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Unisa and University of Oldenburg collaboration delivers a new crop of advanced ODeL experts

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During Unisa’s 2023 academic opening ceremony, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and Prof Zodwa Motsa Madikane, Vice-Principal of Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support, presented Unisans who have completed the rigorous course in Advanced Studies in Online Teaching and Learning, jointly provided by Unisa and the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, with their hard-earned certificates.

Front, from left: Prof Lebo Mudau and Prof Geesje van den Berg.
Back, from left: Certificate recipients - Prof Mathias Mujinga, Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET); Dr Thembi Phala, Department of Early Childhood Education and Development, College of Education; Dr Baldreck Chipangura, Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, CSET; Jacques Avril du Toit, Western Cape Regional Services, Tuition Support and Facilitation of Learning; and Zone Mdedle, Directorate: Institutional Quality Assurance and Enhancement, Department of Quality Assurance and Enhancement.
Absent: Molefe Collins Maloma, Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, CSET.

Granting the certificates to Unisans who were successful in completing the programme is a significant milestone. It is a testament to the 150th anniversary of the university as it is founded on the cooperative agreement between Unisa and Germany’s Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. Both the parties in this programme approved to jointly provide Unisans with the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Online Teaching and Learning while at the same time having the opportunity to pursue the Master of Education in Open and Distance Learning (MEd in ODL) at Unisa.

This programme responds to the challenges pertaining to advancing excellence, innovation, and leadership in ODeL teaching, learning and research within the university. In addition, it promotes Unisa to be recognised in international and national platforms by broadening the theorisation of ODeL, and informing ODeL practices and its policy development.

Coordinated by Unisa Professors Geesje van den Berg and Lebo Mudau, this year’s programme was completed by the third cohort of Unisans. The candidates were exposed to authentic online educational experiences, best practices and the current trends in ODeL. This online programme is full-time and challenging, and consists of four modules offered at master's level. The programme is characterised by its richness in learning activities, involving interactions with seminal works, pioneers, and active researchers in ODeL.

Van den Berg commented that her experience has been that successful candidates take on different leading roles relating to teaching and learning after completing the certificate. She encouraged staff members to shape the distance learning trajectory by registering for this programme.

This year’s awardees were as follows:


College of Science, Engineering and Technology

  • Dr Baldreck Chipangura, Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET)
  • Molefe Collins Maloma, Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, CSET
  • Prof Mathias Mujinga, Department of Information Systems, School of Computing, CSET


College of Education

  • Dr Thembi Phala, Department of Early Childhood Education and Development, College of Education


Registrar: Regional Services, Western Cape 

  • Jacques Avril du Toit, Western Cape Regional Services, Tuition Support and Facilitation of Learning


Portfolio for Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services

  • Zone Mdedle, Directorate: Institutional Quality Assurance and Enhancement, Department of Quality Assurance and Enhancement

This year’s certificate session was announced by the university’s Vice-Principal of Information and Communication, Mathabo Nakene-Mqingi, who was also one of the programme directors on the day. Silke Welter, the programme manager of Online Teaching and Learning at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, attended the event virtually.

* By Lesego Chiloane-Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2023/02/14

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