WIL: Bridging the Divide between Higher Education and the World of Work
As the demands of the contemporary workplace continue to grow, the value of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) at South African higher education institutions has never been more clear. Over the last couple of decades, universities have been tasked with the responsibility of producing work-ready graduates who will not only meet the expectations of the working world,…
HERESA and National Policy Development
Background The Higher Education Reform Experts South Africa (HERESA) is a collaborative multi-country initiative overseen by the Technology Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA). HERE-SA supports technological advancements in learning, focussing specifically on: (1) entrepreneurship education, (2) work-integrated learning (WIL), (3) competency-based learning and teaching (CBLT), (4) competences for the 4IR, and (5) the leadership…
HERESA Café – The Evolution of WIL: Are we ready?
In this upcoming HERESA Café entitled, The evolution of WIL: Are we ready?, your hosts from the Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), will share and discuss some of the changes and challenges impacting on Work integrated learning (WIL). In higher education, the worlds of education and work are coming closer to each other and…
HERESA Podcast: Young Academics – Episode 1
In this first episode of the “Young Academics in the Age of COVID-19” Podcast, our participants discussed the challenges of adjusting to online teaching and learning, the difficulties of striking a work-life balance and the importance of making curricula as interactive and engaging as possible for students. Each young academic demonstrated an admirable amount of…
UWN: Competency Based Education: Balance Soft and Hard Skills
Technology-focused universities in Africa have been urged to adopt competency-based teaching and learning practices that integrate theoretical discipline-specific knowledge, practical technical skills and positive workplace attitudes that would improve students’ employability in the current and future job market and stimulate continuous learning. Read the full article here. Article published with reference to a session at…
UWN: Youth unemployment: Entrepreneurship, start-ups supported
Entrepreneurial education is touted, in part as the solution, if not the silver bullet, to South Africa’s growing youth unemployment rate and other socio-economic challenges that plague the country. It is within this context that higher education institutions have established or are establishing themselves as entrepreneurial hubs, despite the many limitations they face. The ongoing…
UWN: How can universities fortify the 4IR in their curricula?
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic saw an upsurge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in Africa, from artificial intelligence in medical technology, 3D printing for medical use, drones delivering life-saving medicine and digital learning platforms in schools and universities. Read the full article here. Article published with reference to a session at the…
HERESA Training Workshop Summary (Durban | 21 – 24 March 2022)
“Curricula should not become cemeteries for dead knowledge” It is not too often that one emerges from a four-day event feeling more energised and inspired than one did at the start. This was certainly the case for the HERESA Training Workshop which took place from 21st to 24th March at The Premier Hotel in Umhlanga,…