CPS's Secret Weapon: How Stellar Student Support Crushes South Africa's Throughput Challenge

In the realm of private training providers’ contribution to education and skills development, Cornerstone Performance Solutions (CPS) stands out with its educational programmes and exceptional student support. Our dedication to quality significantly boosts our success rate in the industry giving us an edge over our competitors. The translation is evident in the high throughput rates we produce without compromising academic nor vocational rigour. The aim of this article is to highlight the importance of student support as a contributor to our high throughput rates.

Understanding Throughput Rates in South Africa

Throughput rates are a critical measure of educational success, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their programmes within the designated time frame. In South Africa, these rates can vary widely among different educational institutions.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges face particular challenges. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the average throughput rate for National Certificate Vocational (NCV) programmes at TVET colleges is around 20% over a 3-year period [1]. This means only one in five students finishes their programmes on time, underscoring the significant obstacles TVET students’ encounter.

In comparison, the throughput rate for undergraduate degrees at higher education institutions is about 33% over a 6-year period [2], reflecting the broader challenges in the higher education sector.

How CPS’s Exceptional Student Support Enhances Throughput

CPS takes pride in its learning programmes and commitment to a supportive environment for students. Our student-centric approach, backed by several key factors, significantly boosts our learning success and high throughput rates:

1. Employer Support: Understanding that a successful educational experience necessitates the participation of leadership and the student’s immediate supervisor, CPS ensures that many of its programmes include a leader-led aspect that actively involves the manager. This approach aims to cultivate comprehension, adoption and sustainability for the student’s growth and organisational objectives (Bhagaloo, 2020) [3].
2. Student Relationships: We recognise that each student has unique needs and challenges. Our student support team works closely with individuals, guiding them through their educational journey to achieve their personal and professional goals. This personalised approach keeps students engaged and ensures they make steady progress, increasing the likelihood of successful completion.
3. Taking Feedback Seriously: Feedback is essential for ongoing improvement. CPS has established strong feedback loops that allow students to share their experiences. Our leadership team uses this feedback to make timely adjustments to programmes and processes, keeping them relevant and effective. This adaptability helps us maintain high levels of student satisfaction and retention, contributing to our superior throughput rate.
4. Effective Communication: CPS is dedicated to a student-centric approach, offering various communication channels. Unlike other learning centres, CPS assigns a dedicated Student Support Consultant to each cohort, guiding students from start to finish.
5. Academic Support: Our commitment extends beyond the learning sessions. We offer proactive academic assistance through regular check-ins, guidance, and tutoring. This continuous support helps students overcome challenges, grasp complex concepts, and stay on track. By addressing issues early, we minimise disruptions and enhance overall throughput. Our Assessment Management Interface also provides comprehensive feedback with a focus on "assessment for learning," ensuring each student receives the support needed to succeed academically.

At CPS, we pride ourselves on providing support to students that goes beyond a service - it's a strategic advantage that boosts our outstanding success rates. Despite the challenges faced by the education sector, in South Africa CPS consistently surpasses industry norms by creating a learning environment for students at every step of their journey. Our personalised, forward thinking and science-based methodology not only helps students reach their career aspirations but also sets a new benchmark for excellence in the training industry.

For organisations and individuals looking for a training provider that values quality and delivers outcomes CPS is the choice, for unlocking potential and ensuring achievement.

References:

[1] LMI Research, 2023. Throughput rate of TVET college NCV students 2023. [online] LMI Research. Available at: https://lmi-research.org.za/publication/throughput-rate-of-tvet-college-ncv-students-2023/

[2] Council on Higher Education, 2021. Vital stats: Public and private higher education data 2021. [online] CHE Available at: VitalStats Public Higher Education | Council on Higher Education (che.ac.za)

[3] AJET, 2021 Volume 1 No 1 Bhagaloo Govender Available at: (PDF) AJET Volume 1 No 1 Bhagaloo Govender (researchgate.net)