CHALLENGES AND MITIGATING STRATEGIES
AS STUDENT AFFAIRS PRACTITIONERS WE NEED TO STAY ABREAST OF CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN OUR FIELD, SUPPORT STAFF IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT, AND ENSURE FLEXIBILITY AND CREATIVITY AT ALL TIMES. These factors, among others, formed part of the Strategic Priorities of SDS and have served us well to mitigate the risks that we faced, including increased demands for resources such as bed spaces, efficient utilities, infrastructural support and personal support services.
Innovation, transparency, flexibility As student affairs practitioners we need to stay abreast of critical developments in our field, support staff in their development, and ensure flexibility and creativity at all times. Higher education in South Africa and the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) SDS is not impervious to the aforementioned international trends.
STRATEGIES FOR
STUDENT SUCCESS Student Development and Support (SDS) is armed with enabling strategies to face various challenges that come with helping students on their path to academic success and personal well-being.
S
TUDENT AFFAIRS, globally, has
experienced a surge in the uptake of students through massification, as the demand for higher education grows. While broader access is desired, this comes with challenges. International
literature speaks of the ever-diversifying student and staff populations, burgeoning effects of contextual and environmental challenges, the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and technological advances in our digital age.
We should recognise that challenges are not necessarily negative and that it could be viewed as opportunities to move forward and even develop enhanced practices to support our students. In respect of Career Services, some of the challenges that have presented opportunities for innovation include ill-preparedness of students in accessing career opportunities after graduation. SDS has demonstrated transparency through student engagement. We have applied the provisions of the SRC Constitution and Election Regulations to ensure credible elections, implemented voter education, including creating a tutorial video outlining the processes for the nomination of candidates and voting, and used effective marketing tools on social media platforms. The review of student governance and the SRC Election Regulations are also on the cards.
Division of Student Development and Support
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