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Introducing Unisa

Introducing Unisa . Prof Wendy R. Kilfoil Director: Institute for Curriculum and Learning Development kilfowr@unisa.ac.za. Unisa.

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Introducing Unisa

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  1. Introducing Unisa Prof Wendy R. Kilfoil Director: Institute for Curriculum and Learning Development kilfowr@unisa.ac.za

  2. Unisa • The only dedicated distance education institution in South Africa after a government-driven merger in 2004 - with multiple campuses, regional offices and learning centres • Comprehensive nature of programme and qualification mix • International profile: more than a quarter of a million students with about 3-4 000 students outside Africa; about 12-13 000 students in rest of Africa outside South Africa

  3. The new Unisa • On 1 January 2004 the University of South Africa (Unisa) merged with the Technikon Southern Africa (TSA) to become the new comprehensive University of South Africa. • On 2 January the new University incorporated the distance education campus of Vista University (Vudec) to become the only dedicated public distance education institution in South Africa.

  4. The former Unisa • 1877: Royal Charter from Queen Victoria as an examining body for Victoria College and the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch • 1873: Founded in Cape Town as the University of the Cape of Good Hope

  5. The former Unisa • 1916: The University Act No. 12 of 1916 decreed that the University of the Cape of Good Hope was to be incorporated in a federal University of South Africa on 2 April 1918 with seven constituent Colleges (which later became independent universities). The central administrative body was responsible for such functions as the organization of examinations, the tabulation of results and the issuing of certificates.

  6. The former Unisa • 1918: The University moved from Cape Town to Pretoria. The federal university did not teach private students; it merely examined them.

  7. The former Unisa • 1946: The Higher Education Amendment Act of 1946 enabled the University to undertake the tuition and guidance of the candidates for its examinations and the University of South Africa became the first public university in the world to teach exclusively by means of distance education.

  8. The former TSA • 1980: Technikon RSA established as an autonomous tertiary educational institution in terms of Act 40 of 1967. This same Act established the concept of a ‘technikon’ as a tertiary education institution offering career-focused national certificates and diplomas on the basis of co-operative education. Qualifications were offered through distance education.

  9. The former TSA • The passing of the new Technikons Act, Act 125 of 1993, in July 1993 impacted on governance structures and provided for the awarding of degrees by technikons. It was agreed to change the name Technikon RSA to Technikon Southern Africa (TSA) at this time.

  10. The former VUDEC • Vista University was founded in 1982 as a multi-campus university to serve the urban black community. • Its campuses were situated in black townships throughout South Africa. The head office was in Pretoria as was the Further Training Campus that offered teacher upgrading qualifications through distance education.

  11. The former VUDEC • In 1996 this campus changed its name to the Vista University Distance Education Campus (Vudec) and began to offer degrees through distance education. • Vista was ‘unbundled’ in the new landscape and its campuses allocated to different regional universities and Vudec to the new Unisa.

  12. Unity The Calabash The Open Book The Diamonds The Sun The Sparks The Arch The Flames The Tusks

  13. Governance Governance • Higher Education Act of 1997: legal persona, autonomy, government subsidy • Chancellor: titular head • Council: governing body, mainly external • Senate: highest academic decision-making body • Principal and Vice-Chancellor: CEO • Vice-Principals • Registrar • Institutional Forum • Students’ Representative Council

  14. Colleges Colleges • Agriculture and Environmental Sciences • Economic and Management Sciences • Graduate School of Business Leadership • Human Sciences • Law • Science, Engineering and Technology

  15. Defining comprehensiveness • Unisa is a leading, responsive, public ODL higher education institution in Africa committed to student-centredness through offering an affordable and comprehensive range of articulated certificates, diplomas, degrees and short learning programmes related to technical, vocational, professional and general academic qualificationswith disciplinary and multi-/trans-/ inter-disciplinary emphases at undergraduate and postgraduate level in a flexible, blended mode, conducting pure and applied research, and engaging with and serving our urban and rural communities to their benefit and that of our lecturers and students in accordance with current best practice and in partnership where strategically appropriate.

  16. Programme and Qualification Mix: Higher Education Qualifications Framework Higher Education Qualifications Framework and comprehensive Programme and Qualification Mix • Undergraduate • Higher Certificate (120 credits) • Advanced Certificate (120 credits) • Diploma (360 credits) • Advanced Diploma (120 credits) • Bachelor’s Degree (360-480 credits) • Postgraduate • Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) • Bachelor Honours Degree (120 credits) • Master’s Degree (180 credits) • Doctoral Degree (360 credits)

  17. Vision Towards the African university in the service of humanity

  18. Mission • provides quality general academic and career-focused learning opportunities underpinned by principles of lifelong learning, flexibility, and student centredness; • undertakes research and knowledge development guided by integrity, quality and rigour; • participates in community development by utilising its resources and capacities for the upliftment of the disadvantaged;

  19. Mission • is accessible to all learners, specifically those on the African continent, and the marginalised, by way of a barrier-free environment, while responding to the needs of the global market; • addresses the needs of a diverse student profile by offering relevant learner support, facilitated by appropriate information and communications technology; • develops and maintains high-quality capacities among its staff members to achieve human development, by using the resources at its disposal efficiently;

  20. Mission • cultivates and promotes an institutional ethos, intellectual culture and educational experience that is conducive to critical discourse, intellectual curiosity, tolerance and a diversity of views; • contributes to good and responsible society by graduating individuals of sound character and versatile ability; and • meets the needs of the global competitive society by nurturing collaborative relationships with its stakeholders and other partners

  21. Regional centres North Eastern Gauteng Midlands KwaZulu Natal Cape Coastal

  22. Services provided by regions Cape Coastal Regional Hub – Cape Town • Calendars & brochures available • Pre-registration • Pre-registration administration • Financial aid advice • Career advice, guidance & counselling • Recognition of prior learning • Dispatch of study material • Courier services • Postal services • Personal counter collection • Counselling services • (career & subject information) • Registration • Full registration • Self-help • Online • Postal • Credits and accreditation • Access/Foundation programmes

  23. Services provided by regions Cape Coastal Regional Hub – Cape Town • Satellite delivery • Reading and writing • Work-integrated learning • Library services • Computer based training & testing (ICDL) • Access to computers • Access to study space • Alumni Tutorial services Parow Learning Centre 15 Jean Simonis Street Parow Tel: 021 - 936 4122/3 Fax: 021 - 936 4124 Claremont Learning Centre CTI Cape Town Campus 3rd Floor Stadium, Main road Claremont

  24. Services provided by regions Gauteng Regional Hub – Pretoria • Pre-registration • Pre-registration administration • Financial aid advice • Career advice, guidance & counselling • Recognition of prior learning • Registration • Full registration (refer to Muckleneuk Campus) • Self-help (not currently offered) • Online • Postal (Main Campus, Muckleneuk) • Credits and accreditation • Access/Foundation programmes • Information desk • Calendars & brochures available • Dispatch of study material • Courier services (not currently offered) • Postal services (not currently offered) • Counselling services • (career & subject information)

  25. Services provided by regions Gauteng Regional Hub – Pretoria • Satellite delivery • Reading and writing • Peer collaborative learning • Work-integrated learning • Library services (Muckleneuk Campus) • Computer based training & testing (ICDL) • Access to computers • Access to study space • Thutong Learning Centre • Job readiness skills programme • Alumni (Main Campus, Muckleneuk) Tutorial services Thutong Learning Centre Harmony Building 12 Cnr. Walker & Joubert Street Unisa Sunnyside Campus Tel: 012 - 484 1190/1/2/3 Fax: 012 - 484 1194

  26. Services provided by regions KwaZulu Regional Hub – Durban • Pre-registration • Pre-registration administration • Financial aid advice • Career advice, guidance & counselling • Recognition of prior learning • Registration • Full registration • Self-help • Postal • Credits and accreditation • Access/Foundation programmes • Cashiers • Information desk • Calendars & brochures available • Dispatch of study material • Counter (Limited) • Postal services from Pretoria to home address • Counselling services • (career & subject information)

  27. Services provided by regions KwaZulu Regional Hub – Durban • Library services • Loaning of books • Access to study space • Limited photo copying • Courier Service • Computer based training & testing (ICDL) • Access to computers • Access to study space Orientation programmes Tutorial services Satellite delivery Reading and writing Peer collaborative learning Work-integrated learning Job readiness skills programme

  28. Services provided by regions Midlands Regional Hub – Rustenburg • Pre-registration • Pre-registration administration • Financial aid advice • Career advice, guidance & counselling • Recognition of prior learning • Registration • Full registration (refer to Muckleneuk Campus) • Self-help (not currently offered) • Online • Postal (Main Campus, Muckleneuk) • Credits and accreditation • Access/Foundation programmes • Information desk • Calendars & brochures available • Dispatch of study material • Courier services • Postal services • Counselling services • (career & subject information)

  29. Services provided by regions Midlands Regional Hub – Rustenburg • Orientation programmes • Satellite delivery • Reading and writing • Peer collaborative learning • Work-integrated learning • Computer based training & testing (ICDL) • Access to computers • Access to study space • Job readiness skills programme • Alumni (Main Campus, Muckleneuk) Tutorial services Rustenburg Technical High School Cnr.Benedenr & Zedelingt Street Rustenburg Tel: 014 - 565 7080 Fax: 014 - 565 2145 bkhonou@unisa.ac.za

  30. Services provided by regions North Eastern Regional Hub – Polokwane • Pre-registration • Pre-registration administration • Financial aid advice • NSFAS • Career advice, guidance & counselling • Recognition of prior learning • Registration • Full registration • Self-help • Online • Postal • Credits and accreditation • Access/Foundation programmes • Information desk • Calendars & brochures available • Dispatch of study material • Courier services • Postal services • Personal counter collection • Counselling services • (career & subject information)

  31. Services provided by regions North Eastern Regional Hub – Polokwane • Orientation programmes • Satellite delivery • Reading and writing • Peer collaborative learning • Work-integrated learning • Job readiness skills programme • Alumni • Graduation Ceremonies Tutorial services Learning centre 23 Landros Mare Street Polokwane Tel: 015 - 290 3419/3445 Fax: 015 - 290 3443 mrakoma@unisa.ac.za tshmanw@unisa.ac.za

  32. Registrations by region

  33. Registrations by region

  34. Annual formal headcount growth

  35. Formal registrations per College

  36. Formal registrations by degree level

  37. Registration by age group

  38. Unisa’s demographic profile

  39. Gender profile

  40. Language profile • 23 different home languages • About 90% of the students use English as an additional language but it is the main language of instruction • Implications for language level in materials: Plain English • Afrikaans is also a medium of instruction • Language Policy: functional multilingualism and promotion of all 11 official South African languages • Glossaries in mother tongues

  41. Staff profile

  42. Technology profile • Predominantly print-based with a huge investment in print technology: biggest publisher in Africa • SAKAI-based learning management system: myUnisa • Satellite footprint in sub-Saharan Africa • Videoconferencing • SMS • Sound, Video and Photography • Centre for Software Engineering • Computer laboratories for students • Science laboratories • Library

  43. Students’ technology preferences • Print (portable, low tech in a poor country not over-supplied with technology) • Just over 50% of students registered on myUnisa • Increasing demand for online interaction on discussion forums • Training efforts to capacitate staff to work online

  44. Contact • Tutors: 10-20% of students attend sessions, mainly on Saturdays • Financially stretched students don’t attend • Deep rural students don’t attend • Group visits: 10-20% of students attend • Limited sites • Increasing number of straight-from-school students who want more contact • Work-integrated learning

  45. Student support • Regions • Tutors • Career counsellors • Study counsellors • PALs: peer assisted learning • Literacy centres • Computer training • Contact centre

  46. Student Representative Council

  47. Academic structure • College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences • College of Economic and Management Sciences • College of Human Sciences • College of Law • College of Science, Engineering and Technology • School of Business Leadership • Centre for African Renaissance Studies

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