Among the learners that applied for enrolment with the University this academic year are some learners from the United States, Europe and the Far East. Altogether, so far, the system says 167 students from outside South Africa applied for enrolment with the University. What is interesting is that the interest of these prospective students spreads across all three faculties. Eight prospective students are from the United States. They want to study Mechanical Engineering; Agriculture – Crop Production; Electrical Engineering; Community Extension; Human Resources Management; Information Technology; Accounting – Local Government and Finance; Marketing; Office Management; and Surveying. One learner from the United Kingdom applied to study Public Management. There is also one student from Singapore who would like to study either Chemical Engineering or Electrical Engineering. A single student from Wallis and Fortuna wants to study for a Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science. A prospective student from Saint-Barthelemy, an island of the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea, also wants to study the same programme.
There are also applications from some African countries. However, this is the usual case. Two prospective students from Somalia want to study Human Resources Management, and Information Technology. One learner from Namibia also wants to study the latter programme.
The University continues to receive applications from Eswatini. This time, 37 learners applied for the following programmes: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Diploma in Accounting, Agriculture – Crop production, Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health. Five learners from Lesotho want to study Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering, Bachelor of Health Science in Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health, Diploma in Civil Engineering (ECP), Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, and Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (ECP).
This development was good news for the University, particularly the staff members that are responsible for student recruitment. Zama Sishi, Director of stakeholder management in the Department of Marketing and Communications, said this means a lot to them. “The 167 applicants are a clear indication that our internationalisation efforts are bearing fruit, and that we are going far. We will reach our target. We achieve a lot when we attend conferences and interact with counterparts who enable us to position MUT using alternative online recruitment activities. The use of new media has enabled our department to take the MUT programmes globally. The varied interest from international applicants is an indication that we are applying varying and best marketing strategies to position the institution’s offering holistically,” said Sishi. She also added that the presence of international students will turn the University into a cultural melting pot.