Overview

The Induction Programme for Academics is an activity aimed at enhancing NWU academic staff as university teachers, as part of their academic professional development. The programme is compulsory for all new academics appointed to teach at NWU, those permanently appointed as well as part-time staff with a fixed-term contract (appointed for more than six months). Induction is also an activity funded from the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG). 

About Induction

The NWU’s Senate Committee for Teaching and Learning (SCTL) approved, on 12 September 2018, the new Induction Programme for Academics. The programme is structured modelling a blended learning experience, that is, online and contact. For both the novice and the experienced academic staff member, the final requirements for completing the Induction programme are: (i) Complete the Online component; (ii) Attend the three-day Campus programme; (iii) Attend the one-day Faculty programme; and (iv) Create and submit a reflective Portfolio of Evidence. These requirements are completed within the first three to six months of appointment. The criteria for the electronic and reflective portfolio of evidence articulates from Induction to learning opportunities within academic professional development.
In 2017 / 2018, the new programme was piloted and in 2019, the programme was implemented; in 2020, the new programme may be refined but not reviewed; an impact study will most probably be reported on that will inform the planning for the next three-year cycle.
 
Attached please find the Induction Framework.

Important Dates

Attached please find the Induction Campus programme dates for 2020.
The following are important dates of when the Campus programme as part of Induction will be offered; please register to attend!
 
Term 1: January 2020
MC: 24 to 26 March 2020
PC: 28 to 30 January 2020
VC: 27 to 29 January 2020
Portfolio submission: New academics appointed as from November 2019, the PoE deadline is, March 2020.
 
Term 3: June 2020
MC: 7 to 9 July 2020
PC: 7 to 9 July 2020
VC: 7 to 9 July 2020
Portfolio submission: New academics appointed as from May 2020, the PoE deadline is, September 2020.
 
Term 4: November 2020
MC: 2 to 4 November 2020
PC: 3 to 5 November 2020
VC: 2 to 4 November 2020
Portfolio submission: New academics appointed as from July 2020, the PoE deadline is, February 2021.
  
 

Contact

 

Mahikeng Campus

Campus Coordinators:

Ms Ann-May Marais

Administrative Coordinator:

Ms Natalia Duiker

 

 
 
 

Potchefstroom Campus

Campus Coordinator:

Ms Monique Koetaan

 

Administrative Coordinator:

Mr Jean Viljoen

 

Certificates

Mr Fabian Meyer

Vanderbijlpark Campus

Campus Coordinator:

Dr Manuela Fernandes-Martins *

 

Administrative Coordinator:

Ms Memory Smit *

 

 

 

Campus programme

The three-day Campus programme offers new academics the opportunity to be competent in designing, developing, and delivering meaningful teaching and learning experiences for students. The Campus programme offers the novice academic staff member, an introduction to the higher education context and introduces the principles of constructive alignment. There is also a facilitated activity on designing a learning experience for students with sub-sections on (i) an introduction to blended learning; (ii) assessment in higher education; (iii) student engagement and facilitation; and (iv) integration of technology. The designing of a learning experience includes: basic lesson planning and an outcomes-based approach to teaching. For the academic staff member with teaching experience in higher education, the contact part of the programme includes: an overview of the Higher Education context, a facilitated introduction to curriculum design and development, and an introduction to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
 
The following is a summary of the day themes of the Campus programme that are facilitated:
 
Day 1 Theme: Get to know your Campus as part of a Higher Education institution
1. Introduction to building your Portfolio of Evidence and navigate the Induction site on eFundi
2. Introduction to the NWU’s Learning Management System (LMS): eFundi tools
3. Tour your Campus support services and meet the CTL colleagues, on site
4. Showcase by a guest lecturer: Technology Integration / Media
5. Higher Education Context in South Africa and at NWU
  • ‘Life cycle’ of university academic
  • Higher Education landscape
  • Academic Integrity
6. Showcase by a guest lecturer: Trends in Higher Education Curriculum Transformation
 
Day 2 Theme: Design a learning experience: Engaging students in the learning process
7. Blended Learning:
  • Introduction to blended learning addressing the principle of constructive alignment
  • What is the TPACK Framework?
8. Outcomes and Assessment in HE
9. Student Engagement and Facilitation
  • The Finish Line: The Student Experience
10. Completing the TPACK template
 
Day 3 Theme: Build your academic career at NWU
11. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) (Experienced lecturers)
12. Micro-teaching and Lesson observations (Novice lecturers)
 
 

Faculty programme

A one-day faculty-based programme is part of the integrated Induction offering for academic staff. A cross-campus approach ensures academic staff, novice and experienced, are introduced to faculty structures, roles and responsibilities are clarified, teaching and learning, research, and community engagement within the respective Faculty is addressed. There is also a strong mentoring component with the aim of the integration of the new academic staff into the respective Faculty.
 
Theme 1 Get to know your Faculty as part of NWU
  1. Introduction to the Faculty’s vision, mission, and plan
  2. Faculty context:
  • Teaching and Learning
  • Research and Innovation
  • Community Engagement
 
Theme 2 Roles, Responsibilities, and Mentorship
3.     Academic Integrity Maturity Model
4.     Your role and responsibilities within the field of study
5.     Faculty mentors
6.     New Employee Orientation Programme (NEOP)
7.     Records Management training
8.     Library Services & Corporate and Information Governance Services
 
Theme 3 Research within Faculty
9.     Research Entities
10.  Philosophy in HE Teaching
 

My Portfolio and Timeframe

From your date of appointment at NWU, you are required to attend the first scheduled Campus programme. Following attendance, three months are afforded for you to complete the requirements of your portfolio of evidence and for you to attend your Faculty programme. Should you only be able to attend the Campus programme at a future date, you are still required to submit your portfolio within the six-month experience from your appointment date.
 
Attached please find the Induction Timeframe and Portfolio Rubric.