THE EFFECTIVENESS OF WORK-INTEGRATED LEARNING IN SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES OF TECHNOLOGY: A CASE STUDY OF DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

Author(s):  
Knowledge Ngwane
2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nisha Ramlutchman

Over the past decade, higher education institutions in South Africa have begun the shift towards a more structured work integrated learning framework, merging an academic component with specific industry requirements. Stemming from an ethnically diverse South African society, the South African corporate sector is made up of a group of varied individuals who bring with them specific cultural dynamics to the working environment. This paper investigates the intercultural communication sensitivity of students during their work integrated learning training, resulting in a discussion on the value for integrating intercultural education at a tertiary curricula level. The study is located at the Durban University of Technology. The study was quantitative and descriptive in nature. A total of 189 questionnaires were completed and returned by students who completed their work integrated learning (WIL) training during 2010. The intercultural sensitivity scale developed by Chen and Starosta was used in the questionnaire to measure the intercultural sensitivity level of these students during their WIL training. The results showed that the students were comfortable engaging with different cultural groups during their WIL training, students also attached a high value to the respect for cultural differences and they found the experience of interacting with people from different cultures uplifting


Author(s):  
Alon Eisenstein ◽  
Neta Raz

After decades of decreasing long-term job security and ongoing global economic crises, attention on and interest in entrepreneurship have significantly increased among Gen Y and Gen Z students in higher education institutions around the world. The pedagogical potential of work-integrated learning (WIL) and the increased offering of entrepreneurship programs in higher education intersect in a field referred to as entrepreneurial WIL (EWIL). This field, where WIL pedagogy is applied to deliver the learning outcomes of entrepreneurship education, is discussed here. The unique features and associated challenges that EWIL presents, particularly when compared with traditional forms of WIL experiences, are also examined, from the framework of a case study conducted on an internship-based course offered in a Canadian university. This chapter contributes to an understanding of the various factors that should be considered when developing novel EWIL programs in higher education institutions.


Author(s):  
Aaron Mnguni

Translation as a field of study is fairly new in South Africa because before 1994, the official languages were English and Afrikaans and everybody was expected to know and use those languages. Consequently, there is not much about translation practice that is written by South African authors. Following this, translation books from outside South Africa are generally used and prescribed, thus stifling inherent experiences, since little is written by the South Africans themselves.  A total number of 46 language practice students participated in this quantitative study. This study explored challenges encountered by first year language practice students, when using their prescribed book, at the Central University of Technology, Welkom Campus. Results indicated that students were not benefitting maximally from using the prescribed book, which is by any standard an excellent book. The socio-cultural experiences of the students were missing, thus prevent students’ from mastering the subject content better. From the data collected, it is recommended, amongst other recommendations, that a bias towards books reflecting South African experiences be prioritized as well as also allowing students to participate in making book choices.


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