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UFS South Campus: Leading in Childhood Education

16 February 2023 | Story Kekeletso Takang | Photo Kekeletso Takang

Leading Education — Leading in Open Distance and E-Learning is Dr Bawinile Mthanti (left), and Programme Director for Childhood Education; Dr Zukiswa Nhase (right).

If you want to make a change, be you. These are the words of Dr Zukiswa Nhase, Programme Director for the Department of Childhood Education and Lecturer in the Faculty of Education. She believes that to make an impact, a leader needs to demonstrate care.

As of 2023, the Department of Childhood Education (DCE) – Foundation Phase – relocated to the South Campus, widening the offering of the campus. The Grade R Diploma in Teaching and the Advanced Certificate in Teaching are flagship undergraduate programmes offered by the Faculty of Education.

Grade R Diploma bridging the gap

The Grade R Diploma in Teaching, an initiative of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), is geared towards equipping and supporting childhood development teachers.

Catering for the Free State context, the qualification accommodates English, Afrikaans, Sesotho, and isiZulu speakers. Teachers are taught by experienced specialists in the field who understand their daily challenges. This is according to Dr Nhase. The DCE has much to offer, being a leader in the country in offering the Grade R diploma, with universities across South Africa benchmarking from the UFS.

The primary purpose of this qualification is to empower teachers with the appropriate skills and knowledge to optimise any teaching-learning situation. Informed by research, the Grade R Diploma in Teaching has been developed to meet specific national skills needs that exist in South Africa’s education system, with specific reference to the Grade R distance education model which provides a customised and practical opportunity for existing teachers to upgrade their knowledge and level of professionalism without having to attend full-time contact classes.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) in South Africa refers to an all-inclusive approach to programmes and policies for children from birth to seven years of age. Formerly with the Department of Social Development, ECD now reports to the Department of Basic Education. This move was to bridge the gap that existed and to unify the teaching professions.

Advanced Certificate in Teaching

Another offering on the South Campus under the stewardship of Dr Bawinile Mthanti, Head of Open Distance and E-Learning (ODEL) in the Faculty of Education, is the Advanced Certificate in Teaching. Previously managed by the UFS and HEPSA, ACT is now solely managed by the UFS. Delivered in two modes, it is aimed at upgrading the qualifications of teachers who are currently employed without adequate training. This programme is an excellent opportunity to provide specialist education to teachers who need to strengthen their subject-specialisation knowledge base.

The Advanced Certificate in Teaching is delivered in the online mode (100% online with no face-to-face contact with the lecturer) and the blended distance-learning mode (some online activity and face-to-face contact with the lecturer). Through this programme, students advance closer to a Bachelor of Education.

With Gauteng province leading the way with the number of registered students, the ACT has had great successes and will only advance when it is offered solely in online mode from 2024. “We are currently in the process of acquiring approval in the UFS structures to offer ACT solely online from 2024,” says Dr Mthanti.

For more information on the programmes and other Faculty of Education offerings, visit our website.

News Archive

A learning path for working adults

2009-02-09

From the left are: Ms Maquida du Preez (MDP Programme Manager), Ms Eliche Lorandi ( Marketing Executive), Mr Theo Potgieter (BEE and Transformation Manager), Ms Marie Griebenouw (Programme Manager) and Mr Danie Jacobs (Head: Centre fro Business Dynamics).
Photo: Mangaliso Radebe

In the short space of five years, the Centre for Business Dynamics at the University of the Free State (UFS) has grown in stature to such an extent that it is currently offering leadership development programmes at 45 institutions all over the country.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary of the centre’s establishment, its director, Mr Danie Jacobs, said the centre was the first commercial unit in South Africa, attached to a business school, to establish a desk focusing on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and Transformation in association with Empowerdex.

The main purpose of this joint venture with Empowerdex is to deliver comprehensive BEE training through the development and presentation of various programmes.

The centre has also introduced the High-Performing Directors’ Programme in association with ABSA. A total of about 40 students have enrolled for this programme so far,and their numbers fluctuate every year.

It is also the first unit in the country to link up with Thinking Fusion, one of the three consultancies contracted by the UFS, to introduce two unique leadership programmes, namely a programme in Creating Leadership and Personal Capacity in Women and the Leadership in the Connection Economy programme.

“Our aim is to prepare women for full participation as managers and leaders in transforming organizations to become truly integrated and representative of the full diversity spectrum of South Africa,” Mr Jacobs said.

“We have built amazing relationships with various clients, both in the private and public sector, over the last five years,” said Mr Jacobs. “I believe the success of the Centre for Business Dynamics lies within our methodology of action learning, as well as creating a learning path for working adults.”

“Because of our country’s history not all people are on an equal footing when it comes to prior learning, so we level the playing field by breaking the training up into easily absorbable components. The centre can address the training needs of any company because of the multiple resources that we are fortunate enough to have at our fingertips,” he said.

The centre also offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Tax Strategy and Management, aimed at bringing all parties involved in the field of taxation up to date with the latest developments and changes.

In addition, the centre has introduced The Choice and The Choice at Work programme in association with the Arbinger Institute in the United States of America. There are also two management programmes, namely the Management Preparation Programme and the Management Development Programme.

Apart from these programmes, the centre also offers products and services such as short courses, workshops and consultations.

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
9 February 2009

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