Awosika was at CPUT’s Faculty Education on an international scholar visit programme which is funded through Head of Department for Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Department, Professor Lungi Sosibo’s, research fund project.
During the opening of the three-day event, Sosibo said: “This visit is a realisation of the partnership that I initiated when I visited ACE in September and October in 2019, through the Research Exchange Programme that was funded by the CPUT Research Directorate.”
During her visit, Awosika presented seminars on teacher education in Nigeria. The focus of day one was on the Nigerian teacher education system, with special focus on university practising/demonstration schools, and teacher-supply demand. Presentations on day two focused on teaching-practice placements, mentorship and evaluations at both CPUT and ACE.
“The idea was to benchmark standards and practices at the two institutions, and to determine best-practices that could be adopted,” Sosibo added.
On day three, Awosika held a closed session with Teacher Practice (TP) coordinators in order to assist with reviewing and evaluating the Faculty of Education TP policy.
Awosika who also revealed that it was her first visit in SA, said: “Prior to my visit, people had tried to discourage me because of the ugly xenophobic occurrences of the past and despite me being liberal, there was a kind of mixed feelings regarding my acceptance and safety in Cape Town, but my experience since l arrived has been a pleasant, heart-warming and worthy of the journey made down here.”
She added that her interaction with people in CPUT has given her the opportunity to assess the environment and people and, “l must place it on record that I am very pleased with the people and their very pleasant and peaceful environment… CPUT would be welcome to ACE, Nigeria anytime for us to establish a lasting partnership by signing the MOU [memorandum of understanding] that would boost our relationship for mutual benefits.”
