My UCT Safari: "What it is like to be a new academic at UCT".
Dec 31, 2015
My UCT Safari: "What it is like to be a new academic at
UCT".
Preconceived ideas
FearExcitement
UCT characteristics:Rich & ExpensiveWorkaholicConfidenceNetwork capabilityDiscrimination
European ForeignAsian ForeignAfrican Foreign
Period been in R.S.A is also a factor in preconceived ideas
BEFORE UCT ARRIVALS
Depending on where you come from
-Human Resource
Communication √ √
Introduction to UCT √ √
-Research support programme
-Research seminars & Workshops √ √
-Grants√ √
-Research culture √ √
-Infrastructure : Resources available. √ √
-Human Resource
Communication √ √
Introduction to UCT √ √
-Research support programme
-Research seminars & Workshops √ √
-Grants√ √
-Research culture √ √
-Infrastructure : Resources available. √ √
-Admin × ×
-Poor Academic support × ×
-A lot of expectations > RFJ
-Recruitment of student
-Research
-Information Overload upon arrival!! × × × ×
-Limited Foreign academic support × × × ×
-Fear of the unknown × × × ×
-Admin × ×
-Poor Academic support × ×
-A lot of expectations > RFJ
-Recruitment of student
-Research
-Information Overload upon arrival!! × × × ×
-Limited Foreign academic support × × × ×
-Fear of the unknown × × × ×
-Faculty welcome √ √
-Inter departmental communication √ √
-Faculty welcome √ √
-Inter departmental communication √ √
-Meetings!!!! × ×
-Poor Communication × ×
-Cultural Context of student &lecturer × × × × × ×
•socio-cul tural stereotypes
•student manipulation (Tutor/student)
-Meetings!!!! × ×
-Poor Communication × ×
-Cultural Context of student &lecturer × × × × × ×
•socio-cul tural stereotypes
•student manipulation (Tutor/student)
Kanjere, University of Limpopo http://www.emasa.co.za/files/full/Kanjere.pdf
students
Done in class during lecture
To regain the trust; “I thought UCT will just be white lecturers....”
African Cheating exampleEmail exampleFacebook example
-Welcome √ √
-IS Culture √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
-Open door policy √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
-Support system (Concept of a course admin & mentor) √ √
-Skills development programmes √ √
-Welcome √ √
-IS Culture √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
-Open door policy √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √
-Support system (Concept of a course admin & mentor) √ √
-Skills development programmes √ √
-Staff islanders × ×
-Students
-Large classes upon arrival √ √
-Staff islanders × ×
-Students
-Large classes upon arrival √ √