79%

Male 2 897 42,53% 3 032 42,26% 3 352 43,75% 3 247 41,84% 3 648 42,45% 3 673 41,03% 3 769 41,13%

Undisclosed Gender 0 0,00% 1 0,01% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 7 0,08%

Total 6 811 100% 7 175 100% 7 662 100% 7 761 100% 8 593 100% 8 951 100% 9 163 100%


African 2 959 43,44% 3 079 42,91% 3 541 46,21% 3 613 46,58% 4 166 48,45% 4 507 50,31% 4 800 52,38%

Chinese 34 0,50% 45 0,63% 43 0,56% 49 0,63% 40 0,47% 48 0,54% 39 0,43%

Coloured 212 3,11% 243 3,39% 263 3,43% 282 3,64% 332 3,86% 353 3,94% 350 3,82%

Indian 933 13,70% 988 13,77% 985 12,86% 1 016 13,10% 1 120 13,02% 1 142 12,75% 1 213 13,24%

White 1 993 29,26% 2 017 28,11% 1 975 25,78% 2 012 25,94% 2 096 24,37% 2 031 22,67% 1 895 20,68%

Undisclosed Race 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00%

International 680 9,98% 803 11,19% 855 11,16% 785 10,11% 845 9,83% 925 10.13% 866 9,45%

Total 6 811 100% 7 175 100% 7 662 100% 7 761 100% 8 599 100% 9 129 100% 9 163 100%

Graduates

Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate

1 248 12,97% 1 378 14,06% 1 576 14,70% 1 605 13,88% 1 860 14,61% 1 890 14,28% 2 270 16,19%

Total 9 619 100% 9 798 100% 10 719 100% 11 566 100% 12 733 100% 13 234 100% 14 025 100%

- 6 -

Total Number and % of Graduates (continued)

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

UG/PG Postgraduate 2 937 43,12% 3 187 44,42% 3 540 46,20% 3 639 46,89% 4 119 47,90% 4 312 48,13% 4 428 48,32%

Undergraduate 3 874 56,88% 3 986 55,55% 4 122 53,80% 4 122 53,11% 4 480 52,10% 4 647 51,87% 4 735 51,68%

Occassional 0 0,00% 1 0,01% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00%

Total 6 811 100% 7 175 100% 7 662 100% 7 761 100% 8 599 100% 8 959 100% 9 163 100%


1 900 27,90% 2 063 28,75% 2 244 29,29% 2 350 30,28% 2 175 30,76% 2 595 28,97% 2 802 30,58%


985 14,46% 1 137 15,85% 1 195 15,60% 1 192 15,36% 845 11,95% 1 289 14,39% 1 330 14,51%

Health Sciences 798 11,72% 894 12,46% 865 11,29% 938 12,09% 1 008 14,25% 1 209 13,49% 1 221 13,33%

Humanities 2 224 32,65% 2 053 28,61% 2 185 28,52% 2 121 27,33% 1 940 27,43% 2 576 28,75% 2 546 27,79%

Science 904 13,27% 1 028 14,33% 1 173 15,31% 1 160 14,95% 1 104 15,61% 1 290 14,40% 1 264 13,79%

Total 6 811 100% 7 175 100% 7 662 100% 7 761 100% 7 072 100% 8 959 100% 9 163 100%

Graduates (continued)

Postgraduate students

Doctoral Degree 150 5,11% 221 6,93% 199 5,62% 203 5,58% 189 5,18% 257 5,96% 245 5,53%

Masters Degree 1 136 38,68% 1 206 37,83% 1 243 35,11% 1 227 33,72% 1 142 31,29% 1 646 38,17% 1 589 35,89%

2012 2013 2014 2015

2016 2017 2018

100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %

100 % 100 % 100 %

Honours Degree 1 020 34,73% 1 044 32,75% 1 226 34,63% 1 294 35,56% 1 234 33,81% 1 397 32,40% 1 400 31,62%

Postgraduate Diploma/Certificate

631 21,48% 717 22,49% 872 24,63% 915 25,14% 1 085 29,73% 1 012 23,47% 1 194 26,96%

Total 2 937 100% 3 188 100% 3 540 100% 3 639 100% 3 650 100% 4 312 100% 4,428 100%

Postgraduate OverallUndergraduate

65 % 65 % 65 % 65 %

65 % 65 % 65 %

82.45

75.97 75.20

82.15 81.87 83.29 83.89

81.69 81.33 80.88

Student Success Rates Based on individual courses enrolment and is calculated as: the number of courses passed as a percentage of courses enrolled for.

- 8 -

82.89

84.22 84.07 85.46 85.88

83.15

73.57 72.49 74.87 76.98

76.63

The academic staff data in this brochure were extracted from the Business Intelligennce (BI) Human Resources (HR) Summary Model.Academic Staff Headcount

Total number and % of Full-Time Permanent Academic Employees Staff Headcount

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Gender Female 483 48,16% 492 48,33% 493 47,45% 519 47,83% 551 48,98% 554 49,73% 549 49.37%

Male 520 51,84% 526 51,67% 546 52,55% 566 52,17% 574 51,02% 560 50,27% 563 50.63%

Total 1 003 100% 1 018 100% 1 039 100% 1 085 100% 1 125 100% 1 114 100% 1 112 100.00%


African 96 9,57% 107 10,51% 115 11,07% 136 12,53% 160 14,22% 176 15,80% 184 16.55%

Chinese 1 0,10% 2 0,20% 2 0,19% 4 0,37% 4 0,36% 4 0,36% 2 0.18%

Coloured 31 3,09% 33 3,24% 39 3,75% 44 4,06% 54 4,80% 54 4,85% 56 5.04%

Indian 82 8,18% 85 8,35% 90 8,66% 96 8,85% 99 8,80% 107 9,61% 106 9.53%

White 515 51,35% 499 49,02% 502 48,32% 508 46,82% 505 44,89% 484 43,45% 478 42.99%

International 278 27,72% 292 28,68% 291 28,01% 297 27,37% 303 26,93% 289 25,94% 286 25.72%

Total 1 003 100% 1 018 100% 1 039 100% 1 085 100% 1 125 100% 1 114 100% 1112 100.00%

Rank Professor 142 14,16% 145 14,24% 155 14,92% 162 14,93% 166 14,76% 171 15,35% 176 15.83%

Full-Time Permanent Academic Employee Staff Headcounts

Associate Professor

198 19,74% 210 20,63% 216 20,79% 216 19,91% 225 20,00% 212 19,03% 209 18.79%

Senior Lecturer 277 27,62% 266 26,13% 268 25,79% 270 24,88% 276 24,53% 278 24,96% 303 27.25%

Lecturer 361 35,99% 372 36,54% 375 36,09% 397 36,59% 421 37,42% 418 37,52% 393 35.34%

Associate Lecturer 22 2,19% 22 2,16% 20 1,92% 34 3,13% 30 2,67% 25 2,24% 20 1.80%

Other 3 0,30% 3 0,29% 5 0,48% 6 0,55% 7 0,62% 10 0,90% 11 0.99%

Total 1 003 100% 1 018 100% 1 039 100% 1 085 100% 1 125 100% 1 114 100% 1 112 100.00%


175 17,45% 172 16,90% 170 16,36% 179 16,50% 189 16,80% 200 17,95% 192 17.27%


137 13,66% 143 14,05% 147 14,15% 152 14,01% 164 14,58% 161 14,45% 158 14.21%

Health Sciences 135 13,46% 145 14,24% 151 14,53% 154 14,19% 164 14,58% 180 16,16% 190 17.09%

Humanities 335 33,40% 330 32,42% 340 32,72% 332 30,60% 342 30,40% 314 28,19% 311 27.97%

Science 209 20,84% 210 20,63% 211 20,31% 241 22,21% 241 21,42% 241 21,63% 242 21.76%

Other Divisions 12 1,20% 18 1,77% 20 1,92% 27 2,49% 25 2,22% 18 1,62% 19 1.71%

Total 1 003 100% 1 018 100% 1 039 100% 1 085 100% 1 125 100% 1 114 100% 1 112 100.00%

- 10 -

Academic Employee Staff with Full Time Equivalent Availability ≥ 50% Headcounts

Total Number and % of Academic Employee Staff Headcount with FTE Availability ≥ 50%

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Gender Female 723 50,56% 756 51,01% 761 51,14% 789 51,47% 787 50,77% 764 50,20% 799 50.57%

Male 707 49,44% 726 48,99% 727 48,86% 744 48,53% 763 49,23% 758 49,80% 781 49.43%

Total 1 430 100% 1 482 100% 1 488 100% 1 533 100% 1 550 100% 1 522 100% 1 580 100,00%


African 171 11,96% 184 12,42% 191 12,84% 208 13,57% 241 15,55% 270 17,74% 308 19.49%

Chinese 2 0,14% 5 0,34% 4 0,27% 5 0,33% 5 0,32% 5 0,33% 4 0.25%

Coloured 39 2,73% 46 3,10% 54 3,63% 57 3,72% 67 4,32% 67 4,40% 75 4.75%

Indian 121 8,46% 134 9,04% 133 8,94% 145 9,46% 154 9,94% 148 9,72% 145 9.18%

White 734 51,33% 729 49,19% 729 48,99% 736 48,01% 708 45,68% 663 43,56% 648 41.01%

International 363 25,38% 384 25,91% 377 25,34% 382 24,92% 375 24,19% 369 24,24% 400 25.32%

Total 1 430 100% 1 482 100% 1 488 100% 1 533 100% 1 550 100% 1 522 100% 1 580 100,00%

Rank Professor 162 11,33% 162 10,93% 183 12,30% 205 13,37% 216 13,94% 219 14,39% 226 14.30%

Associate Professor 223 15,59% 236 15,92% 236 15,86% 238 15,53% 252 16,26% 236 15,51% 231 14.62%

Senior Lecturer 323 22,59% 305 20,58% 304 20,43% 304 19,83% 307 19,81% 316 20,76% 344 21.77%

Lecturer 533 37,27% 525 35,43% 530 35,62% 555 36,20% 569 36,71% 548 36,01% 530 33.54%

Associate Lecturer 178 12,45% 232 15,65% 206 13,84% 203 13,24% 174 11,23% 171 11,24% 216 13.67%

Other 11 0,77% 22 1,48% 29 1,95% 28 1,83% 32 2,06% 32 2,10% 33 2.09%

Total 1 430 100% 1 482 100% 1 488 100% 1 533 100% 1 550 100% 1 522 100% 1 580 100,00%


234 16,36% 246 16,60% 253 17,00% 263 17,16% 279 18,00% 278 18,27% 273 17.28%


183 12,80% 197 13,29% 197 13,24% 209 13,63% 224 14,45% 228 14,98% 224 14.18%

Health Sciences 241 16,85% 257 17,34% 258 17,34% 277 18,07% 282 18,19% 281 18,46% 319 20.19%

Humanities 491 34,34% 480 32,39% 473 31,79% 456 29,75% 447 28,84% 420 27,60% 425 26.90%

Science 255 17,83% 265 17,88% 262 17,61% 275 17,94% 271 17,48% 275 18,07% 278 17.59%

Other Divisions 26 1,82% 37 2,50% 45 3,02% 53 3,46% 47 3,03% 40 2,63% 61 3.86%

Total 1 430 100% 1 482 100% 1 488 100% 1 533 100% 1 550 100% 1 522 100% 1 580 100,00%

Academic Joint Staff Headcounts The Joint staff in this brochure refers to academic staff who have both teaching and hospital duties.

Total Number and % of Academic Joint Staff Headcount

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Faculty Health Sciences 2 602 99,85% 2 473 99,52% 2 595 99,58% 2 535 100% 2 519 100% 2 693 100% 2 579 100%

Science 1 0,04% 1 0,04% 1 0,04% 1 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00% 0 0,00%

Other Divisions 3 0,12% 11 0,44% 10 0,38% 9 0,40% 2 0,00% 1 0,00% 0 0,00%

Total 2 606 100% 2 485 100% 2 606 100% 2 545 100% 2 521 100% 2 694 100% 2 579 100%

- 12 -

The research data in this brochure were derived from the Research Office and the HEMIS Model which are aligned with the University Research Reports. The 2017/2018 research data presented are all preliminary HEMIS figures subject to auditing in 2019. The research data has been verified against data from the National Research Foundation (NRF).Research Data

SARChI Research ChairsPostdoctoral Research Fellows

Total Number of SARChI Research Chairs and Postdoctoral Research Fellows

2012

210

2017 2018

0 0210 210

2013

0 210

2014

0 210

2015

0 210

2016

0 2100

98 101 201 208 186 154 202

22 22 21 26 26 27 30

Total

Total Number of NRF-Rated Researchers

Other NRF-Rated ResearchersA-Rated Researchers

282624211516

431386355310310239217

458414381334331254233

2018201720162015201420132012

282624211516

431386355310310239217

458414381334331254233

98 101 201 208 186 154 202

22 22 21 26 26 27 30

28

Research Output and Performance

Total Number and % of Research Outputs

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Total Research Outputs

Faculty Commerce, Law & Management 214 10,29% 292 11,53% 347 12,89% 430 15,64% 509 15,88% 562 15,39%

Engineering and the Built Environment 280 13,46% 296 11,70% 355 13,18% 355 12,91% 381 11,89% 485 13,28%

Health Sciences 466 22,34% 630 24,89% 626 23,25% 665 24,18% 758 23,65% 893 24,45%

Humanities 513 24,59% 617 24,37% 705 26,21% 675 24,55% 738 23,03% 865 23,69%

Science 571 27,38% 647 25,55% 613 22,79% 558 20,29% 724 22,59% 825 22,59%

Other Divisions 41 1,94% 50 1,96% 45 1,69% 67 2,44% 95 2,96% 22 0,60%

Total 2 084 100% 2 532 100% 2 691 100% 2 750 100% 3 205 100% 3 652 100%

Research Publication Units



Health Sciences 278 25,00% 368 28,31% 425 28,48% 428 27,55% 489 26,85% 562 28,54%

Humanities 254 22,82% 300 23,10% 365 24,48% 362 23,30% 425 23,34% 484 24,58%

Science 334 30,00% 338 25,97% 342 22,88% 335 21,56% 423 23,23% 445 22,60%

Other Divisions 41 3,64% 50 3,82% 45 3,05% 69 4,42% 96 5,27% 22 1,12%

Total 1 114 100% 1 300 100% 1 493 100% 1 554 100% 1 821 100% 1 969 100%

- 14 -

Research Output and Performance (continued)

Postgraduate Research Output Units



Health Sciences 187 19,29% 262 21,29% 201 16,73% 237 19,81% 269 19,44% 331 19,67%

Humanities 258 26,63% 317 25,70% 340 28,36% 313 26,13% 313 22,62% 381 22,64%

Science 237 24,37% 310 25,12% 272 22,67% 222 18,58% 301 21,75% 380 22,58%

Total 971 100% 1 232 100% 1 199 100% 1 197 100% 1 384 100% 1 683 100%

0

1

2

3

Permanent Academic Staff Ratios

Per Research Publication Unit

Per Postgraduate Research Output Unit

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

1.71 1.84

1.341.50 1.53

1.16

2017

2.17

2.612.71 2.70

3.00

3.40

Achievements

Wits University co-founded the African Research Universities

Alliance, a network of universities across Africa that fosters collaborative

research in priority thematic areas.

Glenda Gray, Full Professor: Research, in the School of Clinical Medicine at Wits, was named by TIME as the top 100

most influential people in the world in 2017.

Professor D. Howes was elected president of the International Society for

Maxillofacial Rehabilitation (2016 – 2018) and board member of the International

College of Prosthodontics, invited fellow and vice regent of the International College

of Dentists. He was also awarded the Premier Award of the South African Dental Association.

13 Wits Alumni have been awarded prestigious National Orders

by the President for their continuing contribution to science, art and medicine

in the country.

Africa’s first Chair in Digital Business has been established at the

Wits Business School.

The Wits Medical School is one of the best on the continent and, through the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre, we train more specialists and

super-specialists than any other university in southern Africa.

The Wits Mens hockey team won the 2018 Gauteng Premier League title for

the first time since 1974.

In 2018, Wits Sport celebrated 14 student athletes who earned their senior national

colours whilst 6 achieved their junior national colours.

Wits has graduated over 170 000 alumni amongst whom are now eminent

thought-leaders, artists, lawyers, politicians, business leaders, accountants, healthcare professionals and scientists. These alumni are testament to the significant contribution

that Wits graduates make.

• Tshimologong is Wits University’s ‘Silicon Valley’, located in Juta Street, Braamfontein. Tshimologong is a tech hub and maker-space for digital innovation and entrepreneurship. Tshimologong also hosts the second African IBM Research Labarotory, one of only 12 mega-labs in the world.

• The former Chancellor of the University, Dikgang Moseneke, is the retired Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa. Wits Law School, one of the country’s premier institutions, produced two of South Africa’s post-1994 Chief Justices of the Constitutional Court.

• Over 90 Rhodes Scholars and 20 Mandela Rhodes Scholars originated from Wits. Only a limited number of these coveted scholarships are awarded to outstanding students worldwide.

• Wits Sport is the only official elite athlete friendly university in South Africa.

• In recent years, Wits has revived its public intellectual engagement activities where it provides a platform for intellectual debate and critical thinking across many disciplines. Nobel laureates, politicians, intellectuals, authors, researchers, scientists and others all have the opportunity to have their say at Wits.

Distinctly Wits

- 18 -

Wits is home to one of the largest fossil collections in the southern hemisphere and is internationally recognised as a leader in the palaeosciences. Wits scientists have been contributing to the palaeosciences record for almost a century.

• Wits offers a range of services to the disabled community. The Disability Rights Unit is a model centre for higher education institutions that caters for disabled students, while the Centre for Deaf Studies offers support and education to caregivers and families of the deaf. The Emthonjeni Centre offers speech and hearing therapy, counselling and psychotherapy to the public and acts as a practical training ground for students in this area.

• The University owns the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, the Wits Rural facility in Mpumalanga, Pullen Farm and half of a private teaching hospital, the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre.

• The Origins Centre, a world class international tourist site at Wits, includes exhibitions on the Khoisan and Rock Art and tells the unique story of humankind’s creativity. The University also boasts one of the largest and most diverse groups of geoscientists in Africa.

Research Highlights

so-called ISI indexed publications that are known for their high quality since 1945.

Wits has produced mORE THAN

45 000

These research publications have been cited more than 667 734 times, and have a Category Normalised Citation Impact (a measure of quality) of 20% above the global norm.

In the last three years, Wits authors have published an increasing number of these high quality publications:

2 613 2 863 2 814

This trend is set to continue in 2018, as even though the collection process has not been completed, Wits has published 2 180 items with a Category Normalised Citation Impact of 15% above the global norm.

In 2015 In 2016 In 2017

- 20 -

Wits is proud of the fact that significant contributions come from many disciplines all across the University. For example, in 2018 the following disciplinary achievements have been realised in the fields of:

medical and Health Sciences Wits authors have published 970

items with an impact that is 17% greater than the global norm.

Natural Sciences Wits authors have published 898


Social Sciences and Humanities Wits authors have published 424

items with an impact that is similar to the global norm.

Engineering and Technology Wits authors have published 222


None of this would be possible without the talented people who work at, and with, Wits. Wits is home to about 700 active researchers, of whom 29 are regarded by peers as world leaders in their respective disciplines (that is, they are NRF A-rated researchers). These ratings are awarded after a stringent peer evaluation of an individual researcher’s publication record over eight years. Wits has about 458 NRF rated researchers, more than half of its active complement.

It is also interesting to note that in the last five years, Wits authors have written 197 ‘Highly Cited’ papers, which means they are in the top 1% of the world’s most cited articles in that discipline. Even more remarkable is that Wits authors have had 17 articles in the top 0.1% of the world’s best.

These discoveries were announced to the world through the popular press and received over 30 thousand mentions, creating an advertising equivalent value of more than R15 million. Some of these announcements include fascinating topics such as:

- Solving the puzzle of multicellular life- Ledumahadi mafube – South Africa’s new Jurassic Giant- Multimedia graphic design - 73 000 years ago- Alzheimer’s breakthrough- Cold-blooded pythons make for caring moms

Wits is pleased to collaborate with peers across 190 countries, including all the countries in Africa but two. Outside of Africa, Wits produces most of its research in collaboration with Universities of London, California, Oxford and Harvard. Wits researchers have published more than 700 research publications since 1980 co-authored by the Chinese Academy of the Sciences.

9130 Rhodes Scholars

South African Research Chairs

Some other highlights include:

Wits is the proud home of:

Wits hosts 9 externally funded centres of research excellence

Wits was honoured to announce 25 significant new discoveries or breakthroughs in 2018

Arts & Culture• In 2018, Wits University athlete, Wandisile Simelane, was awarded the Most Promising Athlete of the Year in the Gauteng Sports Awards.

• Wits is home to the Wits Art Museum (WAM), a premier Johannesburg tourist attraction with over 9 000 unique works of African art, and to the Origins Centre, a unique and international tourist destination that tells the story of humankind and features Khoisan and Rock Art.

• The University boasts 14 museums and two art galleries housing a variety of rare and valuable artworks. Visit: www.wits.ac.za/campus-life/arts-and-culture/

World University Rankings 2015 2016 2017 2018

ARWU(Academic Ranking of World Universities)

Academic Ranking of World Universities 201 – 300 201 – 300 201 – 300 201 – 300

Ranking in South Africa 1 – 2 1 – 2 1 1

CWUR(Center for World University Rankings)

Center for World University Rankings 149 176 181 181

Rankings in South Africa 1 1 1 1

THE(Times Higher Education)

THE World University Rankings 251 – 275 201 – 250 182 251 – 300

Ranking in South Africa 2 2 2 2

THE Emerging Economies Rankings 14 6 8 12

THE Alma Mater Index: Global Executives Rankings 2017 Wits is positioned 54th among the world top 100 universities from which Fortune 500 CEOs graduated, the only African university in this ranking.

QS(Quacquarelli Symonds)

QS World University Rankings 318 331 359 364

Ranking in South Africa 2 2 2 2

QS University Rankings: BRICS 31 28 26 36

Global Rankings

- 24 -

Faculties and SchoolsOrganisation of Faculties and Schools

1 Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management School of Accountancy

School of Economic and Business Sciences

School of Law

QS World University Rankings by SubjectRanked in 9 out of 30 Subjects

Ranked in 11 out of 36 Subjects.



Top 20 for 1 Subject:

Development Studies

Top 20 for 1 Subject:

Development Studies

Top 20 for 2 Subjects:

Development Studies &

Engineering Mineral & Mining

World University Rankings (continued) 2015 2016 2017 2018

Graduate School of Business Administration (Wits Business School)

Wits School of Governance

2 Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment School of Architecture and Planning

School of Civil and Environmental Engineering

School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

School of Construction Economics and Management

School of Electrical & Information Engineering

School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering

School of Mining Engineering

3 Faculty of Health Sciences School of Anatomical Sciences

School of Clinical Medicine

School of Oral Health Sciences

School of Pathology

School of Physiology

School of Public Health

School of Therapeutic Sciences

4 Faculty of Humanities Wits School of Arts

Wits School of Education

- 26 -

5 Faculty of Science School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences

School of Chemistry

School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics

School of Geography, Archaeology & Environmental Studies

School of Geosciences

School of Mathematics

School of Molecular and Cell Biology

School of Physics

School of Statistics and Actuarial Science

Organisation of Faculties and Schools (continued)

School of Human and Community Development

School of Literature, Language and Media

School of Social Sciences

WitsPlus (Centre for Part Time Studies)

Research Institutes and Units Home Faculty Director Institutes

1 DVC (Research) Professor B Erasmus Global Change Institute

2 Engineering & Built Environment Professor N Murray Cities Institute

3 Engineering & Built Environment Professor Fred Cawood Mining Research Institute

4 Health Sciences Professor VH Rees Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Research

5 Health Sciences Professor M Ramsay Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Biosciences

6 Humanities Dr Prishani Naidoo Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP)

7 Humanities Professor S Nuttall Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research Institute (WISER)

8 Science Dr D Pierce Rock Art Research Institute

9 Science Professor M Bamford Evolutionary Studies Institute

10 Science Professor JAP Rodrigues Mandelstam Institute for Theoretical Physics

- 28 -

Home Faculty Director Research Units

1 Engineering & Built Environment Professor BW Skews Flow Research Unit

2 Health Sciences Professor V Pillay Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit

3 Health Sciences Professor S Madhi Respiratory and Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit

4 Health Sciences Professor PB Arbuthnot MRC/Wits Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit

5 Health Sciences Professor F Raal Carbohydrate & Lipid Metabolism Research Unit

6 Health Sciences Professor G Norton Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit

7 Health Sciences Professor I Sanne Clinical HIV Research Unit

8 Health Sciences Professor GJ Hofmeyr Effective Care Research Unit

9 Health Sciences Professor AH Coovadia Empilweni Services and Research Unit

10 Health Sciences Professor A Kramvis Hepatitis Virus Diversity Research Unit

11 Health Sciences Professor M Papathanasopoulos HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit

12 Health Sciences Professor M Steyn Human Variation and Identification Research Unit

13 Health Sciences Professor J Smit Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health Research Unit

14 Health Sciences Professor SA Norris MRC/Wits Developmental Pathways for Health Research Unit

15 Health Sciences Dr N Martinson (Acting) Perinatal HIV Research Unit

16 Health Sciences Professor C Feldman Pulmonary Infections Research Unit

17 Health Sciences Professor SP Tollman MRC/Wits Rural Health in Transition Research Unit

18 Health Sciences Professor Karen Hofman Priority Cost Effective Lessons for Systems Strengthening Unit

19 Humanities Professor ME Penn (Deceased) Health Communication Research Unit

20 Science Professor A Knopfmacher Centre for Applicable Analysis & Number Theory Research Unit

Home Faculty Director Research Groups

1 Commerce, Law and Management E Prof Eddie Webster Southern Centre for Inequality Studies

2 Engineering & Built Environment AssPro Craig Sheridan Centre in Water Research and Development

3 Health Sciences Professor A Fuller Brain Function Research Group

4 Health Sciences Professor M Coetzee Wits Research Institute in Malaria

5 Science Professor J Kinnaird Economic Geology Research Institute

6 Science Professor F Parrini African Ecology & Conservation Biology Research

7 Science Professor E Sideras-Haddad Materials Physics Research Institute

8 Science Professor D Brady Molecular Sciences Institute

- 30 -

Home Faculty Director Centres of Excellence

1 DVC (Research) Professor L Richter DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development

2 DVC (Research) Professor BS Rubidge DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences

3 DVC (Research) Professor L Cornish DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Strong Materials

4 DVC (Research) Professor Gilbert Khadiagala African Centre for the Study of the United States

5 Engineering & Built Environment Mr Philip Haupt National Aerospace Centre

6 Engineering & Built Environment Prof Walter Schmitz Centre for High Voltage Engineering

7 Engineering & Built Environment Dr John van Coller Specialization Centre for Combustion Engineering

8 Health Sciences Professor Patrick Arbuthnot Antiviral Gene Therapy Centre of Excellence

9 Health Sciences Professor B Khana DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Biomedical Tuberculosis Research

10 Health Sciences Professor V Pillay Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform

11 Science Professor J Kinnaird DST-NRF Centre of Excellence for Integrated Mineral and Energy Resource Analysis

12 Science Professor F Mahomed DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Mathematical and Statistical Sciences

13 Science Professor Bruce Mellado Institute for Collider Particle Physics, a Wits Centre of Excellence

According to the 2018 Academic Ranking of World Universities, released in 2018, Wits was placed in the 201-300 band. Wits is the highest-ranked university in South Africa in this table.

Quick Facts

• Times Higher Education Alma Mater Index 2017 (degrees awarded to Fortune Global 500 CEOs): the only African university in the top 100 (54th place).

• Global University Employability Ranking 2017: 150th, most employable graduates in Africa.

Wits appointed its first ever black and female Chancellor, Dr Judy Dlamini, in December 2018.

- 32 -

in South Africa Best University1ST PLACE

of EMPLOyED Wits graduates

Centre for World University Rankings 2018: best university in Africa (1st place) (alumni employment 35th; Anthropology 5th; Area Studies 2nd globally).

were employed within 6 months of graduation (Wits Graduate Exit Survey 2017/2018)

97%

Wits is home to 4 Nobel Prize Winners

Aaron Klug - (BSc, honorary DSc) 1982 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Nadine Gordimer - (honorary DLitt) 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature

Nelson Mandela - (honorary LLD) 1993 Nobel Peace Prize

Sydney Brenner - (BSc, BSc Hons, honorary DSc) 2002 Nobel Prize in Medicine

1982 1991

1993 2002

- 34 -

Further Information can be obtained from:The Analytics and Institutional Research UnitBusiness Intelligence ServicesThe University of the WitwatersrandPrivate Bag 3, WITSJohannesburg2050

Tel: +27 11 717 1173/64Email: [email protected] www.wits.ac.za





facts figures - home - wits university · facts & figures 2018/2019. the university of the...

Documents