The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, emphasized the need of exposing students to the work environment. He was speaking during the opening day, 18 July of the 3rd WIL Africa Conference – currently happening at Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga, Durban.
Mthembu who also serves as the Chairperson of the Universities South Africa (USAF), was amongst the panelists in a discussion which focused on the impact of dropping WIL from qualifications and the challenges from the implementation of WIL.
“I do believe that getting our students exposed to the work environment should be more continuous than it currently is,” Mthembu said.
Mthembu further stated that there may be universities of technologies (UoT’s) that want to be traditional universities without fulfilling their mission as UoT’s. He said graduating from a technikon previously had more employment opportunities than graduation at a traditional university.
With attendance from several delegates from higher education institutions in Southern Africa, the opening day of the WIL Conference provided insight on some of the major issues relating to WIL at UoT’s and TVET colleges.
In his welcome address, the President of Southern African Society for Co-operative Education (SASCE), Carva Pop, highlighted WIL as a platform that enables nation building by bridging the gap between higher education and industries for social development.
“The reality is that universities are expected to perform as viable national citizens, producing graduates that help steer developing economies into competitive global markets and that begins with WIL,” Pop said.
Fresh from his lecture on entrepreneurship at the Durban University of Technology, Prof. Feridun Hamdullahpur, the President of the University of Waterloo in Canada, spoke directly to employers about the importance of giving students a platform to develop their skills.
“When you think about Work-Integrated Learning, think of it as an experience for the entire class, think of it as an experience for the entire institution, not a single individual,” Hamdullahpur said.
He said Waterloo University had about 21 000 students placed on WIL in 120 programmes the university offered for the 2016/2017 academic year. Hamdullahpur further stated that at Waterloo University, a student has up to five opportunities of being placed on WIL in the relevant industries- making the university a leader on WIL placement in the world.
During the conference, Prof. Hamdullarhpur was given a lifetime achievement award by SASCE for his outstanding implementation of WIL at Waterloo University in Canada and for sharing his wise views on the policy at the conference.
The conference continues at Coastlands Hotel in Umhlanga until Friday, 20 July.
Pictured: Panellists of the 3rd Africa Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Conference
Sandile Lukhozi & Mbuso Kunene
