Student-centred orientation focuses on innovation and lifelong learning

Unisa’s Department of Psychology, in the College of Human Sciences (CHS), prides itself on being aligned with the guiding principles of lifelong learning, student centredness, innovation and creativity, as pronounced in the university’s mission statement. The 2023 orientation for the department’s students, which took place from 29 to 31 March, was yet another demonstration of a concerted effort by various units in the university to put in practice its principles of service to  students and other relevant stakeholders.

Proactively serving students

This was the second annual orientation hosted primarily for Psychology undergraduate, honours, and master’s and doctoral (M&D) students at Unisa. The Department of Psychology, under its Student Support and Quality Enhancement portfolio, planned the orientation intentionally to cover all academic levels in a way that reflects proactiveness and responsiveness to the needs of its students for a successful study journey. In so doing, the department successfully delivered on its value proposition of responsive student-centredness.

The 2023 student orientation touched on the university’s various support structures and services,  planning for studies, navigating the teaching and learning platform (myUnisa), and accessing personal librarians and the support functions of Unisa’s regional library.

The Directorate for Counselling and Career Development (DCCD) in Unisa’s Gauteng Region, represented by registered counsellor Mamashu Mabowa, informed undergraduate and honours students how they should be preparing for their various future careers and how and where they could access all the available counselling services that are rendered by the unit. Mabowa recommended that Psychology students make it a point to get in touch with psychologists, engage in voluntary work, do research in their field and, most of all, study hard.

Support for people living with disabilities

Each of the orientation sessions included presentations from the Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD), delivered by Pintias Nkuna, who is the academic support officer at ARCSWiD. Nkuna shared essential guidelines for students with disabilities on how they could be supported by the university through ARCSWiD. He emphasised the importance of disability disclosure by students because it enables the university to support them appropriately and ensure that they benefit fully from the services of ARCSWiD. In his presentations, Nkuna sensitised students and staff members on how they should engage with people living with disabilities.

Highlights from the M&D session included a presentation by Joshua Nyamande, who provided students with critical information on the ethical clearance process, which is one of the key prerequisites in their research implementation. Another highlight of the M&D session was training on the new M&D Dashboard presented by Tshwaro Motsage and Professor Gezani Baloyi. This is a learning management platform set up for M&D students and their supervisors to facilitate their study progress through the various support mechanisms and functions.

Meeting societal needs

The department strives to equip future psychologists with the knowledge and skills to prioritise mental well-being and being able to serve and support their future clients. Acting Deputy Executive Dean of CHS, Professor Thinandavha Mashau, highlighted in his reflections the urgency of producing qualified psychology professionals, particularly in the face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where the application of human sciences engages technology integration. He also encouraged undergraduate students to focus on completing their qualifications on time, as their skills are needed in society.

The Acting Executive Dean of CHS, Professor Zethu Nkosi, also reflected on the presentations and strongly advised students to be mindful of the university’s support structures as they were presented and to practise academic integrity.

Overall, the three-day 2023 virtual orientation for Psychology students was a collective success, with student attendance totalling 1 053 undergraduates, 653 honours students, and 185 M&D students. The Department of Psychology remains committed to providing quality support to its students.

Click below to watch recordings of the various orientation sessions.

Undergraduate: https://youtu.be/IbXRmvHUWb8

Honours: https://youtu.be/ZVepVHQWZkg

M&D: https://youtu.be/fZDAk9NBBfo

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By: Katlego Pilane, Department of Psychology, College of Human Sciences