Education students shared the latest international trends in teaching at a recent international student conference.

CPUT, in collaboration with HAN University of Applied Sciences (HAN) in the Netherlands and University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (UCLL), Belgium, recently held the third annual International Student Conference on the Mowbray Campus.

The conference, under the theme “Sharing across borders: expanding the classroom”, saw a group of students from each institution presenting on how to make the classroom an exciting place using effective teaching methods such as using technology, teamwork and engaging the learners.

The UCLL group reported that it spent three months experimenting with six types of team teaching at a school in Thohoyandou, Venda.  These include assisting, parallel, station, observing and complimentary. Team teaching, a trend in European schools, refers to co-ordinated teaching by a team of two or more teachers working together.

The group discussed the advantages and disadvantages of this latest trend, including why it would not work in South Africa. They cited the acute shortage of teachers as evident in the country’s high teacher to learner ratio in classrooms at public schools.

The delegates were divided into six groups and simulated the different types of team teaching.

The CPUT group presented on the pro’s and con’s using online platforms to teach in classrooms, while the HAN group presented on the importance of engaging the learners.

The latter group argued that in order for effective teaching to take place, being inquisitive is important for learners, as are creativity and spontaneity.

Four CPUT students received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the CPUT - HAN student exchange where they taught primary school learners in the Netherlands for three weeks.

Silindokuhle Bobo, Lwando Mpike, Ryan van Niekerk and Jessica Lucas were grouped with Australian partners with whom they did their teaching practice. Each pair was assigned to a teacher in whose classroom they taught. 

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Service-Learning and Civic Engagement Units, Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning, in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, hosted seven students from HAN University of Applied Sciences from the Netherlands.

Twice a year HAN students travel to CPUT and collaborate with various departments under the banner of Service-Learning and Civic Engagement. The HAN student student or students currently forms part of the Theewaterskloof Programme with a particular focus on various community engagement projects. Organisations such as Home Based Care, South African Red Cross Society, schools, Theewaterskloof Municipality, museum and Mind over Matter within Theewaterskloof district, benefit from the students’ hard work and dedication. HAN students reside in the rural towns of Grabouw and Caledon for the duration of the project.

An orientation weekend funded by HAN university was held in August. Seven CPUT students from the faculties of Health and Wellness Sciences, Business and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering and the Built Environment and Informatics and Design were afforded the opportunity to engage with the HAN students at the orientation. “Our first activity was to collaborate and do Intercultural consciousness and cross-cultural communication. We shared info about the various cultures in South Africa and the HAN students shared information about the Dutch culture. There were discussions and debates involved because we had to gather information about the Dutch culture, and they had to do the same with the South African culture. After the collaboration we had to do some outdoor activities as a competition in mixed groups of CPUT and HAN students,” said Nursing Science student, Yandisa Maqetuka.

Extramural activities included a hike which allowed students to engage across international cultures in a more informal setting. Yandisa said: “I had a great experience in the HAN project, and I am grateful for the opportunity that was given to me.” HAN Global mobility has become increasingly imperative for student self-development, intercultural integration and development of international leaders. CPUT students were grateful for the opportunity to engage with the HAN students.

At the CPUT intercultural and international engagement session at the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre, CPUT afforded the HAN students a space to showcase their respective community projects. The passion exuded during the presentations displayed a sense of commitment and seriousness in respect of global citizenship. During the presentations HAN students provided a detailed report of their respective projects, expressed their challenges, opportunities and possible solutions to various issues experienced within communities.

According to Jacqui Scheepers, Manager: Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, “Internationalisation can be achieved through collaborative community engagement activities with students and staff from various international partner universities. This project serves as an opportunity to achieve our institutional goals as per our Vision 2030 for Focus areas: 5: SMART Internationalisation; 6: SMART Engagement and strong links with quintuple helix partners; and 7: SMART Student Engagement and Learning Experience.”

David Haarhoff, Project lead for Civic Engagement alluded to the importance of student involvement in such critical engagements. “Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, often makes reference to CPUT becoming Africa’s MIT. This would require a different level of thinking, continued international exposure not only for academics, but for students as well. My heart is happy when our students integrate and present our university when hosting international guests. Our students really made me proud.” Scheepers said that projects like these put CPUT on a global platform and: “We will continue to explore further collaborations with international partners for community engagement”.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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