Unisa community has heart of gold - University of South Africa

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Unisa commemorates Aids Candlelight Memorial A message of hope and remembrance was very much to the fore at Unisa’s special commemoration of the 25th International Aids Candlelight Memorial in the ZK Matthews Hall on the Friday morning preceding the global event on the third Sunday in May. This historic memorial is among the world’s oldest and largest campaigns against the disease, and since 1983 has honoured those lost or affected by the Aids pandemic. The event also serves to educate and mobilise communities to action. In his opening address, Professor Narend Baijnath, Vice-Principal: Strategy, Planning and Partnerships, emphasised that the vision that drives the University is service, and that the leadership of the University is driven by an ethic of care. He added that it was inspiring to see that there were volunteer workers both inside and outside the University in civil society dedicating themselves to dealing with the scourge of HIV/Aids. The theme of Never give up – never forget was highlighted by a motivational talk by Criselda Kananda, a high-profile Aids activist, dynamic motivational speaker and popular radio presenter. Ms Kananda spoke on the topic The art of winning - using inner strength to overcome challenges, and is a glowing testimony to the healthy and positive lifestyle she advocates. She encouraged the audience to celebrate life and be mindful of their daily blessings, saying that because the hour of our death is unbeknown to us, we should live a life of faith and open our hearts to people irrespective of their health condition. She emphasised the importance of maintaining a good mind, health and prayer life; and reiterated that people should apply excellence in all they do and cling to what is valuable and precious. In conclusion, she urged her attentive audience to focus on what the enemy is: the virus and not the people with the virus. The presentation was followed by a question-and answer session. Meditation Let us affirm together that we are all affected. We can all be infected – indeed some of us are infected without knowing. HIV and AIDS is our challenge, all of us together; HIV and AIDS is our opportunity To relearn what it means to be human, What it means to be alive And how precious it is to be alive, And yet how fragile life is, How vulnerable all of us are. Professor Tinyiko Maluleke Each candle a special meaning The Unisa KwaZulu-Natal Aids peer educators organised their regional event in the Unisa Library on 22 May 2008. The peer educators selected several prayers from different countries to pray at the event. Each candle lit represented a special meaning: for people who died from Aids, people struggling with HIV/Aids, people who support family and friends dealing with HIV/Aids and, for professional people, finding a cure for HIV/Aids. Sister Ntombi Molefe, the VCT Practitioner at the Campus Health Clinic, lights the candles From left, Ms Criselda Kananda and Ms Vicky Malefo, Manager: HIV/Aids Division From left, KZN peer educators Tumelo Mokoena, Nokuthula Ndlovu, Linda Sapo, Zandile Zenzile, Mabusi Vutha, Thuli Shange, Nonkonyiso Nxumalo, Felecia Khanyile, Skhumbuzo Mhlongo 2
Preparations for HEQC Audit on track On 21 May 2008 a detailed briefing session on the Institutional Audit by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) was held at the ZK Matthews Hall on the Muckleneuk campus. This launch of the final preparations allowed staff to acquire a better understanding of why Unisa is undergoing the audit, how the process will be carried out, and the implications for Unisa as a tertiary institution. Ms Liana Griesel, the Acting Executive Director: Strategy, Planning and Quality Assurance and Promotion, began by outlining the regulatory framework for quality assurance at Unisa. She pointed out some of the areas that the HEQC Audit will tackle. The second speaker was Ms Rachel Prinsloo, Director: Academic Quality Assurance and Programme Reaccreditation, who enlightened staff about Unisa’s responsiveness to the HEQC Audit and how to interpret the criteria. She presented a brief overview of the HEQC National System and the criteria for the audit model, as well as Unisa’s policy interpretative approach. Thereafter Professor Wendy Kilfoil, Director: Institute for Curriculum and Learning Development (ICLD), explained what the Unisa’s portfolio would consist From left, Professor Wendy Kilfoil, Director: ICLD; Ms Liana Griesel, Acting Executive Director: Strategy, Planning and Quality Assurance and Promotion; Mr Gerard Grobler, Director: Communications; Professor Louie Swanepoel, Acting Director: Quality Assurance and Promotion; Ms Rachel Prinsloo, Director: Academic Quality Assurance and Programme Reaccreditation of and the rationale behind it, and highlighted questions that could be posed during the interview process. The last speaker for the day was Professor Louie Swanepoel, Acting Director: Quality Assurance and Promotion, who informed staff on how to prepare for the Audit. Professor Swanepoel said that it is important to have an idea of what the aims of the Audit are and how to work towards that. She also gave staff an overview of some of the operational aspects during the course of the Audit. The session concluded with a productive Q&A session. Delivery of quality services essential By its nature Open Distance Learning (ODL) demands the provision of diverse professional and administrative support services. The experience of the student is underpinned by a well-defined value chain commencing with educational programmes developed by academic staff, through registration processes to delivery of materials and return of assignments, examinations and records management. This includes essential academic support functions such as the Library, materials design and development, as well as the critical support area of Human Resources. Unisa’s Integrated Quality Management Framework clearly defines that policies, processes and procedures regulate and ensure the consistency of the day-to-day operations, and this forms the backbone of quality management and good service delivery. In order to ensure consistency and alignment of quality assurance mechanisms across Unisa, a professional and administrative support services quality assurance committee (PAQC) operates as a subcommittee of the Quality Assurance Committee of Unisa and is responsible to the QA committee for quality matters of all of the support services. Professional and administrative support services must conform to most of the HEQC institutional audit criteria in supporting teaching and learning, research and community engagement. The purpose of the Institutional Audit in the week of 11–15 August 2008 is also to assess the effectiveness of the quality management systems of support services as well as to identify areas of strength that should be acknowledged or commended, and areas of weaknesses that need to be addressed with different degrees of urgency. During the HEQC Institutional Audit the audit panel will interview selected interviewees from the professional and administrative support services. These interviews will be held according to a schedule or programme as agreed between the HEQC and Unisa. 3
Page 1: STAFF NEWSLETTER JUNE 2008 Unisa co
Page 5 and 6: Support services important role to
Page 7 and 8: - the Study Materials Unit Planning
Page 9 and 10: First volume of Language Matters pu
Page 11 and 12: Midlands host a Tutor Development W

Unisa community has heart of gold - University of South Africa

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?