The Student Academic Development and Support (SADS) unit aims to optimise students’ potential for academic success and holistic development. To this end, we provide social and academic support interventions through the Supplemental Instruction Programme, Peer Mentoring Programme, Academic Advising, the Writing Centre and the Disability Unit. We support the institution to achieve its goal of developing graduates who are skilled, innovative, socially responsible, technologically savvy and astute, focused and competent through our graduate attribute’s initiatives.

Supplemental Instruction (SI)

Supplemental Instruction (SI) is an academic support programme that uses peer-assisted learning to promote academic success and retention of students within targeted historically difficult courses. The support is provided by senior students known as SI Leaders. These are students who have successfully completed the identified difficult courses.  There are SI leaders in each of the four Faculties who collaborate with course lecturers to assist undergraduate students to master the course content.

SI Programme Coordinators 

Bloemfontein Campus: Mr Mohau Manyarela | mmanyarela@cut.ac.za | +27 (0)51 507 3704 | Student Academic Support Centre (1st Floor)

Welkom Campus: Ms Liesl Hoare | lhoare@cut.ac.za  | +27 (0)57 901 3656 | Coordinator: Academic Support, Wellness Unit

Peer Mentoring Programme

The first year at university, particularly the first semester, is a time of transition from high school life to a completely new and different learning environment. This can be an exciting and yet challenging time. In each Faculty, there are Peer Mentors who are senior students who are academically competent and socially adept in guiding students in their first year at University. They provide academic and social support to first-year students by developing skills necessary for success in their first entry into University.

Peer mentors and Teaching and Learning Coordinators are well equipped to assist first-year students with information on these questions and other questions

  • How will I get help to understand the class timetable?
  • What should I do if I don’t understand subject content?
  • How do I communicate with my lecturers?
  • What should I do if I don’t know how to study?
  • How do I manage my time?
  • What do I do if I feel like dropping out of CUT?
  • What should I do if I don’t know how to manage my NSFAS financial allowance?
  • What should I do if I don’t know how to write an assignment?
  • What do I do if I have personal problems?
  • What do I do to get financial assistance (NSFAS) from the University?
  • What support is there for differently-abled students?

Go to the Peer mentoring page for more information and contact details of the coordinators.


Where to find us?

Bloemfontein Campus: Student Academic Support Centre (2nd Floor)
Welkom Campus: Student Academic Development & Support, H2

Uploaded: 23 August 2022
  • Nunes Kholofelo
  • Tel: +27 (0)51 507 3911
  • knunes@cut.ac.za
  • View details
Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT)
Writing Centre
Disability Unit (DU)


Graduate Attributes
Peer Mentoring Programme

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