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Building closer ties with industry to achieve student success

15 March 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin

IAC members — The IAC from left; Dr Ivor Zwane, Reneë Beck, Gus Silber, Luhlumelo Toyana, Dr Adri van der Merwe, Nick Efstathiou, Avela Ntsongelwa, Prof Colin Chasi, HOD Communication Department, Alzane Narrain, Nomvo Bam and Dr Gustav Puth.

Building ties with industry experts provides greater prospects for bursaries, prizes for top students, as well as informal internships. This is why the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS) took the bold and commendable step of soliciting the expertise of an Industry Advisory Council (IAC).

“As a department we believe it is important to stay in touch with the industry to ensure that we, and the work we do, stays relevant in order to increase the chances of making our students preferred candidates in the workplace,” said Dr Adri van der Merwe, lecturer at the department.

The advisory panel consisted of Reneë Beck, founder and CEO of Pink Lemon; Nick Efstathiou, newly appointed CEO of Central Media Group; DDr Ivor Zwane, chairman of the board for Small to Medium Enterprise Development; education journalist Gus Silber; journalist Alzane Narrain; Dr Gustav Puth, Academic Director of Post-Graduate Executive Education at Monash South Africa; photographer Luhlumelo Toyana; Avela Ntsongelwa,master's student and Nomvo Bam.

The initiative also created a platform for the students to engage with IAC members. The Department hosted the IAC on 6 March 2019 on the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.

Advice to assist in improving curriculum

“The IAC members’ feedback will influence our curriculum, both in the short term when we begin to shift emphasis on certain matters, as well as in the longer term when we replace or expand on specific modules,” Van der Merwe said.

The advice given by IAC members will be taken very seriously. “We have captured all their input on video, and will now, in preparation for our strategic planning session later this year, analyse and prioritise the actions we need to implement their proposals.” she said. The students are also represented on the IAC in order to hear and take into consideration what the students have to say about how the curriculum can be improved to prepare them more effectively for the workplace.

The department plan on hosting the IAC yearly.

Elbie Lombard, lecturer in the Department and Lihlumelo Toyana

Nick Efstathiou listening to Dr Ivor Zwane (right)

Students listening to the panel talk about trends in Communication Industry

Prof Colin Chasi, HOD of the Department Communication Science with Gus Silber

The IAC members during Q&A session with students

Alzane Narrain with Dr Adri van Der Merwe and Prof Francis Petersen

Students from the Department Communication Science

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor with Dr Adri Van Der Merwe and Avela Ntsongelwa

News Archive

FASSET funding bid secures R54 million for black accounting students

2015-08-28

The Centre for Accounting in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences has made great strides with its INTRABAS projects, which support the development of black student enrolment and performance in Accounting Studies.

Recently, the university won four bids that have secured R54 million in funding from the Finance and Accounting Services Sector Education and Training Authority (FASSET) for 2016. This funding will support the teaching and learning initiatives of 960 black accounting students enrolling for the following four accounting programmes: BAcc, BCom(Acc), BAcc(Hons)/PGDipCA and BCom(Hons in Acc)/PGDipGA.The benefit to these students is the envisaged increase in throughput rates by 10% from year- to- year until the Honours year. This covers tuition fees, text books, and extra tutorials, including autumn, winter and spring boot camps.

“FASSET funding will give the Centre for Accounting an opportunity to strengthen our current student-centered teaching model” said Prof Hentie van Wyk, Programme Director: Training of Accountants at the UFS.

The Centre for Accounting has a “1” accreditation grading from the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), and has achieved an 80% average success rate over the past three years in the Initial Test of Competency (ITC) of SAICA.

Download the application form for FASSET funding or collect one at the Centre for Accounting at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. The closing date for applications is 31 October 2015.

For more information, contact Dirkelien de Beer on +27(0)51 401 3688 debeerdb@ufs.ac.za /Prof Hentie van Wyk vanwykha@ufs.ac.za

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