Curriculum Development Unit Staff Profiles
Dr Najwa Norodien-Fataar
Position: Head of the unit
Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville Campus
Email: norodien-fataarn@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: PhD in Education [Stellenbosch University]
Research focus area: Academic Development, Higher Education, Curriculum Development
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8286-8089
Biography
Dr Najwa Norodien-Fataar, with a PhD in Education from Stellenbosch University, serves as the HOD of the Curriculum Development Unit and Research Coordinator at Fundani CHED. She has held several pivotal positions in Fundani CHED, including Coordinator of Student Feedback on Teaching and Courses, Head of the Student Learning Unit, and Trainer for Tutors and Mentors, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to enhancing academic development in higher education. Her research spans curriculum development, academic staff development, student engagement, access, support, and information communication technologies in higher education. Dr Norodien-Fataar’s research has been published in national and international journals, reflecting her dedication to enhancing academic practices and support systems for students and staff.
Mrs Lauren Davids
Position: Curriculum Development Lecturer
Office: 405, 4th floor, Engineering building, Cape Town Campus
Email: davidsla@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: Dip & B. Tech in Tourism Management [CPUT], PgDip in Tertiary Education [Unisa], M.ED. Adult Education [Unisa]
Research focus area:
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4220-7686
Biography
Lauren Davids is an academic developer in the Curriculum Development Unit of the Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development. Having worked in higher education since 2009 her portfolios have included work-integrated learning, extended curriculum/foundation programmes and recently curriculum development. Lauren is pursuing a PhD in Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University and is also a HELTASA doctoral student. Lauren’s doctoral research foregrounds the complex educational journeys and precarious navigational practices of commuter students from an apartheid-era racialised enclave.
Ms Frederika de Graaff
Position: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) lecturer
Office: 2nd Floor, Library building, Bellville Campus
Email: degraafff@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: BA and BA (Honours) (Political Science) [RAU], MSc: Development Planning [Wits], PG Dip in Adult Education [Wits], MEd [CPUT].
Research focus area: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Curriculum Development and Assessment, Academic development.
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.com/0000-0002-1259-4665
Biography
Frederika works as the RPL Lecturer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), part of the Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), since 2005. She coordinates the implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) within CPUT and has been instrumental in the development of the RPL policies of the Institution. She places emphasis on capacity building and knowledge management around RPL within CPUT for both academic and administrative staff. To this end she lecturers on the RPL module part of the PGD in HE (T&L) and runs workshops on RPL as a practice. She supports the academic staff members with the planning of RPL processes and assessments. Working very closely with Registry she and the RPL administrative staff oversee the administration of RPL. Her research work focuses on the comparison of knowledge from the workplace to the interpretation of knowledge within a University of Technology. She is currently a PhD Candidate, registered at the University of Cape Town. She is also involved in the Short Courses offerings at CPUT and is specifically interested in the linkage between short courses and RPL.
Ms Yanelisa Portia Bija
Position: Student Feedback Coordinator
Office: 2nd Floor, Library building, Bellville Campus
Email: BIJAY@cput.ac.za
Qualifications: MPhil in Stats and Population Studies
Research focus area: First-Year-Experience in higher Education
ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9590-0519
Biography
Yanelisa Portia Bija is employed as a student feedback coordinator at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Fundani CHED where she is responsible for student evaluations across the faculties. She is a PhD candidate at the University of the Western Cape, with a masters degree in BSc population studies and demography. Her PhD research study is titled as Investigating Sources of Stress of First-Year Students Transitioning to University through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Route: A South African University Case Study. Her research experience includes working as a research assistant at Community Engagement unit of the University of the Western Cape where she was involved in community engagement projects such as Mandela Day and other community work.
