Saide Current Awareness
9 September 2024

 

Distance Education

  • How Distance Learning is Revolutionising Technical and Vocational Education in South Africa Source: South Africa Today As the world rapidly changes, so too does the landscape of tertiary education. For many South Africans, the traditional university route is either out of reach or simply not aligned with their career aspirations. But the rise of distance or online learning for vocational learning is opening new doors, providing a viable alternative for those seeking to advance their skills, grow their careers, or simply start fresh.
  • An Evaluation of Teaching Methods on a Distance Learning Course Focusing on Academic Writing Skills for Graduate Students Source: Contemporary Education Frontiers With the development of the economy and science, more and more frequent communication and trade happen between countries worldwide. As one of the world’s lingua franca, English has played an irreplaceable role in various fields. For instance, more international students will study in English-speaking countries. They need to cope with the demands of academic study at university in those countries. That is to say, students must master both communicative competence and academic knowledge to succeed in their studies, which requires knowledge about English for Academic Purposes (EAP). Many international students still need guidance and instructions to help them with EAP. However, there is a lack of education in terms of EAP teachers. Thus, it is necessary to explore the pedagogy in EAP courses to help teachers and students relevant to EAP.
  • Empowering Collaborative Research among Academicians in Online Open Flexible Distance Learning Higher Education Institutions  Source: International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Science Online Open Flexible Distance Learning (OOFDL) institutions are critical to breaking down barriers, encouraging innovation, and employing technology to bridge educational gaps. The impact extends beyond local bounds, resulting in a dynamic network of academic minds. Promoting collaborative research in OOFDL institutions lowers traditional barriers to knowledge dissemination. The Malaysian OOFDL higher education environment lacks a robust structure for encouraging joint research. Existing systems may not properly support interdisciplinary collaboration, limiting the potential for innovation and information sharing. The lack of a personalized strategy impedes the formation of dynamic networks among academic minds. This study seeks to assess the direct and indirect relationship between organizational culture and perceived collaborative research benefits, using attitude as a facilitator.
  • Malawi enrolls 50% in ODel programmes in two years Source: NYASATimes

   Education: South Africa

  • Educor gets lifeline under strict conditions Source: ENCA Educor has been reinstated under strict conditions. It was deregistered earlier this year, leading to the closure Damelin, City Varsity, Icesa and Lyceum College. They had failed to provide proof of financial viability to the Higher Education Department. It followed reports of lecturers and staff not being paid at these facilities. We get the latest from Shaheeda Essack, Director of Private Higher Education at the Department.
  • Minister Gwarube in talks to enhance education sector  Source: SA News Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, has held meetings with various international partners to reinforce South Africa's commitment to enhancing the education sector through global collaboration. In a statement, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) said these discussions which were held at the departmental offices in Pretoria, emphasised the critical role of international partnerships in advancing the country's educational objectives.
  • Every child in South Africa should participate in sports and arts – Department of Basic Education Source: EWN A new roll-out of extra-curricular activities aims to create more young stars like Olympic medallist Bayanda Walaza.
  • Dr Princess Anne-Sheilah Makhado completes her PhD at the age of 74 defying age barriers Source: Univen Dr Princess Anne-Sheilah Makhado against all odds, defied age barriers when she was conferred with a PhD in Advance Nursing Science, under the Faculty of Health Sciences during the first session of the University of Venda Spring Graduation Ceremony that took place on Friday, 6 September 2024
  • DUT LECTURER JENNIFER DUCRAY EARNS PHD AT 58 Source: DUT A lecturer in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Ms Jennifer Ducray, is counting down the days before she graduates with her PhD in Health Sciences at the DUT 2024 Spring Graduation ceremony, to be held at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Thursday, 19 September 2024.
  • Budget cuts dismal for education needs in South Africa Source: IOL Education is one of the most important sectors anywhere in the world, however, budget cuts, allegedly at the hands of the South African Treasury seems to be dimming the light for many. Last week, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) revealed it would be cutting over 2,400 teaching jobs in the province and this due to budget constraints.
  • Education in crisis | Western Cape teachers' strike looming Source: eNCA  With 2,400 teaching posts set to be abolished in the Western Cape, the MEC for Education is appealing to teachers not to go on strike. Instead, David Maynier says he wants them to work alongside the department, not against it.
  • Five new universities to open on South African soil Source: The Citizen Two government universities and three private ones are currently in the works.Read more about where they will be situated and what they will offer.
  • AASOKA Wizkids: A New Era of Early Education in South Africa Source: APN News AASOKA Wizkids, an innovative new educational kit designed exclusively for South Africa, is revolutionizing early childhood education. This comprehensive resource, developed by AASOKA, a leading innovator in the field, offers a unique blend of literacy, numeracy, and computational thinking activities.


Language, Literacies, Research Writing and Publishing

  • National Book Week: Importance of multicultural and multilingual education celebrated Source: OFM “There’s a critical need to teach literacy at ECD level, in children’s own languages so that the books they read are relatable.”
    In South Africa, 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language, up from 78% in 2016. National Book Week is celebrated from Monday (2/9) to Wednesday (11/9) under the theme: “South Africa’s Literacy Emergency: Why Multilingual Education is the Answer”. The role of Book Week is to highlight the importance of multicultural and multilingual education because “learners who receive instruction in their mother tongue during their early years perform better when they move over to English from Grade 4,” said Educational psychologist Seago Maapola.
  • Take isiZulu beyond the Latin letters Source: Mail and Guardian Spoken by more than 25% of South Africans, isiZulu is the country’s most widely spoken language. It is a beautiful language with clicks and tones that ingeniously capture the richness of Zulu culture. Despite its wide use, isiZulu is written using 26 Latin letters that do not properly capture the pronunciation of the words and their meanings. As a result, research shows that reading isiZulu takes longer than reading other languages that use Latin letters.
  • Unlocking The Transformative Power Of Literacy In South Africa Source: TechFinancials While Telkom stands as an example of what can be achieved when innovation and a passion for  education converge, it’s up to everyone to write a new chapter in South Africa's story, one where every child can reach their full potentail.
  • Book Week | Concern over low literacy levels in primary schools Source: Youtube Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, believes that more should be done to promote a reading culture in South Africa. This after underwhelming reading for meaning statistics for school pupils. According to a report by the International Reading Literacy Project, 81% of Grade Four pupils in the country are unable to read for meaning. In 2023, the Basic Education Department and Unicef South Africa found that 43% of South African families lack access to books. Minister Gwarube visited a creche in Nyanga to launch her campaign for National Book Week. eNCA’s Nobesuthu Hejana reports.
  • World Literacy Day 2024: Changing the literacy landscape in South Africa Source: ZAWYA Afrika Tikkun Bambanani is at the forefront of the battle to improve literacy rates in South Africa
  • POLOKELO opens new doors for African languages Source: NWU The POLOKELO project is a language and cultural initiative focused on promoting and revitalising the use of southern African indigenous languages. Four South African universities, the NWU, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of the Western Cape and Rhodes University, as well as three European universities – Trinity College in Dublin, the University of Groningen and the University of Salamanca (which is also the BAQONDE project lead) – have put together a realistic plan to create, develop and sustain an effective strategy to ensure the implementation of the recently approved Language Policy Frameworks for Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. The strategy prioritises the development of African languages as medium of education.

Open Access, Open Education and Open Educational Resources

  • 2024 Shortlist of Finalists Source: OEGlobal The annual Open Education Awards for Excellence recognizes outstanding contributions in the Open Education community, recognizing exemplary Individuals, distinctive Open Educational Resources, and innovative Open Practices from around the world. As part of sharing as much recognition as possible, in 2024 we are first announcing the newest OEAwards shortlist of finalists that celebrates 16 individuals and 38 open education initiatives and practices across the 16 awards categories. The Open access publication, Higher Education for Good, edited by Laura Czerniewicz and Catherine Cronin is one of the shortlisted titles, with Laura Czerniewicz also shortlised in the People in Open Leadership category.


   Post Schooling

  • Democracy 30 I Looking at SA's higher education 30 years on: Prof Habib Source: Youtube Institutions of higher education have played a pivotal role in shaping South Africa's democracy. Former Vice Chancellor of Wits University, Professor Adam Habib, has described the 30 years of South African democracy as "a mixed bag for South Africa's higher education". The sector has seen its share of challenges and successes.
    From having hard conversations on racial transformation, to the #FeesMust Fall campaign and more students realising their dream of studying further by accessing government financial student funds.
    To reflect on what has been achieved in the 30 years of our country's democracy in the higher education sector, we are joined virtually by Professor Adam Habib, former Wits University Vice-Chancellor and the current Vice-Chancellor of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London.
  • Internationalisation experts debate approaches to war in Gaza Source: University World News The rebuilding of higher education in Palestine amid the ongoing war in Gaza was a prominent discussion point at the 26th annual International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) conference, ‘Navigating Internationalisation in Challenging Times’. Amid the discussions on internationalisation at the recent three-day event near Johannesburg, several key questions around the approach to the Middle East were uppermost in the minds of delegates at the conference.
  • Vice-chancellor accuses parliamentary committee of overreach Source: University World News The vice-chancellor of South Africa’s University of Fort Hare (UFH), Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, has lambasted the country’s parliament for “wanting to tell us how to run universities”, writes Prega Govender for News24.
    His comments come amid a letter signed by African National Congress MP and chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education Walter Letsie to vice-chancellors, stating that the use of private companies to run student representative council elections was costly and that the committee “took a resolution at its meeting on 28 August that all the 26 public universities in South Africa should consider using the services of the Electoral Commission of SA”.
  • It’s time to honour South Africa’s forgotten Black student leaders Source: TimesHigherEducation Universities should reflect upon the intellectual life and sacrifices of South Africa’s student activists as they mark milestones, says Mashupye Maserumule 
  • African students on wrong side of China’s ‘two-track’ system Source: TimesHigherEducation Tens of thousands enrol because of low tuition fees and scholarships, but some face discrimination on arrival
  • Align Technology Collaborates with University of Pretoria School of Dentistry to Launch the first Align university academic program in South Africa for clear aligners and digital dentistry Source: Engineering News “It's exciting that the University is the first in South Africa to train and teach this programme to the postgraduate students because Align Technology just launched their SA chapter in May 2023. This will have immense public benefit because this type of treatment is user friendly to patients as opposed to braces that are cemented to the teeth,” said Phumzile Hlongwa, Professor and Head of Orthodontics at the University of Pretoria.

Skills and Employment

  • How to meet South Africa’s ICT skills shortage in months, not years Source: ABIZQ Despite having 24 public higher education institutions, South Africa’s education system is struggling to keep up with the demands of an expanding technology ecosystem. This shortage is aggravated by the emigration of skilled workers, and a system that may not adequately prepare students for today’s digital economy and big tech. While the country is advancing in technology, the workforce driving this progress is buckling under its weight. A recent information and communication technology (ICT) skills survey reveals a shortfall of around 77 000 high-value digital jobs in South Africa, with an additional 300 000 technology positions being outsourced abroad. The broader picture shows a 45.5% unemployment rate among youth aged 15–34, and 51.7% of workers are in jobs for which they lack the necessary educational qualifications.
  • Gauteng e-Government announces Work Exposure Learning Opportunities for South African students Source: Gov.Za  The Gauteng Department of e-Government is pleased to announce the availability of Work Exposure Learning (WIL) opportunities for South African students. This initiative is aimed at students enrolled in graduate study programs through recognized Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) accredited by the Council for Higher Education (CHE). To be eligible, students must be required to complete a WIL program as part of their academic curriculum.
  • Technology classes at school can also teach skills for business and life: South African teachers share ideas Source: Conversation.Com Adri Du Toit, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Consumer Studies and Technology Education, at North-West University describes a study to see how entrepreneurship education could be expanded in South Africa’s Technology curriculum at secondary school level. The subject of Technology is an ideal vehicle for integrating entrepreneurship education because it is problem-based and combines practical knowledge and skills.

Teaching and Learning: Local and Global

  • AI literacy a critical component in 21st-century learning Source: University World News In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, a new imperative is gaining prominence: artificial intelligence (AI) literacy. As AI increasingly permeates academic and professional spheres, the explosion of scholarly discourse on AI literacy – evident from the surge in recent academic publications – underscores its critical role in equipping students to navigate an AI-driven world. As we celebrate International Literacy Day on 8 September, we should ponder the following important questions: What precisely constitutes AI literacy? Why is it becoming increasingly crucial in the context of higher education? And, perhaps most pressingly, how can it be practically cultivated?
  • A ‘river of experience’: How many ways of knowing feed a course on the climate crisis and actions Source: The Conversation How can we educate about the climate crisis in a way that gives students the tools they need to move towards hopeful visions for the future? A new kind of climate course has emerged from our collaboration at McGill University across the fields of environmental studies, biology, geoscience and science communication as we teamed up to explore this question. The Climate Crisis and Climate Actions course is an interdisciplinary, “whole-person” introduction to the climate crisis that includes an emphasis on individual and collective actions.
  • How stories can teach young people about life in a changing climate Source: The Conversation One way to make teaching about climate adaptation less potentially daunting for teachers is to draw on personal experience, particularly when conveyed through the creative arts. Our research in secondary schools and youth organisations has found that one effective way of doing this is to help young people to exchange their experiences, both among themselves and with communities most impacted by climate change.

Technology-Enhanced Learning

  • A Justice-Oriented Conceptual and Analytical Framework for Decolonising and Desecularising the Field of Educational Technology Source: Education Sciences Journal This article develops a conceptual and analytical framework for decolonising and desecularising the field of EdTech. Concepts are drawn from various discourses: the desecularisation of knowledge to set the ontological framing; embodied cognition to set the epistemological framing; and social justice and decolonial discourses to set the axiological framing. From this, the article develops the Dimensions of Human Injustice Analytical Framework—covering material, ontological and epistemic, and (geo)political injustices—to assist policymakers, educators, EdTech developers, and international development practitioners in identifying and confronting coloniality in their EdTech. Acknowledging the complexity and contentions within decolonial thought, this article does not claim a unified stance on achieving justice but aims to offer a tool for deconstructing and questioning injustices.
  • In Praise of Resistance Source: Substack Jason Gulya's latest post on "Why we should empower faculty and students to push against AI".
  • Exploring the Future of Education through XR Technologies: Insights from Dr. Anneke De Klerk Source: VUT As the rapidly evolving field of immersive technology begins to reshape various industries, the upcoming Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Teaching and Learning Conference, set for 10-12 September 2024, will spotlight the transformative potential of XR (Extended Reality) technologies in South African higher education. Dr. Anneke De Klerk, a VUT Senior Lecturer in the Visual Arts Department, has provided insights into the highly anticipated panel discussion, titled: “Empowering the Next Generation: Exploring the Transformative Potential of XR Technologies in Tertiary Education – A Case Study of the Metaverse Academy Project.”
  • Educational apps for children: What parents and educators should look for and ignore Source: The Conversation Educators and parents buy educational apps (EduApps) to help children learn, bringing in billions of dollars for the mobile app industry, a significant portion of which goes into the pockets of leading app stores.
    But when people visit app stores, they are overwhelmed with hundreds of thousands of options. Children can learn from well-designed EduApps, but choosing bad apps wastes schools’ and families’ time and money.
    When choosing EduApps, our research from the Technology Learning and Cognition lab at McGill University’s Faculty of Education shows educators and parents rely heavily on others’ judgements, like star ratings.