eish! spoke to Louis Jacobs, director for corporate communication, about the integrated report.

 

The NWU Council approved it at their meeting of 20 June, and it was submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training at the end of June.

 

Q: Why is it called an integrated report?

A: Integrated reporting, which is a world-wide trend, is a more holistic form of reporting. It requires thinking beyond financial terms and is about how you implement your strategy through your business model to create value for yourself and for your stakeholders.

 

Q: Is the integrated report that you sent to the DHET available to all staff members?

A: Yes, it is published on the NWU website – you can access it here.

 

Q: Is it only available online?

A: This version is a digital one, but we also print another more concise version. That one will be available soon and will link via QR codes to the longer version on the website. The shorter version will also be published on the website.

 

Q: Can anyone get a printed copy of the integrated report?

A: For the sake of our carbon footprint and the health of our planet, the ideal is to read it online, but if you prefer a hard copy, you can send an email to nelia.engelbrecht@nwu.ac.za. The printed reports will be available in the last quarter of the year.

 

Q: Why should anyone bother to read the integrated report?

A: It tells the story of the NWU and informs the decisions that our stakeholders take. For instance, when donors read that the university is financially stable and cares for its people, it might put them at ease, knowing that their donations would be wisely spent.

 

Furthermore, it informs our internal stakeholders – such as you, our staff members – of the university’s achievements. It also explains our strategy, our business model, our risks and opportunities and how we performed against our targets.

 

Q: Can you give us a few examples of the NWU’s achievements and performance?

A: Well, did you know that the Financial Aid offices on the three campuses administered a total of R1 565 million in 2018? We contributed R217,3 million from our own resources, which is 14% of the total funds allocated for financial aid. This confirms our commitment to increasing student access and creating value for young people.

 

In addition, our first-time entrant dropout rate for contact degrees decreased from 11,11% in 2017 to 9% in 2018.This shows that our investment in academic support is yielding substantial value. It also shows the commitment of our skilled staff members to empower our students to soar.