Unisa Midlands infuses students' voices into QA and student support processes

Unisa’s Midlands Region presented a workshop as part of the Student Engagement in Quality Assurance and Student Support (SEQASS) Project at the Rustenburg Hub on 21 and 22 October 2024.

The project is aimed at ensuring that students' voices are heard and plays a crucial role in shaping education quality in response to students' needs, in keeping with the Unisa business model. Infusing students' voices into quality assurance and student support processes closes the gap between their expectations and perceptions of education quality.

Refiloe Tsepe, Executive Director: Institutional Quality Assurance and Enhancement, (centre) with students who attended the workshop

In outlining the purpose of the workshop, SEQASS Project Administrator, Nomi Mnotoza, explained the historical context of students' voices in education, indicating that, in 1968, the South African Student Organisation (SASO) stated that students' struggles were not addressed as desired because they needed better and meaningful education. The aim of SASO was to challenge existing social norms, to advocate for personal freedom and to address a range of issues.

In 1976, students sacrificed their lives for education. In 2015, the #FeesMustFall movement emerged in the South African higher education sector. Today, students are engaged in quality assurance and student support. It took some years for South African students' pleas for better and meaningful education to be heard.

Mnotoza stated that the notion of the voice of the student helps the university meet its objectives in respect of the interdisciplinary skills that are vital for the curriculum. Students are therefore engaged in quality assurance and student support. She urged students to voice what they need to make a difference in their study journey. “The aim is to leave no student behind”, said Mnotoza.

The university has realised that students' voices are powerful, meaningful and important, which is why stakeholder engagement is important. She continued: “We must know how to create, rebuild and redevelop, and how to source funding, grow our money and sustain our lives so that we can rebuild the economy and engage with communities”, said Mnotoza. Mnotoza's message was: don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution.

Presentations were made on various student support services that are offered. Yandani Chagi, Regional Academic Coordinator, shared information on services offered under facilitation of learning (FoL). Letitia Lekay, Manager: Library Services, highlighted the critical role the library plays in assisting students with their academic and research needs, pointing out that the library provides various services and resources to promote teaching, learning and scholarship. Nteeng Moatlhodi, Senior Student Counsellor, provided details regarding counselling services that are available. Marindean Louw, Regional Office Coordinator, made a presentation on student administration and funding, and Bongi Lebeloane, Technology-enhanced Learning Coordinator, outlined services offered under technology-enhanced learning.

Professor Itumeleng Setlhodi, Director: Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement, outlined issues related to student engagement in academic quality assurance and enhancement, the benefits of engaging students, the academic quality assurance process at Unisa and engagement at various levels. She stated that it is important for students to understand academic quality processes, to participate and engage in quality assurance activities, to provide authentic feedback and to contribute to decision-making processes. Moreover, students and staff should work together to shape students' learning experience.

Setlhodi indicated that there are projects and workshops at Unisa aimed at enabling students to understand what is meant by quality service, quality teaching and quality support. Therefore, students can participate and contribute meaningfully to what it means to have a quality education. She further indicated that the authenticity of the feedback shared could help bring about the desired outputs, which may contribute to change and transform the services the university offers to students.

Students should have a collective voice, regardless of their field of study. Their continuous engagement and feedback are needed to help identify which areas can enhance the quality of services provided. Engaging students in quality assurance processes helps to shape, improve and enhance teaching, learning and students' journey on their path to graduation and beyond. Prof Setlhodi urged students to participate in education meaningfully so that they contribute positively to the institution and to ensure that the skills they acquire through engagement add meaning and value to their student walk. Continuous engagement with students gives the university the assurance that it receives authentic feedback. It is through meaningful interaction that the quality of offerings can be improved, she said.

After every presentation, students had the opportunity to share their experiences of using student support services, challenges they have encountered and suggestions on accessing and improving the quality of support services offered. Students were divided into various focus groups to discuss various topics and to provide feedback.

* By Thotogelo Masenya, Communication and Marketing Officer, Unisa Midlands Region