WSU staff members to do Masters in Australia - Walter Sisulu ...

WSU and FET Education lecturers with all the stakeholders that made this programme possible.
WSU staff members to do Masters in Australia
TWO Walter Sisulu University staff members from the Faculty of Education recently left for the
University of Newcastle, Australia, to do their Masters in Education for eighteen months. Mr Skaplan
Skosana and Ms Tiba Mtiya were joined by Mr Bongani Mhlaba from the King Hintsa Further
Education and Training (FET) College and Mr Mziwenkosi Mancotywa of Ingwe FET College as the
four bursary recipients to study Masters, specialising in Technical and Vocational Education and
Training.
This project is a result of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that WSU and the University of
Newcastle signed in 2007. The objective of the MOU is to collaborate on research, student and staff
exchange and community engagement.
“The demands of both skills shortages and the imperative for South Africa to become globally
competitive, place new emphasis on FET lecturers. This is compounded by an environment constantly
in flux because of technological development and systemic changes. These four lecturers will come
back better equipped to assist in addressing the challenges confronted by the FET Sector,” said Mr
Mxolisi Payi, Director for the Centre for Community and International Partnerships at Walter Sisulu
University.
Newcastle University and WSU jointly put together a proposal for two WSU staffers from the Faculty
of Education and two FET education lecturers to study their Masters in Australia. Mr Jaca, Mr

Skhosana, Mr Maeko, Mr Mhlaba and Mr Payi were members of the team that put together the
proposal.
The Ford Foundation is an American organisation with a commitment to social justice that is carried
out through programs that strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice and advance
human knowledge and creativity and achievement. The foundation insisted on the inclusion of staff
members from the FET sectors in order for them to contribute to the development of the curriculum
for the FET sector.
Mr Payi mentioned that, “facilitating this three-way partnership was made easy by the fact that WSU
has MOUs with about six FET Colleges that include King Hintsa and Ingwe Colleges. This was the first
major activity in terms of operationalising the MOUs.”
The MOUs with FETs have four areas of agreement/collaboration, which are:
1. Staff and student development
2. Quality Management and Accreditation
3. Curriculum, Learnerships and Community development and
4. Planning, Research, Student Affairs and Institutional Development.
“WSU has also embarked on a series of strategies such as staff development and training FET
lecturers through a programme called Vocational Education Orientation Programme, a locally based
programme that involves other South African tertiary institutions, with the same objective,” said Mr
Prince Jaca, Director: School of Maths, Science and Technology.
“When the four Masters students return with their qualification, they will be involved in the
development of the curriculum for the Bachelor of Education degree, a programme that will be
specifically targeting developing lecturers for the FET sector,” said Mr Payi.
Mr Mhlaba of King Hintsa FET College expressed his enthusiasm about this move by saying, “FETs
have been faced with the challenge of having a dire need for this kind of exposure. This will help in
developing our sector and I am so proud to be part of such an activity as I know the impact it will
have on our sector.”
Ms Nomnqophiso Ceza, Acting Head of the FET Unit within WSU’s Centre for Learning, Teaching and
Development at WSU said, “The initiative that has been taken will help in developing the skills needed
in the vocational education sector in the country. Our country is in desperate need of artisans. The
interaction between WSU and the University of Newcastle will enhance TVET in South Africa.” She
added that, “the skills developed will not only benefit the Eastern Cape but for the whole country.”
Professor Sidwell Ngubentombi, Executive Dean: Faculty of Education added that, “We salute the
University of Newcastle in Australia, the Ford Foundation, the Centre for Community and International
Partnerships and the university management for having tirelessly supported the Faculty of Education
in its pursuit of staff development.”