Message from dean

Massification of higher education institutions has resulted in a multitude of serious challenges that impact on the quality of graduates, throughput rates and overall time taken to complete degrees, and the overall teaching and learning experience in higher education institutions. Another aspect that this impacts on is the high attrition rate of students due to their underperformance and the slow response of higher education institutions to respond to the need for enhancing the learning experience for the students. The support measures offered must transcend the realm of purely academic support and include significant socio-psychological support as well. This then directly speaks to the need for teaching and learning to be streamlined, student-centered, palliative and inclusionary.

Visionary teaching and learning strategies not only enhance the student experience but also enrich the teaching and learning strategy of the institution while at the same time maintaining the high academic standards associated with UKZN. As an institution, collectively there are numerous measures now in place that seek to partially respond to this. In addition to Academic Monitoring and Support, an informed approach to teaching pedagogy are key to improving graduate quality, reducing attrition rates and thus makes Universities more sustainable in these tough economic times. Developing a streamlined curricula in line with meeting the needs of the job market, including emphasising core and analytical skills so that graduates contribute meaningfully to their sectors has become the need of the hour.