Speakers: Prof. Volker Wedekind and Dr Sybert Mutereko (School of Education, University of KwaZulu Natal)

Date:  Tuesday, 28 October    

Time: 12:30 – 13:30

Venue: VCRs, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban

This seminar is based on a paper which presents a preliminary analysis of three of the case studies that form part of the wider study on curriculum responsiveness in post-school vocationally-oriented programmes. With an increasing focus on student employability in discussions on the purposes of education and training programmes, these case studies explore the processes through which curricula respond to a variety of drivers, including employer needs, professional and occupational imperatives, disciplinary developments, innovation in the field of practice, student social and learning needs, policy imperatives and wider social processes amongst others.

The three case studies are: a suite of engineering programmes offered at a UOT; the programmes offered by the organised sugar industry to address its skills needs; and an automotive firm’s partnership with public providers. Each of the cases highlight different dimensions of responsiveness and flag blockages and best practices in the system. What also emerges is that the curriculum must be understood in its widest sense if we are to understand what processes impact on transitions to employment. The concept of employability is problematised through the engagement with the case studies.

The seminar may be attended in Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban

RSVP by 27 October
Cape Town: Jean Witten (021) 466  8004, jwitten@hsrc.ac.za   12th Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street, Cape Town
Durban: Ridhwaan Khan (031) 242 5400, rkhan@hsrc.ac.za   1st Floor, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor
Pretoria: Arlene Grossberg (012) 302 2811, acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za  1st  Floor, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria