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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

Horse-riding therapy improves self-confidence in children
2016-05-10


This group of Honours students in Psychology at the University of the Free State was honoured with the best postgraduate Service Learning award at the prize-giving function of the Faculty of the Humanities. From the left are Adriana de Vries, Hershel Meyerowitz, Simoné le Roux, Wijbren Nell, Melissa Taljaard, and Gerán Lordan. Photo: Marizanne Cloete.

Horse-riding therapy helps to improve self-confidence in children, and changes their perception of themselves. It puts them in a totally new environment where they can be free of any judgement.

According to Wijbren Nell, who achieved his Honours degree in Psychology at the University of the Free State (UFS), this is the ideal therapy when working with children with disabilities. He said it was amazing to see how they developed.

He was part of a group of Honours students in Psychology who received the best postgraduate Service Learning award in the Faculty of the Humanities for their community project. In 2015, this project by Wijbren, Hershel Meyerowitz, Gerán Lordan, Melissa Taljaard, Simoné le Roux, and Adriana de Vries, was part of their module Community and Social Psychology. They were honoured at the Faculty’s prize-giving function on 15 April 2016.

Purpose of project

“Our purpose with the project was to demonstrate to the children that they could still accomplish something, despite their disabilities,” Wijbren said. The students work on a weekly basis with learners from the foundation phase of the Lettie Fouché School in Bloemfontein. Marie Olivier’s Equistria Therapeutic Development Trust serves as the site for the community project. She has a long standing partnership with the UFS.

Horse-riding and therapy

According to Wijbren, the idea was to stimulate the psychomotor functioning of the children, as well as to promote their psychological well-being. He said research has shown that there is incredible therapeutic value in horse-riding. In this specific case, it has improved the children’s self-confidence, as they may have a poor self-image as a result of their disabilities.

“At the beginning of the year, there was a girl who didn’t even want to come close to a horse, let alone getting onto the horse. We kept on trying, and, once she was on the horse, we couldn’t get her down. This was the amazing thing about the project,” said Wijbren.

Award a surprise

Wijbren said the award was a honour and surprise to his group. He was full of praise for Dr Pravani Naidoo, a lecturer in Psychology at the UFS, who coordinates the therapeutic horse riding project. “She has a tremendous passion for this project, and challenged us to think on our feet. She is a real inspiration.”

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