SSACI provides TVET College Lecturer Development through The Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for Lecturers' Project which aims to improve teaching and learning in TVET colleges through providing industry-based WIL to college lecturers as part of their continuing professional development (CPD). It entails lecturers periodically visiting and completing placements with employers that operate in their field of teaching. Its purpose is to develop, update and widen lecturer industry knowledge and skills through exposing them to current technology, systems and practices. This improves their confidence and competence and enables them to link their teaching to actual workplace practices and requirements.

The WIL for Lecturers’ Project is a joint SSACI-Education and Training Development Practices (ETDP) SETA project. The current phase of the project is being implemented with 28 colleges. It began in 2014 and will run until the end of 2016. The project builds on SSACI’s earlier Lecturer Workplace exposure (LWE) project, which was implemented in 2012 and 2013. The LWE project researched and piloted an approach to providing workplace exposure for college lecturers that could be implemented within the college system. This approach is now being further trialed through the WIL for Lecturers’ Project.

 

The objectives of the project are to:

• Develop the capacity of colleges to implement lecturer WIL as an element of their functioning.  
• Capacitate college lecturers to engage in WIL and integrate their learning from this into their teaching.
•  Align the SSACI-ETDP SETA lecturer WIL programme with the industry-WIL requirements of TVET lecturer professional qualifications to enable lecturers to gain credits toward these for WIL completed through the SSACI-ETDP SETA programme.
• Build the capacity of the public skills development system to support lecturer WIL implementation in colleges through developing ETDP SETA capacity and systems.

The main strategy of the project is to provide training, materials and support for colleges and lecturers. Colleges are trained and supported on how to plan for and implement lecturer WIL as an element of college functioning and lecturers are provided with a structured training and support programme that is offered over two years. SSACI is also working with universities on the new lecturer professional qualifications to enable alignment with its WIL programme.

The intervention is primarily targeted at colleges and lecturers. The WIL programme completed by lecturers is structured around a two-year WIL cycle that aligns with college term times. The programme includes a number of elements, as follows:

The programme is supported by a lecturer guide and portfolio of evidence file.

Through its work with individual universities and the university collaboration established to develop one of the qualifications, SSACI has been able to share its experience of implementing industry WIL for lecturers with universities and help shape thinking in this area. This work will provide the basis for lectures that complete the SSACI-ETDP SETA lecturer WIL programme to obtain credits toward the industry WIL component of the different qualifications, should they register for these.

Key project stakeholders are: • The DHET • The ETDP SETA • SSACI • TVET colleges

The main beneficiaries are: • TVET colleges • TVET lecturers

Colleges that are not yet participating in the WIL for Lecturers’ Project can contact SSACI to find out how they can get involved. Colleges that are participating and want to arrange training for additional groups of lecturers can also contact SSACI to provide this.

Insights:

• Good planning and preparation are essential to ensure lecturer WIL achieves its purpose and has a positive impact on teaching.
• Each lecturer should take responsibility for his/her own WIL to ensure that it meets his/her workplace exposure and learning needs.
• The effectiveness of lecturer WIL depends on a good match between the nature of the employer’s business and the lecturer’s needs.
• Lecturer WIL can be linked to workplace-based experience for students to streamline the management of these two activities and foster college-industry partnerships on two levels simultaneously.

Quotes

Tourism lecturer

I worked at XX Lodge for two weeks. What an experience! I worked from 07:00 till 19:00 and did just about everything I was allowed to do. I truly gained valuable hands-on experience and up-to-date knowledge regarding a world class lodge, and how it relies on inbound tourism to survive. I met a number of foreigners and relished the interaction. I cannot thank you enough for making this come true.

Office administration lecturer

It was a good experience. I learned how to operate facsimiles, learned how meetings are conducted, learned to interact with different people, learned how to compile a report, learned how service delivery is planned for and rendered, learned how to manage resources and also the way people communicate in different departments.

Engineering lecturer

Technology is changing. It was useful for me personally. I stand in front of students and talk about things I don’t know.

XX lecturer

It was very useful. We were able to link the curriculum with the day-to-day running of the company and we got more knowledge and skills on how to present some topics in class.

FULL TEXT OF EMAIL RECEIVED FROM TOURISM LECTURER

Dear XXXXX

I know it has been some time (classes, prep, setting tests, marking tests) since the April holiday but I just want to let you know about my WIL experience.   I worked at Emdoneni Lodge and Cat Rehab Centre (www.emdonenilodge.com) for two weeks – what an experience! I worked from 07:00 till 19:00 and did just about everything I was allowed to do. I mostly helped at the Cat Centre; feeding and doing some guided tours. Being a cat person I was in my element.    I truly gained valuable hands-on experience and up-to-date knowledge regarding a world class lodge, and how it relies on inbound tourism to survive. I met a number of foreigners and relished the interaction.   I cannot thank you enough for making this come true. I intend to work at a foreign exchange office and travel agency in June.   Sincerely Carin O’Neil

Lecturers at SSACI training

 

Lecturers in the workplace