|
NADEOSA, the National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in South Africa will be hosting their annual conference at the Durban University of Technology on 8th and 9th July. The title of the conference is Innovative open learning practices to build a quality integrated post-schooling system.
Context
The 2014 call for major expansion in Higher Education (HE) and the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector outlined in the new Distance Education Policy and the White Paper on Integrated HE and TVET Post-Schooling opens new opportunities and creates challenges for these sectors.
TVET and Higher Education institutions need to engage with these policy documents and explore ways in which they might work separately and together to expand post schooling education to provide greater access, improved success and more globally competitive graduates.
NADEOSA, working with the Durban University of Technology, is therefore hosting a national colloquium and conference to create a forum for discussion and debate that will contribute to the implementation of these policies. The subthemes for the conference are spelt out below.
Pre-Conference Colloquium: Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration in Developing an Expanded Integrated Post-Schooling System
This colloquium will frame the conference and offer educators opportunities to begin to engage with the conference themes through exploring the rationale, provisions and expectations of the new policy framework based on inputs from the Department of Higher Education and Training and a range of providers both public and private. The colloquium will also explore the implications for TVET providers, as well as partnerships and collaborations between such providers, in both the private and public sectors.
Conference Purpose
The purpose of the 1½ day conference is to provide academics and education practitioners from different academic and training institutions with an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas on various aspects regarding policy, theory, ethics and practice of open learning and distance education. The conference encourages both reflective accounts of practice and discussion on practical issues and challenges as well as formal research-based papers.
Conference Theme: Innovative Open Learning Practices to Build a Quality Integrated Post-Schooling System
The conference theme will be explored through the following sub-themes, focusing on both TVET and Higher Education as well as other post-schooling initiatives:
- Differentiated forms of admission requirements and articulation across the TVET/Higher Education interface
- Uses of technology to develop quality flexible learning programmes
- ICT infrastructure for management of an integrated post-schooling system
- Policy, theory and research in open, distance and e-learning (ODeL)
- Opportunities and challenges for collaboration in building capacity in the TVET sector
- Best Practice in the design and development of flexible learning programmes
- Curriculum Development and articulation for Higher Education Certificates and Diplomas
- Developing flexible learning opportunities for those in the workforce
- Professional development for an integrated post-schooling system
Conference streams will be allocated based upon received papers
Who Should Attend
This conference will be of interest to all educators, education managers and decision-makers, who aspire to provide quality educational experiences in ways that are sustainable and contribute to the goals of development. There will be space to explore both TVET-HET and public-private interfaces through World Cafe-type activities as well as a limited number of formal paper presentations.
Submission of Abstract
We invite you to send a 200 - 400 word abstract (excluding references) online here ABSTRACT SUBMISSION by16 March 2015. Selected authors will be notified by 8 April 2015 as to whether or not their presentations will be included in the conference programme.
Further Information regarding registration, the programme and logistical arrangements will be available on the NADEOSA website in due course. |
