A nationwide initiative, the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) programme, aims to improve the standard of teaching and elevate teaching and learning in public higher education.
The programme is a component of the national framework for advancing academics as university teachers that is run by the Department of Higher Education and Training, and is coordinated through the Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association of Southern Africa.
Participants are drawn from all South African universities on the basis of their teaching and learning leadership potential in their respective institutions and are exposed to combined residential and distance learning approaches. The learning approaches include weekly block contact sessions and individual projects that are done in their own teaching and learning settings. Group projects and reflective reports are other activities that make up the programme.
Dr Nokwanda Bam, senior lecturer at the School of Nursing at the North-West University (NWU), and Dr Viné Petzer, a lecturer in and subject leader for Economic and Management Sciences for Education, have been accepted into the programme for a 12-month period.
“I express my sincere pleasure in the recognition of Dr Viné Petzer and Dr Nokwanda Bam. I wish them the very best in the next stage of their leadership development through the opportunity of the TAU fellowship,” said Prof Robert Balfour, deputy vice-chancellor for Teaching and Learning.
“I am significantly humbled,” said Dr Nokwanda Bam on her acceptance into the TAU programme. She added: “This acknowledgement communicates that my endeavours with regard to teaching excellence are recognised, and it further challenges me to strengthen the effort I have put in to improve my teaching skills as a university teacher. Being a TAU fellow will play a central role in shaping the direction of my career and enabling me to make a meaningful impact in the realm of university teaching and learning.”
Dr Viné Petzer accepted the recognition with pride. “I am elated to start this new journey and I am looking forward to sharing my expertise with colleagues from other universities across the country. It is a great honour to be recognised for my contributions and teaching excellence.”
More about the TAU fellowship programme
Participants are familiarised with developments relating to teaching and learning in higher education. They are also introduced to the scholarship of teaching and learning research, and are positioned as change agents.
Over the programme period the participants work on educational projects where they are granted the opportunity to build partnerships with colleagues from other institutions. The members are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead change processes relating to teaching and learning in their home institutions.
The programme aims to foster an engaged and responsive understanding of teaching and learning. This is to enhance the critical and fundamental comprehension of the South African higher-education context within the African and global context.
We trust that the respective faculties, the Faculty of Education, and the Faculty of Health Sciences, will support Dr Viné Petzer and Dr Nokwanda Bam in the work of the fellowship programme.
Dr Nokwanda Bam said she is looking forward to engaging with like-minded teachers, expand her professional network and explore innovative pedagogical approaches.
Dr Viné Petzer is gratified to represent the NWU at the TAU programme. Her outstanding contributions to the teaching discipline resulted in her receiving an NWU Teaching Excellence award in 2023.
