UV Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

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22 Jaaroorsig • 2007 those related to the envisaged migration of on-campus modules from WebCT to Moodle at the end of 2007, it was decided to defer the expansion of the blended model to 2008. The migration of first-semester modules from WebCT to Moodle for on-campus students was completed at the end of November 2007. A total of 465 course modules will be available to students on the institutional learning management system at the beginning of 2008. The migration of modules from WebCT to Moodle was characterised by a re-evaluation of learning materials and support for lecturers in ensuring that the new modules on Moodle were interactive and that the modules encouraged active student engagement. The Division Teaching, Learning and Assessment was also involved in the migration process and offered lecturers support with regard to the pedagogical foundations upon which the modules had been designed. Planning has already begun, in consultation with lecturers involved, for the implementation of new e-learning modules during 2008. By the end of November 2007, 128 academic staff members had attended both a Moodle Orientation workshop and a Moodle Follow-up workshop. The planning of four experimental modules, in collaboration with interested academics, in 2006 led to the implementation of three of these modules in 2007. The first module is a general academic skills module that was developed in collaboration with the teaching and learning team in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The second is a language-proficiency module, aimed at postgraduate students. This module was developed in collaboration with the Department of English. The third module was developed in collaboration with the Department of Economics and involves the novel use of an interactive, electronic textbook. It is envisaged that these modules will be implemented fully during 2007 and 2008, and that the first evaluations of these modules will be conducted at the end of 2008. Deursetkoers kry aandag Die Fakulteit Natuur- en Landbouwetenskappe het ’n Leeren Onderrigbestuurder aangestel om die deurvloei koerse van die fakulteit te verbeter. Sy aanvanklike fokus is op die kursusse in die eerste jaar van die verlengde en die gewone programme. Volgens ’n navorsingsverslag wat op 2006 se syfers gebaseer is, is daar wel sukses met die verlengde program, maar is die sukseskoers (ongeveer 30%) laag en ver- dere ingrypings moet gemaak word. Die blyk duide lik dat ’n beter punt vir wiskunde in matriek ’n goeie aan dui ding gee of studente suksesvol gaan wees in die program al dan nie. Dit blyk veral dat swak wiskunde-onderrig op skool nie maklik in een jaar op universiteit reg gestel kan word nie. Gegewe hierdie feite, het die fakulteit besluit om sy betrokkenheid op skoolvlak te verhoog en is ’n projek ontwikkel om die leermateriaal in die wiskunde en weten skappe op skoolvlak te help ontwikkel en om onderwysers by te staan in die gebruik van leermateriaal. Career preparation a success In the Career Preparation Programme (CPP), an access programme, over 1 240 students registered were registered in 2007. A total of 1 014 degrees have been awarded since 1996 to students who commenced their studies in CPP; 95 of these were honours degrees, sixteen masters degrees, and six M.B.Ch.B degrees. On account of a partnership agreement between the National Institute for Higher Education in the Northern Cape (NIHE) and the UFS, student numbers increased in Kimberley from 30 in 2002 to 264 in 2007. Since January 2005, second-year courses in Economic and Management Sciences as well as in Humanities were also implemented and 38 students registered in these programmes. Since Jan uary 2006 certain third-year courses were also imple men ted. A total of 41 third-year students registered in 2007. At the end of 2006, the first seven B.Soc.Sc (Human and Social Dynamics) students graduated from this partnership. Student Successes Year % Success 2003 72% 2004 68% 2005 70% 2006 72% 2007 70% Student success rates are of critical importance. At the time of the Institutional Audit in 2006, it was identified by the UFS – and subsequently by the audit panel – as a potential problem. Data showed a decline in the overall success rate (from 73,4% to 69,2%) from 2003 to 2004. The approved UFS Enrollment Plan of the Department of Education stipulates a target of 74% for the UFS from 2008 to 2010.
Data for 2004 - 2006 show a marked four percentagepoint increase in the overall success rate, but a 2% drop again in 2007. As far as new first-year students are concerned, the period since 2004 - 2006 also displays a significant increase in success rates. For black first-years it has gone up from 50% to 59%. For white students the success rate is 80%, which equals the national benchmark figure. While the success rate for black students is not ac ceptable yet, the increase as such is an important change. The impact of the new Department of Student Development and Success and its new tutorial programmes will hope fully boost the success rate significantly. The context in which the UFS functions and the stu dent population that it serves are relevant factors. The UFS has chosen to be a university of access to students with potential from disadvantaged backgrounds, and has created various routes of access and success for such students. The UFS does not exclusively target learners from private schools, for instance, or use artificially high admis sion criteria to exclude students from disadvantaged school backgrounds. Compared to a university that adopts such strategies, the educational value-added that the UFS imparts to its students may be much, much higher. Nevertheless, this is an area that we would like to improve significantly. Onvoorwaardelike gradering ’n eerste Op die gebied van onderrig en leer is die Sentrum vir Rekeningkunde in die Fakulteit Ekonomiese en Be stuurswe tenskappe is die eerste in Suid-Afrika om ’n on voor waarde like gradering van die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad van Ge ok- An Office for Postgraduate Support was approved in June 2007 and students, staff and faculties stand to benefit. Postgraduate students and postdoctoral research fellows will have their interests promoted in synergy with faculty and departmental facilities. The office will also provide a critical resource to the faculties in the form of a single database of post graduate students, postgraduate topics, supervisors and funding opportunities. It will also serve as a useful resource and base for training and information for younger and less Annual Review • 2007 23 trooi eerde Rekenmeesters te kry vir die voorbereiding van geoktrooieerde rekenmeesters. In die jaarlikse MBAbeoordeling deur die Financial Mail het die Bestuurskool ook baie goed gepresteer. More students are drawn to programmes The Programme in Higher Education Studies experienced rapid growth and the number of full qualifications (advanced diploma, M.A. and Ph.D.) increased to almost a hundred. Approximately thirty persons registered for occasional studies in the various modules (short courses excluded). The number of Ph.D. students in Higher Education Studies increased to 25. Four completed their degrees. The variety and the interdisciplinary nature of the research undertaken manifest in the topics of these stu dies, namely: effective student evaluation, skills development in public-health training, promotion of learning amongst unprepared students and the development of a research culture in undergraduate occupational therapy. The M.A. programme experienced exceptional growth in 2007 when forty members of staff and from other institutions enrolled for the first year of the qualification. There were about 15 students in the Advanced Diploma in Higher Education, but there are clear indications that an increasing number of students from the FET and privateeducation sectors are interested in the qualification. Several persons with extended experience in these sectors have obtained admission to enroll for the qualification after going through a recogition of prior learning (RPL) process. There are already indications that these persons can become the most successful group in the programme. Office to support postgraduate learning and research experienced members. The creation of this office is part of a concerted effort by the UFS to create an optimal environment for post graduate students to achieve quality and excellence in their research activities. This is in line with the emphasis placed by government on post graduate students – through the NRF’s strategy of Ph.D. a Key Driver. The HEQC Audit identified also the absence an office for post-graduate students as a weakness regarding quality-related arrange ments for postgraduate education.
Page 3 and 4: 2007 UV Jaaroorsig UFS Annual Revie
Page 5 and 6: Inhoud • Content 1 Fortifying the
Page 7 and 8: Change and transformation amidst co
Page 9 and 10: vank like ontwikkeling van die geme
Page 11 and 12: 1 Give a thought to Africa! ’neat
Page 13 and 14: These strategic clusters were defin
Page 15 and 16: Jolkol, die nuwe kuierplek vir stud
Page 17 and 18: Two important overarching transform
Page 19 and 20: notable principle in the latter con
Page 21 and 22: epaling dat koshuise steeds ’n s
Page 23 and 24: These projects include the Grow Our
Page 25 and 26: Onder tutors is 80% van kleur, terw
Page 27: Annual Review • 2007 21 Die groei
Page 31 and 32: der rigstudente in Bloemfontein aan
Page 33 and 34: The total expenditure on research i
Page 35 and 36: sleutelstudies is reeds in 2007 afg
Page 37 and 38: ’n Syaansig van die Chemie-gebou
Page 39 and 40: Annual Review • 2007 33 Die Sentr
Page 41 and 42: internasionale befondsing van ongev
Page 43 and 44: Annual Review • 2007 37 The SIFE
Page 45 and 46: kontak in November 2007 om te verse
Page 47 and 48: Annual Review • 2007 41 ’n Vert
Page 49 and 50: Annual Review • 2007 43 Ontwikkel
Page 51 and 52: Construction on a new computer lab.
Page 53 and 54: We prepare students for a career in
Page 55 and 56: Annual Review • 2007 49 The manag
Page 57 and 58: Lugversorging is ook in die Teologi
Page 59 and 60: A First-year Success Week takes pla
Page 61 and 62: Studente bly die hart waarom alles
Page 63 and 64: Die vernaamste eienskappe van die h
Page 65 and 66: Prof. Sakkie Pretorius, Renée Prin
Page 67 and 68: The growth in general research outp
Page 69 and 70: ported in the media and university

UV Jaaroorsig - University of the Free State

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