In the quest to acquire rich information Durban University of Technology’s Co-operative Education hosted a building capacity for WIL workshop at Coastlands Hotel, recently.

In attendance were various University, TVET and college Co-operative Education staff members.
Giving insightful facts about the importance of Co-operative Education were Anne Fannon, Director of the Professional Development programme and Judene Pretti, Director for Centre for the Advancement of Co-Operative Education in the University of Waterloo in Canada.
Fannon said as a member of the Waterloo University Co-Op Department, she believes strongly in WIL as it does more than provide students with relevant experience. It can also help to develop transferrable (soft) skills, technical skills, clarity on career aspirations, career seeking skills, and an understanding of the workplace culture.
Other topics tackled during the workshop were on quality student learning experiences, recruiting employers, to mention but a few.

The discussion attested more similarities in challenges for WIL faced by both Cooperative departments in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and at the University of Waterloo. One of the major challenges is the readiness of students for the workplace, a majority agreed that there is much difficulty when students have to relate the curriculum to practical work which resulted in students not living up to expectations in the workplace.
Fannon said she was beyond surprised by how many similarities exist in terms of challenges experienced by DUT and Waterloo universities.

DUT Co-operative Education Director Mr Ori Shakeel said global research has shown the students understand better if academic learning is integrated with real-life work experience. Also, having presenters from the Waterloo University conduct workshops in South Africa helps us (DUT) to better structure the WIL programmes.
“Work integrated learning is now being adopted in tertiary education by many countries around the world. In order to better place students in the industry, a University needs to build relationships with the industry and that is our role. Having Co-operative Education and Learning staff from Waterloo University is a great benefit for us,” he said.
The University of Waterloo president will be visiting the DUT Co-operative Education Department in July 2018.

Pictured: From left: DUT’s Dr Themba Msukwini, Anne Fannon (Waterloo University Co-op department Director for Professional Development Programme), Judene Pretti, Waterloo University and Shakeel Ori DUT’s Co-op Education Department Director.

Mbuso Kunene and Nomfundo Ngcobo