Student orientation goes virtual

Traditionally, after each registration cycle, Unisa’s Gauteng Region holds face-to-face student orientation workshops for first-time registered students at its five regional centres.

Driven to continue serving students amid the Covid-19 national lockdown, the region delivered this essential service virtually via Microsoft Teams, the first time ever, on 5 August.

The aim of the workshop was to provide new students with relevant information about learning online and Unisa support services – especially, how to access them remotely under the unique and challenging circumstances typifying the 2020 academic year due to the pandemic.

Participating student support departments from within Gauteng Region and the broader university were given the opportunity to share more information about the services on offer, and how students can access further support.  A question-and-answer session was held, where enquiries posted by students on live chat was addressed by each of the representatives.

The coordinator of the workshop, Dr Bunki Pitsoane, Head: Counselling Services at the Gauteng Region, had this to say: ‘New students at Unisa were treated to an experience of the first ever virtual student orientation session. Staff who participated embraced the new challenge of presenting and learning new skills. Their commitment and dedication showed that anything is possible when we work together as a team.’

By Diksha Lala, Administrative Officer, Counselling and Career Development Unit, Gauteng Region