The Durban University of Technology successfully hosted the National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning South Africa (NADEOSA) Conference during which academics and education practitioners from various academic and training institutions met to exchange ideas on various aspects regarding policy, theory, ethics and practice of open learning and distance education.

The event was held from Tuesday, 7 July 2015 to Thursday, 9 July 2015. The conference was also attended by delegates from other South African universities including Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), University of South Africa (UNISA) and the North West University (NWU).

Professor Ahmed Bawa, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at DUT, said that universities and community colleges should work together in providing educational needs to the public, adding that the issue of critical skills shortages must be addressed. “We continue to have dysfunctional school system in the country. The bottom line is that the vast majority of our students that come to the universities and colleges are underprepared for higher levels of education and that is an issue that we have to deal with”, he said.

Professor Mpine Makoe, Nadeosa President said, “Open learning is accessible and affordable and people should make good use of it. In instances of poverty, education can be the only breakthrough so it is vital for people to access education especially those people who were isolated in the past”.

– Sihle Ndebele

Pictured: Prof Ahmed Bawa, DUT Vice-Chancellor (far right) with delegates at the NADEOSA Conference.