Post-Pandemic - the Way Forward for Teaching and Learning

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After successfully hosting a three-day conference of the Association of Southern African Schools and Departments of Public Administration and Management (ASSDPAM), the Discipline of Public Governance in the UKZN’s School of Management, Information Technology, and Governance (SMITG) reflected on experiences and lessons learned from online teaching and learning in Higher Education.

ASSADPAM is a professional network for Higher Education and departments in the Discipline of Public Administration, Management, Governance, and Development Management.

The conference was attended by academics and senior postgraduate students from different institutions and delegates from various public administration and management departments who presented their research findings under different sub-themes.

The roundtable discussion panel comprised esteemed academics UKZN’s Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Msizi Mkhize, and Academic Leader from SMITG, Dr Upasanga Singh; director for the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University, Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu; Associate Professor Liza Jaarsveldt of UNISA and Professor Reckson Thakhathi of the University of Fort Hare, who interrogated and presented different perspectives while reflecting on institutional experiences during the COVID-19 period.

Subnational governance specialist and lecturer at UKZN Professor Purshottama Reddy, who facilitated the discussion, said knowledge and expertise gained during the pandemic could be used to prepare for the Fourth Industrial Revolution while attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) given the impact COVID-19 had on teaching and learning.

‘Some of the benefits we noted was a learning-centered approach adopted online. The support and cooperation from the students, and the staff; both academic and support was empowered technologically, demonstrating passion and taking the required initiative in terms of the new normal, universities must develop new digital platforms, online teaching strategies, and e-conference models for knowledge generation and dissemination,’ said Reddy.

Some of the challenges the panel highlighted were limited communication with students while the recording of seminars was deemed a violation of intellectual property. A significant number of students came from homes with environmental backgrounds that were not conducive to the situation or there was no electricity.

Mkhize said the reflective discussion was an eye-opener allowing them to learn from other universities’ experiences.

‘Paradigm shifts in teaching and learning brought about by COVID-19 and the Fourth Industrial Revolution were shared with the audience. This assisted academics to use this information to decide on the way forward for teaching and learning,’ said Mkhize

Words: Samukelisiwe Cele

Photograph: Supplied