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31 October 2023 | Story EDZANI NEPHALELA | Photo JOLANDI GRIESEL
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Buti Manamela
Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Buti Manamela delivers the keynote address at the launch of the Advanced Diploma in Technical Vocational Training.

Thanks to a collaborative effort between the University of the Free State (UFS), the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE), Open Learning, and the European Union (EU), an Advanced Diploma in Technical Vocational Training was launched at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus earlier this month.

This innovative programme, which is offered at NQF level 7, includes resources such as Mathematics Method, Method of Teaching Automotive Repair and Maintenance, Collage-based Work-integrated Learning, and Method of Teaching Electrical Engineering, and is designed to meet the evolving demands of the modern workforce by combining cutting-edge technical education with a strong vocational focus. The diploma aims to equip South African students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in a rapidly changing job market. The programme has also been enriched by expertise and resources from the EU, enhancing its international appeal and quality.

Dr Engela van Staden, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the UFS, expressed the primary goal of this collaboration as providing access to higher education for those in need, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the skills and abilities of lecturers in TVET (technical and vocational education and training) colleges. "The UFS is optimistic that these open education resource materials will be valuable to all universities and TVET colleges willing to offer this diploma,” she said.

Possibilities for sharing of open educational resources

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Buti Manamela said that education and training stand at the forefront of transformation in our fast-evolving world. “We are witnessing a paradigm shift from traditional learning methods to a more inclusive, accessible, and collaborative approach,” he said. Open learning emphasises accessibility of available educational resources and the free exchange of knowledge by offering two open licenses, the National Open Learning System (NOLS) and Learning Management System (LMS).

“Open Educational Resources, or OER, embody the spirit of open learning,” he said. “We all know that these freely accessible, openly licensed materials hold the power to revolutionise the way we educate our students. Imagine a South Africa where educational resources are not confined to the walls of an institution but are adopted and adapted by multiple institutions, giving students access to the highest-quality materials developed by a team of experts. Any student, regardless of their institution, geographic location, or socio-economic background, has equal access to high-quality educational opportunities. This is the promise OER brings to our education and training landscape.” 

The power of partnerships

This collaboration focused on developing open learning materials that will be freely accessible and adaptable to the unique needs of South African universities offering programmes for TVET college lecturer development. It is believed that six universities, including the University of the Witwatersrand and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, have already adopted these resources.

Nolwazi Gasa, Deputy Director-General: Planning, Policy and Strategy at the DHET, said this collaboration is a testament to the power of international partnerships in addressing the challenges facing education today. “The collaborative efforts of the EU aimed to enhance teacher development in South Africa and integrate the Fourth Industrial Revolution into the DHET. Partnerships are pivotal in addressing critical issues within our nation, particularly in education and learning. We are dedicated to forging a path toward a more promising future for our educators, students, and the overall prosperity of our esteemed nation.”

Jennie Glennie, SAIDE Founding Director, reflected on the processes to ensure the launch of this diploma. “Our collaborative effort involved academics from 13 universities, five TVET college lecturers, and a South College Principal's Organization representative,” she said. Additionally, three learning design experts, including a subject developer, critical reviewer, and learning design specialist contributed to bringing this vision to fruition. As we launch these modules, let us remember the transformative power of education and continue our journey towards a brighter, more skilled, and more prosperous South Africa.” 

News Archive

Researchers international leaders in satellite tracking in the wildlife environment
2015-05-29

 

Ground-breaking research has attracted international media attention to Francois Deacon, lecturer and researcher in the Department Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences at the UFS, and Prof Nico Smit, from the same department. They are the first researchers in the world to equip giraffes with GPS collars, and to conduct research on this initiative. Recently, they have been joined by Hennie Butler from the Department of Zoology as well as Free State Nature Conservation to further this research.

“Satellite tracking is proving to be extremely valuable in the wildlife environment. The unit is based on a mobile global two-way communication platform, utilising two-way data satellite communication, complete with GPS systems.

“It allows us to track animals day and night, while we monitor their movements remotely from the computer. These systems make possible the efficient control and monitoring of wildlife in all weather conditions and in near-to-real time. We can even communicate with the animals, calling up their positions or changing the tracking schedules.

“The satellite collar allows us to use the extremely accurate data to conduct research with the best technology available. The volume of data received allows us to publish the data in scientific journals and research-related articles.  

“Scientific institutions and the public sector have both shown great interest in satellite tracking, which opens up new ground for scientific research for this university. Data management can be done, using Africa Wildlife Tracking (AWT) equipment where we can access our data personally, store it, and make visual presentations. The AWT system and software architecture provide the researcher with asset tracking, GPS location reports, geo-fencing, highly-detailed custom mapping, history reports and playback, polling on demand, history plotting on maps, and a range of reporting types and functions,” Francois said.

Data can be analysed to determine home range, dispersal, or habitat preference for any specific species.

Francois has been involved in multiple research projects over the last 12 years on wildlife species and domesticated animals, including the collaring of species such as Black-backed Jackal, Caracal, African Wild Dog, Hyena, Lion, Cheetah, Cattle, Kudu, Giraffe, and Black Rhino: “Giraffe definitely being the most challenging of all,” he said.

In 2010, he started working on his PhD, entitled The spatial ecology, habitat preferences and diet selection of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the Kalahari region of South Africa.

 

Since then, his work has resulted not only in more research work (supervising four Masters students) but also in a number of national and international projects. These include work in the:

  • Kalahari region (e.g. Khamab Nature Reserve and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park)
  • Kuruman region (Collared 18 cattle to identify spatial patterns in relation to the qualities of vegetation and soil-types available. This project took place in collaboration with Born University in Germany)
  • Woodland Hills Wildlife Estate and Kolomella Iron Ore – ecological monitoring
  • A number of Free State nature reserves (e.g. Distribution of herbivores (kudu and giraffe) and predators (camera traps)

Francois is also involved with species breeding programmes and management (giraffe, buffalo, sable, roan, and rhino) in Korrannaberg, Rustenburg, Hertzogville, Douglas, and Bethlehem as well as animal and ecological monitoring in Kolomella and Beesthoek iron ore.

Besides the collaring of giraffes, Francois and his colleagues are involved in national projects, where they collect milk from lactating giraffes and DNA material, blood samples, and ecto/endo parasites from giraffes in Southern Africa.

With international projects, Francois is working to collect DNA material for the classification of the nine sub-species of giraffe in Africa. He is also involved in projects focusing on the spatial ecology and adaptation of giraffe in Uganda (Murchison Falls), and to save the last 30 giraffe in the DRC- Garamba National Park.

This project has attracted a good deal of international interest. In June 2014, a US film crew (freelancing for Discovery Channel) filmed a documentary on Francois’ research (trailer of documentary). Early in 2015, a second crew, filming for National Geographic, also visited Francois to document his work.

 

More information about Francois’ work is available at the GCF website. 

Read Francois Deacon's PhD abstract

Direct enquiries to news@ufs.ac.za.

 

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