WSU staff members to do Masters in Australia - Walter Sisulu ...
WSU staff members to do Masters in Australia - Walter Sisulu ...
WSU staff members to do Masters in Australia - Walter Sisulu ...
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<strong>WSU</strong> and FET Education lecturers with all the stakeholders that made this programme possible.<br />
<strong>WSU</strong> <strong>staff</strong> <strong>members</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>do</strong> <strong>Masters</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Australia</strong><br />
TWO <strong>Walter</strong> <strong>Sisulu</strong> University <strong>staff</strong> <strong>members</strong> from the Faculty of Education recently left for the<br />
University of Newcastle, <strong>Australia</strong>, <strong>to</strong> <strong>do</strong> their <strong>Masters</strong> <strong>in</strong> Education for eighteen months. Mr Skaplan<br />
Skosana and Ms Tiba Mtiya were jo<strong>in</strong>ed by Mr Bongani Mhlaba from the K<strong>in</strong>g H<strong>in</strong>tsa Further<br />
Education and Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g (FET) College and Mr Mziwenkosi Mancotywa of Ingwe FET College as the<br />
four bursary recipients <strong>to</strong> study <strong>Masters</strong>, specialis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Technical and Vocational Education and<br />
Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g.<br />
This project is a result of the Memorandum of Understand<strong>in</strong>g (MOU) that <strong>WSU</strong> and the University of<br />
Newcastle signed <strong>in</strong> 2007. The objective of the MOU is <strong>to</strong> collaborate on research, student and <strong>staff</strong><br />
exchange and community engagement.<br />
“The demands of both skills shortages and the imperative for South Africa <strong>to</strong> become globally<br />
competitive, place new emphasis on FET lecturers. This is compounded by an environment constantly<br />
<strong>in</strong> flux because of technological development and systemic changes. These four lecturers will come<br />
back better equipped <strong>to</strong> assist <strong>in</strong> address<strong>in</strong>g the challenges confronted by the FET Sec<strong>to</strong>r,” said Mr<br />
Mxolisi Payi, Direc<strong>to</strong>r for the Centre for Community and International Partnerships at <strong>Walter</strong> <strong>Sisulu</strong><br />
University.<br />
Newcastle University and <strong>WSU</strong> jo<strong>in</strong>tly put <strong>to</strong>gether a proposal for two <strong>WSU</strong> <strong>staff</strong>ers from the Faculty<br />
of Education and two FET education lecturers <strong>to</strong> study their <strong>Masters</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>. Mr Jaca, Mr
Skhosana, Mr Maeko, Mr Mhlaba and Mr Payi were <strong>members</strong> of the team that put <strong>to</strong>gether the<br />
proposal.<br />
The Ford Foundation is an American organisation with a commitment <strong>to</strong> social justice that is carried<br />
out through programs that strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and <strong>in</strong>justice and advance<br />
human knowledge and creativity and achievement. The foundation <strong>in</strong>sisted on the <strong>in</strong>clusion of <strong>staff</strong><br />
<strong>members</strong> from the FET sec<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>in</strong> order for them <strong>to</strong> contribute <strong>to</strong> the development of the curriculum<br />
for the FET sec<strong>to</strong>r.<br />
Mr Payi mentioned that, “facilitat<strong>in</strong>g this three-way partnership was made easy by the fact that <strong>WSU</strong><br />
has MOUs with about six FET Colleges that <strong>in</strong>clude K<strong>in</strong>g H<strong>in</strong>tsa and Ingwe Colleges. This was the first<br />
major activity <strong>in</strong> terms of operationalis<strong>in</strong>g the MOUs.”<br />
The MOUs with FETs have four areas of agreement/collaboration, which are:<br />
1. Staff and student development<br />
2. Quality Management and Accreditation<br />
3. Curriculum, Learnerships and Community development and<br />
4. Plann<strong>in</strong>g, Research, Student Affairs and Institutional Development.<br />
“<strong>WSU</strong> has also embarked on a series of strategies such as <strong>staff</strong> development and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g FET<br />
lecturers through a programme called Vocational Education Orientation Programme, a locally based<br />
programme that <strong>in</strong>volves other South African tertiary <strong>in</strong>stitutions, with the same objective,” said Mr<br />
Pr<strong>in</strong>ce Jaca, Direc<strong>to</strong>r: School of Maths, Science and Technology.<br />
“When the four <strong>Masters</strong> students return with their qualification, they will be <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> the<br />
development of the curriculum for the Bachelor of Education degree, a programme that will be<br />
specifically target<strong>in</strong>g develop<strong>in</strong>g lecturers for the FET sec<strong>to</strong>r,” said Mr Payi.<br />
Mr Mhlaba of K<strong>in</strong>g H<strong>in</strong>tsa FET College expressed his enthusiasm about this move by say<strong>in</strong>g, “FETs<br />
have been faced with the challenge of hav<strong>in</strong>g a dire need for this k<strong>in</strong>d of exposure. This will help <strong>in</strong><br />
develop<strong>in</strong>g our sec<strong>to</strong>r and I am so proud <strong>to</strong> be part of such an activity as I know the impact it will<br />
have on our sec<strong>to</strong>r.”<br />
Ms Nomnqophiso Ceza, Act<strong>in</strong>g Head of the FET Unit with<strong>in</strong> <strong>WSU</strong>’s Centre for Learn<strong>in</strong>g, Teach<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
Development at <strong>WSU</strong> said, “The <strong>in</strong>itiative that has been taken will help <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g the skills needed<br />
<strong>in</strong> the vocational education sec<strong>to</strong>r <strong>in</strong> the country. Our country is <strong>in</strong> desperate need of artisans. The<br />
<strong>in</strong>teraction between <strong>WSU</strong> and the University of Newcastle will enhance TVET <strong>in</strong> South Africa.” She<br />
added that, “the skills developed will not only benefit the Eastern Cape but for the whole country.”<br />
Professor Sidwell Nguben<strong>to</strong>mbi, Executive Dean: Faculty of Education added that, “We salute the<br />
University of Newcastle <strong>in</strong> <strong>Australia</strong>, the Ford Foundation, the Centre for Community and International<br />
Partnerships and the university management for hav<strong>in</strong>g tirelessly supported the Faculty of Education<br />
<strong>in</strong> its pursuit of <strong>staff</strong> development.”