Contributor biographies

Ms Kaylianne Aploon-Zokufa Kaylianne Aploon-Zokufa is a lecturer in the Institute for Post-School Studies (IPSS) in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). She is a PhD candidate and her research topic is: ‘An investigation into how mature women ECD (early childhood development) practitioners access higher education through the BEd Foundation Phase programme’. Prof. Suzanne Bester Suzanne Bester is an associate professor and healthcare practitioner in educational psychology. She is employed by the University of Pretoria in the Department of Educational Psychology, where she has gained extensive experience in, amongst others, clinical supervision of students in educational psychology. Together with her students, she consults with children, adolescents, and their families in the treatment of diverse psychological challenges. She has a special interest in the assessment and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Dr Helen Brown Helen Brown is a PhD fellow in the IPSS in the Faculty of Education at the UWC. She is also a member of the Strategy and Research Division of the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority. Her PhD in education focused on artisan trade testing in the engineering technical and vocational education and training space (TVET). Her work in quality development of vocational education and training (VET) systems has been in the areas of large-scale competence diagnostics, professional development of TVET college lecturers, information and communications technology (ICT) teaching and learning platforms, and skills for the industrialisation of new product innovations. Dr Marcus Brändle Marcus Brändle is a member of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Stuttgart. He has been working in the Department of Vocational Education with a focus on Teaching Technology (BPT) since 2018. His research interests include competency research for the interdisciplinary school subject, Science and Technology, as well as digitisation and digitisation-related competencies of teachers and student teachers in Germany and internationally. Ms Stefanie Holler Stefanie Holler is a research fellow in the Department of Vocational Education with a focus on Teaching Technology at the University of Stuttgart. Her research focus is professional development of TVET lecturers (with a particular focus on South Africa), digital teaching and learning, as well as language, literacy, and learning in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines. She has teaching experience in the engineering fields of study in Germany and, in research and development projects, has trained TVET lecturers in South Africa. Prof. Wayne Hugo Wayne Hugo is a member of the Department of Education and Development in the Faculty of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is dedicated to pursuing how education and learning function as mechanisms across various sectors of education (academic, technical, vocational, and occupational), different modalities (contact, hybrid, online), different scales (from neuron to international), and different types of learning mechanisms (artificial and natural). Dr Musa Mokoena Musa Mokoena is a member of the Department of Education and Development in the Faculty of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and holds a PhD in education and development from this university. He has over 30 years’ experience in TVET in Eswatini and as a lecturer and later principal at two TVET colleges, the Swaziland College of Technology and the Vocational and Commercial Training Institute, Matsapa. Dr Ian Moll Ian Moll is a research fellow at the Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL) at the University of the Witwatersrand, having retired from the Division of Educational Technology at the university in 2021. With a PhD in cognitive science and education from the University of Geneva, his interests lie in theoretical psychology; knowledge, work and skill; the networked society; learning and pedagogy; and educational technology. Mr Mbofheni Abbie Mulaudzi Mbofheni Mulaudzi is a member of the Department of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Free State. He is a teacher educator and an emerging researcher who is establishing himself as a leading voice in the field of electrical engineering education. He is known for his innovative approaches to technical teacher training and for his commitment to quality teaching and training. Dr Seamus Needham Seamus Needham is the Acting Director of the IPSS in the Faculty of Education at the UWC. He has been active in vocational education, policy and development for about 25 years. Ms Victoria NepembeVictoria Nepembe is a member of the Department of Secondary Education in the Faculty of Education at Rhodes University. She is a PhD scholar in the faculty and, has used her experience with digital technologies in TVET colleges to research technological pedagogical content knowledge among instructors. Her goal is to understand how the three areas of knowledge enforce effective integration of technology and teaching at vocational schools. Prof. Joy Papier Joy Papier is the National Research Foundation Chair: TVET at the IPSS in the Faculty of Education at the UWC. She has published on vocational and general teacher education in several academic journals, presented at conferences and on public panels, participates in national government task teams, and is an external examiner for numerous postgraduate dissertations in the field of TVET. She has been actively involved in TVET research, policy development, and capacity-building for over 25 years. Dr Benjamin Seleke Benjamin Seleke is a member of the Department of Sciences and Technology Education in the Faculty of Education at Walter Sisulu University. He is a prominent teacher educator specialising in technology education and TVET. Renowned for his work on problem-based learning and the infusion of indigenous knowledge, he advocates for an inclusive curriculum. He also champions continuous professional development and extends his expertise to those working in adult and community education. Dr Clement Simuja Clement Simuja is a senior lecturer in the Department of Secondary Education in the Faculty of Education at Rhodes University. He has spent a decade researching the integration of digital technology at schools and universities and in adult learning. His research involves the intricate interaction between content, pedagogy and technology in digital education, specifically concerning the obstacles encountered in technology-based education implementation. Dr Nixon Teis Nixon Teis is a teacher educator and researcher and the former Head of School of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology Education at the University of the Free State. His research interests are in teacher knowledge, with a discipline-specific focus on technical teacher knowledge, teacher professional development, and the impact of technological advancements on technical teacher knowledge and capacity. Prof. Bernd Zinn Bernd Zinn is a professor of vocational education with a focus on technology didactics at the Institute of Educational Science at the University of Stuttgart. His research focuses on teacher training, educational technologies, teaching and learning processes, competence development, as well as inclusion and dealing with heterogeneity in technical education and training.

Promulgation of the Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) tasks the Council for Higher Education (CHE), South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and standards generating bodies (Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA)) with guiding institutions through the implementation of the new framework. Implementation is through a phased approach spanning a five-year period beginning in January 2011 and with anticipated culmination in December 2014. As the Higher Education Framework Handbook (CHE 2011:2) states: ‘all existing institutions, public and private, offering existing and previously accredited higher education programmes will be impacted upon by this process in some manner or form, whether it be through a minor name change or a complete renewal of the programme content.’ Consequently, universities of technology (UoT’s) have embarked on a curriculum renewal process and the Civil Engineering Department of Durban University of Technology (DUT) is no different. It is within this context of participation and multiple contributory environments of different role-players that this study was founded. This research explored the Civil Engineering industry’s involvement in the curriculum renewal at DUT with the intention of understanding its contribution and influence in the renewal process and particularly in terms of curriculum design. The scope of the study was restricted to DUT Civil Engineering Department and their graduates, with subjects selected from a convenience sample of DUT Civil Engineering Department’s database of employers that have in the past and presently employ DUT graduates and/ or Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) students. The sample constituted organisations from the contracting, consulting and para-statal fields of employment. A questionnaire was designed containing both open-ended questions and rating scales that explored and probed the Civil Engineering industry level of involvement in the curriculum and curriculum renewal activities at DUT. In addition, interviews were conducted with seasoned Civil Engineering staff that have interacted with industry at various levels to gain their view of industry’s involvement with design of the Civil Engineering curriculum. Data from both questionnaires and interviewees overwhelmingly suggested that industry is not directly involved with the curriculum renewal currently underway at DUT, some respondents only gathered that such an activity was taking place through the medium of the questionnaire. This suggests that the resultant curriculum will be void of much industry engagement and influence. The nature of engagement that does occur is largely through the utilisation of DUT graduates or WIL students. Engagement occurs most commonly when curriculum issues are raised by staff at interviews of employers during WIL, suggesting that the nature of association with DUT is limited to employment of students or graduates. It is inferred that industry has very little direct input into the curriculum. DUT Advisory Board is considerably under-utilised for its intended purpose of engaging industry on curriculum issues, and its existence is unfamiliar to industry at large. As much as the Advisory Board is the most appropriate avenue to discuss curriculum issues, it has limitations in that its function is not entirely realised. The data generated also resoundingly suggests that industry is fully supportive of an inclusive participation process. Data further suggest that industry genuinely wants to be involved in curriculum discussions, and decisions for reasons ranging from participating to create more relevant course content, to contributing to creation of graduates with more appropriate employability attributes. Participants from industry further intimated that their role remains for on-site experiential learning: they provide the working knowledge to complement the academic knowledge provided by DUT. They also consider themselves to be providers of other facets that contribute to a holistic graduate, and assume further roles such as those of mentors and supervisors. The likely outcomes of their influence would be rapid engagement of graduates within the Civil Engineering field. A symbiotic relationship therefore becomes apparent between DUT and industry, where with more input into the curriculum by industry; a more work- orientated graduate is produced to better serve the needs of industry. The following recommendations emerge from the findings of this study: Since most of industry’s engagement occurs during WIL interviews, it would be prudent if a generic curriculum- based questionnaire is devised. This should be filled in by employers during student WIL visitations by staff in addition to the existing questionnaire. In doing so DUT would be proactive in literally ‘taking curriculum issues to them’. The DUT Civil Engineering Department should target those companies that have an interest in making a concerted effort by enlisting them onto the Advisory Board. From an institutional perspective DUT should be more proactive and advertise the existence of such an entity, created solely for curriculum discussions with the public, and particularly with industry. Assessments, course content and the project component of the programme generated considerable comments from industry that the Civil Engineering Department could take into consideration during the curriculum renewal process.

Purpose Since the advent of democracy in South Africa numerous changes have been implemented within higher education to address the legacies of apartheid. The transformation involved amalgamating some former white, traditional universities with Technikons to establish Comprehensive Universities (CUs) and Universities of Technology (UOTs). While the motivation to transform select higher learning institutions in South Africa through mergers was deemed imperative, some contend it fell short of adequately addressing the disparities in higher education and contemporary urban issues. This article critically examines the shifts in architectural education at former Technikons in South Africa. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on focus group discussions, in-depth interviews with educators and institutional documentation, the research explored the shifts in programs to respond to the transformation of the higher education framework. Focusing on the Department of Architecture at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), comparisons were drawn with several accredited institutions in South Africa, including Tshwane University of Technology, Durban University of Technology, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Nelson Mandela University. Moreover, the research examined how design studio lecturers transform curricula to address the socio-spatial complexities of African urbanism. Findings The study identifies a movement from Eurocentric design norms toward more participatory, interdisciplinary and contextually responsive pedagogies. Research limitations/implications As with many qualitative studies, this research is subject to limitations in scope, generalizability and potential bias. These limitations primarily arise from the participant sample size, constraints in data collection methods and the use of an autoethnographic approach. Originality/value The conceptualized radical trans-critical spatial design praxis, inspired by critical pedagogy, aims to liberate participants within the design studio. It foregrounds humanity, often marginalized within traditional design education, particularly in politically charged and complex environments.

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) phased out the National Diploma: Surveying and the B-Tech: Surveying qualifications and introduced a new qualification, Bachelor of the Built Environment (BBE): Geomatics in January 2018. Work integrated learning (WIL), which is also referred to as experiential learning (EL), emphasises workplace learning encompassing a career-focused educational strategy, inclusive of classroom-based and workplace-based forms of learning that are appropriate for a professional qualification. WIL has become an integral part of the teaching and learning pedagogy within the surveying profession at a national diploma level across many of the technikons and universities of technology (UoTs) nationally over the past few decades, including the DUT. WIL has become widely recognised as the cornerstone of student development because this interaction with industry encourages students to understand and appreciate the mechanisms of real WPL and the dynamics of a professional working environment, with the opportunity to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses while inculcating a sense of work identity and professionalism. Sattler (2011) explained that the term WIL is often used interchangeably with work-based learning, practice-based learning, work-related learning, vocational learning, experiential learning, co-operative education, clinical education, internship, practicum, and field education etc. For the purposes of this study, the terms ‘experiential learning’ and ‘work integrated learning’ will be used interchangeably. WIL has now been excluded from the new BBE: Geomatics qualification, as this qualification seeks to be more academically oriented and aligned. However, the lack of a WIL component could possibly result in a graduate who exhibits deficiencies in practical knowledge, technical skills, and work-related proficiencies when compared to the traditional survey technician/technologist that industry has become accustomed to over the years, which may have further detrimental consequences for the learner and the industry sector. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate and evaluate the historical impact of EL in terms of the impact on the student’s personal and professional development, in the National Diploma: Surveying programme, and to evaluate the relevance of WIL in the geomatics programme at the DUT. Data was collected through interactions with industry practitioners within the surveying and geomatics fraternity in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) region. The motivation for the study was to increase our understanding of industry’s perspectives on WIL to assist in terms of informed decision making and best practices, which will be beneficial to all stakeholders. There is an abundance of supporting literature highlighting the relevance and benefits of WIL which has been widely acknowledged as a vehicle for contributing to student development and increasing graduate employability outcomes. Dressler and Keeling (2011, cited in Baker 2014), summarised over 100 research publications on the benefits of WIL, regarding academic, personal, professional, and work skill development aspects. Smith (2012, cited in Wingrove and Turner 2015) explains that WIL creates the opportunity for higher education institutions (HEIs) to design, refine and teach curricula that are responsive to current and future workplace requirements, equipping students with the knowledge and capabilities to actively engage with industry and community partners, and improve work readiness. The study was conducted by employing a mixed-method approach incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method however was the predominant technique since it constituted a significant part of the study. Quantitative techniques involve data collection, organisation, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of numerical data in both tabular and graphical formats. Appropriate statistical techniques were applied through the use of SPSS data analysis software. The qualitative method involved brief analysis of employer comments from the experiential training (ET) report data set and feedback from the open-ended question on both questionnaire surveys. The findings confirmed that the EL in the National Diploma: Surveying had a positive and meaningful impact on the development of the Diploma graduate. Further, the findings are that there is significant consensus from industry and students regarding the importance and relevance of WIL in promoting an enriching career focused education, and in facilitating the acquisition of discipline knowledge, practical proficiency, graduate attributes, employability skills, and core competencies that will culminate in an all-round holistic graduate to meet the needs of a modern workforce for the various industry sectors. Some of the recommendations arising from the study to support informed decision making going forward include: implementation of a six or twelve month WIL programme, increase in industry engagement and collaboration, implementation of WIL simulation methods, establishment of a survey camp, WIL staff industry secondment, and reintroduction of the WIL empowerment project.

Internationally, work Integrated Learning (WIL) is a required component of the National Diploma in Office Management and Technology. WIL is undertaken by undergraduate students with the participation of the academic coordinator from the university and a workplace mentor. Issues around mentorship appear to be one of the main challenges. Mentorship, in this study, is understood to involve an interaction or agreement between student, workplace mentor and university WIL coordinator. The problem identified was that this system is known to lack coordination and focus. The study was conducted at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). This research employed mixed methods. The quantitative method involved a questionnaire designed to gather the experiences of a sample size of 90 students in all. Semi-structured interviews were also held with the WIL academic assessors from the two Universities, in order to allow them to open up about some sensitive issues. Online open-ended questions were designed and sent to workplace mentors. Similar questions were asked of all the stakeholders. The study concludes that WIL generally lacks sufficient interaction between stakeholders and that therefore the desired outcomes of mentorship are not fully met. While students were satisfied on the whole with the organizations they worked for, they were less happy with the support the universities were providing. The statistics from the students’ questionnaire indicate that not all students were visited while on WIL, while workplace mentors indicated that they are not provided with appropriate guidance from the universities. Electronic communicative support by the universities also proved to be insufficient, with many students indicated that they are not happy with this personal contact they experienced. Manpower and workload were found to be the main challenges faced by the universities in providing sufficient support. There is only one WIL academic assessor responsible for all the students on WIL in each of the universities. The research suggests that the university’s WIL coordinators should undertake a round of visits to companies before the WIL period and, if they have facilities appropriate for offering experiential learning tasks, then they could be formally accredited for this purpose. It is also suggested that the universities offer workplace mentors more formal guidance and an induction programme. There could also be a policy statement as to how many contacts should be made with the students while on WIL. A suggestion is also made that WIL should take place in the second year as well as the third and, if possible, that the WIL period should be extended. All stakeholders confirmed that mentorship plays a huge role in the effectiveness of WIL and that closer interaction between stakeholders would be beneficial.

According to the Council of Higher Education (CHE), work integrated learning (WIL) is one of the key tools for developing graduate attributes for the world of work (Council on Higher Education, 2011). Biomedical Technology is a highly skilled profession with no room for error since diagnosis and treatment of patients’ conditions depend primarily on accurate results. Students enrolled for the National Diploma Biomedical Technology at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) spend two and a half years at the University of Technology (UoT) acquiring formal instruction and a compulsory six month period of WIL at Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) accredited training laboratories in order to develop into graduates who are work-ready and familiar with organizational practice. Despite the established benefits of WIL, there is no data which ascertains whether the strategies employed by the Biomedical Technology programme for preparing students for undertaking WIL are actually successful. Nor has there been structured reflection to establish the partnership between the department and the training sites and its effectiveness for WIL. In addition, it would be important to ascertain whether the conditions of the workplace are conducive for WIL. This information would therefore be extremely valuable in informing whether the outcomes for WIL have been optimally achieved and would further influence curriculum review development and delivery. The purpose of the study therefore, was to determine the degree of work preparedness of students’ exposure and experience for WIL through a descriptive analysis of the perceptions of students regarding WIL. In addition, the perceptions of laboratory supervisors on students’ preparedness for training at these HPCSA accredited laboratories, as well as the quality of the partnership between the department and the training unit, were also be ascertained. Methods: A questionnaire, was the chosen method of data collection. A questionnaire which included quantitative and qualitative components provided a descriptive analysis of the preparedness of students in the Biomedical Technology programme for WIL. A saturation sample of all final year students registered for the National Diploma in Biomedical Technology at the DUT constituted the sample. This constituted students who completed their WIL at HPCSA registered training sites in both private and state laboratories. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha showed an overall reliability score of excellent degree of internal consistent scoring for the different aspects of the research. Factor analysis results showed moderate inter-correlation and inter-relatedness between the measured variables. The students were generally satisfied with the beneficial WIL orientation and the workplace orientation programme. The students and supervisors indicated the inadequacy of the practical component at the university, and recommended the purchasing of updated and advanced practical equipment. The salient findings were that:  Student’s theoretical and ethical knowledge is poor, including under preparedness for the world of work (WoW).  Inherent increased training cost and supervisor’s workload.  Support from university in terms of communication and engagement needed improvement. Conclusion: This study investigated student preparedness for work integrated learning, and raised a variety of issues from both students and supervisors. The good practices in the Biomedical Technology programmes will be reinforced, and strategies will be formulated and implemented to address the areas of concern, now that it has been formally researched. This study concluded that students were generally not well prepared for the workplace. The curriculum review of the programme was identified as a concern, particularly in the third year where the WIL is the major component. These findings will certainly inform the WIL offering in the new curriculum, and can be extrapolated to the Health Sciences community at large.

South Africa has experienced radical political and social change since 1994. Recognised for their role in the transformation process, universities have been and remain at the forefront of this change. While learners recognise that higher education is paramount to changing their socioeconomic condition, the massification of education along with new and advanced curricula has presented ongoing challenges for both universities and learners. Coming from diverse backgrounds and dealing with a variety of academic choices, learners encounter many challenges to entering Higher Education (HE). University programmes accept learners with varying competency levels and needs but are required to ensure that graduates meet standards that are acceptable to both industry and the academia. In the quest for universities to improve the delivery of educationally sound and industrially relevant programmes, ongoing research is being conducted and new and innovative ways have had to be developed to solve the problems associated with larger numbers of underprepared learners. An emerging method being employed in HE is the use of Data Analytics and Education Data Mining (EDM) techniques to derive solutions to assist institutions in maximising retention, and through-put rates. Durban University of Technology (DUT) has, since 1994, accepted learners into the Report 151 National Diploma from Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges. These learners, in respect to the Articulation Policy for the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) system of South Africa in terms of Section 8(2)(b) of the NQF Act, 2008 (Act 67 of 2008), are among those referred to as articulating learners. The perception among DUT staff involved with the teaching of these learners, is that they are as able to cope with the complexity and quality of engineering programmes as those learners entering the institution directly after completing their school leaving Senior Certificate/National Senior Certificate (SC/NSC). As no previous formal tracking, analysis or research has been conducted to determine the success or failure of learners articulating from TVET Colleges into DUT in general or into DUT’s Department of Electrical Power Engineering specifically, this research utilised Educational Data Mining and Inferential Statistics on an engineering learner dataset, to determine hidden patterns and relationships. Specifically, those relationships that promote progression, correlation, and selection were investigated. The Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) was employed to do the EDM, and a tool was developed to assist with the selection of learners entering the department, as well as ranking those entrance requirements that affect course content and throughput and various statistical methods were employed to conduct a retrospective longitudinal study. The Knowledge Discovery in Databases Process is used to work with 5 years of learner data. Both from the perspective of the progression of learners from semester 1 to semester 2 and the cohort throughput analysis, the results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the performance of learners articulating from TVET colleges into the National Diploma: Electrical Engineering at DUT and their counterparts from high school admitted directly in the said qualification. The findings are that learners from a TVET College articulating into an HEI qualification, specifically the National Diploma: Electrical Engineering at DUT, complete the course in similar rates and in similar proportions to those learners admitted directly from school. The statistical analysis indicates that 77.6% of TVET N4 learners are promoted to semester 2, compared to 70.0% of SC/NSC learners and the EDM prediction tool developed for TVET N4 learners, the IBK classification tool resulted in a 77.61% accuracy, while the ANN classification tool returned an accuracy of 77.56% for the SC/NSC learners.

"“Unlocking the chains of knowledge: Understanding the challenges, remaking pedagogies, and curriculum renewal addresses the complex yet imperative task of reshaping the colonial legacy embedded within South African higher education and beyond. The book confronts the historical and ideological bindings that have entrenched European-centric knowledge within the fabric of academia in Africa, propelling a transformative journey within the Arts and Humanities. At its core, this work presents a tripartite focus: firstly, understanding the deep-seated issues ingrained in the traditional university structure; secondly, remaking pedagogical practices; and lastly, renewing the curriculum. Recognising the historical dominance of Eurocentric ideas, the book explores various movements, theories, and practices, from negritude to postcolonial theory, aiming to emancipate and amplify the voices and knowledge of those historically excluded. With a commitment to a pluralistic approach, the book scrutinises the power dynamics of language, the importance of diverse perspectives, and the challenging task of inclusion without replicating the divisive structures of the past.” - Prof. Christine Winberg, Research Chair in Work-integrated Learning, Cape Peninsula University of Technology “In Unlocking the chains of knowledge: Understanding the challenges, remaking pedagogies and curriculum renewal the editors provide a decisive and detailed reflection and profound understanding of complexities of knowledge generation in Southern Africa. Unlike many volumes that address these intricate complexities, this volume not only navigates the intricate complexities of the long history of epistemic injustices and intolerance in the Southern African higher education environment, but delves deeper into the core of what is required for curriculum transformation and renewal. The groundbreaking volume addresses the urgent need for linguistic inclusivity, consciousness about decoloniality, as well as embedding social justice in South African and Zimbabwean education and, by doing so, presents strategies that can be used by the rest of the African continent in addressing the scourge of coloniality.” - Prof. Pamela Maseko, Executive Dean: Faculty of Humanities, Nelson Mandela University"

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) phased out the National Diploma: Surveying and the B-Tech: Surveying qualifications and introduced a new qualification, Bachelor of the Built Environment (BBE): Geomatics in January 2018. Work integrated learning (WIL) has been recognised as an integral part of the teaching and learning pedagogy within the surveying profession at a national diploma level across many of the technikons and universities of technology (UoTs) nationally, where it has become widely acknowledged as the cornerstone of student development. WIL has now been excluded from the new BBE: Geomatics qualification, which seeks to be more academically oriented. The lack of Workplace learning (WPL) could possibly result in a graduate who exhibits deficiencies in practical knowledge and work-related proficiencies when compared to the traditional technician/technologist that industry has become accustomed to. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate the relevance of WIL in the Geomatics programme through interactions with Surveying and Geomatics practitioners in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) region, to increase our understanding of industry’s perspectives on WIL, and in so doing, to assist in terms of informed decision-making and best practices. Data were collected through interactions with industry practitioners within the Surveying and Geomatics fraternity. The study was conducted by employing a mixed-methods approach incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method was, however, the predominant technique since it constituted a significant part of the study. The qualitative method involved analysis of employer comments from the open-ended questions on the questionnaire survey. The findings confirmed that there is significant consensus from industry regarding the importance and relevance of WIL in promoting an enriching career-focused education, and in facilitating the acquisition of discipline knowledge, practical proficiency, graduate attributes, employability skills, and core competencies that will culminate in an all-round holistically thinking graduate to meet the needs of industry and to sustain a knowledgeable, modern, and skilled workforce for the built environment.

The secretarial/administrative profession is faced with the challenge of rapid advancement in office technology, organisational restructuring and changes in the global economy. This challenge does not only affect employees who are already working as secretaries/administrative staff in the workplace, it also affects institutions of higher education and students who are studying towards an administrative profession. This requires both the institutions of higher education and industry to better prepare students to meet the requirements of the workplace. Given this background, this study examines the current status of the Office Management and Technology curriculum to discover whether it meets the demands of the workplace. The study also investigates learning opportunities offered to Office Management & Technology (OMT) students during Work-integrated Learning (WIL) and the implications for the curriculum, with the aim of improving both classroom learning and workplace learning, and to suggest improvements in the OMT curriculum in Universities of Technology (UoTs). This study investigates and provides information on the skills, attributes and competencies OMT graduates are required to possess in the 21st century world of work. It therefore provides the departments of office technology in UoT’s with an in-depth study of the strengths and weaknesses of their current curriculum so that improvement can be implemented wherever necessary. This study is a case study that involves Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) and Durban University of Technology (DUT). The method used was very largely a quantitative method because it was based purely on questionnaires, however, there was a small qualitative element which grew up on the open ended questions. The qualitative questions were used to provide participants with an opportunity to express their own opinions and to clarify the quantitative data within the questionnaire. The study utilised two sets of questionnaires which were distributed to two different groups within the targeted population – to industry supervisors who supervise OMT students at DUT and MUT, and to third year OMT students from MUT who underwent work integrated learning in 2015. The study shows that the current OMT curriculum is reasonably well in line with core industry needs. However, there was evidence that improvement is needed in both classroom learning and in workplace learning. The study also revealed new skills and attributes that need to be incorporated in OMT curriculum in order to be more responsive and relevant in the 21st century world of work. The study recommends that the Office Management and Technology curriculum should be reviewed regularly and that both university and industry should play a significant role in better preparing students to meet the requirements of the workplace.

Unemployment is currently a global challenge. Therefore, South Africa cannot be exempted. Statistics show that there is a high percentage of unemployed graduates in South Africa due to a lack of required skills as per the industry requirement. Work Integrated Learning (WIL) is considered to be the key role driver in order to reduce the high rate of unemployable graduates. WIL was proposed by both the Department on Higher Education and Training and the Council on Higher Education (CHE2011) as a strategy to combat the challenge of unemployment facing graduates in South Africa. The aim of this study was to explore the expectations and perspectives of employers, co-ordinators and students involved in the Public Relations WIL programme at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in Durban, South Africa. The study further aimed to propagate knowledge of stakeholder expectations and to identify gaps and strengths in the expectations of all stakeholders. This study utilised a qualitative approach and a convenience sampling technique to acquire participants. The population centred on N=46 participants, which included N=30 students registered for Public Relations Practice, N=1 DUT WIL Coordinator and N=15 Industry Supervisors. The participants were selected based on their involvement in the WIL Programme in 2016. In-depth interviews, observations and focus group discussions were conducted by the researcher to collect primary data from the focus groups, WIL employers and the DUT WIL Coordinator. The study revealed WIL as an important component of the Public Relations Programme. The findings further outlined that transition was necessary for PR WIL students and that the importance of placement within the Public Relations Industry is a necessity to provide proper opportunities for PR WIL students to experience professional life, with the notion that such experience will promote knowledge development. The study concluded that all students had a common objective of WIL, which was to put into practice what they had learnt in class in a practical working environment. They indicated that the time-frame was too limited to conclude all the tasks in a space of six months. The study makes recommendations for the additional contributions to the PR WIL programme offered at DUT.

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The university leaders of the 21st century have failed to expose the transformation needs and demands of their institutions and have only implemented transformational strategies and measures that suit their career endeavors. This has been compounded by their lack of personal, interpersonal, and cognitive capabilities, which are essential in driving, shaping, and achieving the transformation agenda of their respective institutions. Against this backdrop, this article ascertains university leaders’ knowledgeability of factors and their understanding of change initiatives that could drive and achieve universities’ transformation agenda. The leadership traits, cognitive abilities, and qualities that can also influence transforming universities are assessed in this empirical study. A quantitative research approach was adopted in this comparative study, where a structured questionnaire was distributed to 191 respondents. A 70% response rate was obtained at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), while 59% was achieved at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 12 was used to capture and analyze the data. This study has the potential to influence university leaders in totality in their nomenclature on transformation and the traits needed for effective transformation. The current research study revealed fascinating results that leaders from both the universities believed that transformation refers to restructuring rather than the widely shared narrative of addressing the racial imbalances of the apartheid era. Furthermore, the results suggest that the university leaders understand their institutional transformation agendas although the freedom of speech and open debates are not promoted and that leaders are not good listeners.

Orientation: Focus was placed on the important role of executive management in creating a post-merged organisational culture conducive to effective performance management.Research purpose: To develop a theoretical model from the insights gleaned from the literature study, interviews with senior human resource (HR) practitioners at participating institutions and the empirical study. Based on the empirical findings, this model was refined and resulted in the eight-step integrated post-merged organisational culture creation model.Motivation for the study: The negligible attention given to the design of mechanisms supportive of post-merged organisational culture creation emphasised the need for this study. The high percentage of merger failures attributable to ineffective post-merged organisational culture integration further contributed.Research design, approach and method: A quantitative study was conducted at three merged South African higher education institutions, namely Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Durban University of Technology. Respondents occupied the following functional categories: executive management, senior and line management, HR practitioners and non-HR or non-management.Main findings: Respondents perceived the role of executive management to be the most important step of the theoretical model which formed the basis for the empirical survey questionnaire. This step, which obtained the highest summated mean score in all three institutions and across all functional categories, was depicted as Step 5 of the model.Practical/managerial implications: The refined eight-step integrated post-merged organisational culture creation model will significantly enhance the creation of a post-merged organisational culture conducive to effective performance management.Contribution/value-add: This study addressed the void regarding a model to guide the creation of a post-merged organisational culture conducive to effective performance management in higher education institutions as well as merged corporate organisations.

The field of secretarial and administrative work is confronted with challenges posed by the quick development of office technology, organizational reorganizations, and shifts in the global economy. These challenges impact not only the workers who are currently employed as secretaries or administrative staff but also higher education institutions and students pursuing administrative careers. As a result, workplace demands must be better met by both industry and academic institutions. This study looks at the learning opportunities provided to Office Management and Technology (OMT) students during Work-integrated Learning (WIL). It also investigates the implications for the curriculum to enhance workplace and classroom learning and makes recommendations for changes to the OMT curriculum at Universities of Technology (UoTs). It further explores and presents the skills, attributes, and competencies that OMT graduates must have in the workplace of the twenty-first century. Moreover, it gives UoT office technology departments a thorough analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of their current curriculum, enabling them to make any necessary improvements. This research comprises a case study involving Durban University of Technology (DUT) and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Due to its sole reliance on surveys, the approach was primarily quantitative; however, a petite amount of qualitative data emerged from the open-ended questions. In addition to giving participants a chance to voice their ideas, the qualitative questions served to interpret the quantitative information included in the questionnaire. The study included two sets of questionnaires that were given to two distinct divisions of the targeted population: MUT third-year OMT students who participated How to cite this paper: