Libby Young finds plenty of information on tertiary study options on the Internet
The new year often sparks a bout of introspection about the future, when many learners will be pondering which career path to take. There is plenty of help available online, from university websites with curriculum advice to sites offering tips for honing job interview skills.
For learners considering university, a visit to the web site of their institution of choice is crucial. The University of the Witwatersrand has a special section devoted to career and curriculum planning. It takes a look at various career options and explains how to plan a degree.
http://hermes.wits.ac.za/ccp/ccpHome.htm
For help finding a course visit Easy Info’s Career Expo. This site’s search facility lets learners find which institutions offer the courses they are interested in, as well as providing detailed descriptions of what various jobs entail. The site also provides information on student loans and bursaries.
http://www.easyinfo.co.za/career/begin.htm
iAfrica’s Fast Lane site looks at how to get the most out of a tertiary education, as well as how to hunt for jobs online. Updated frequently, this site offers plenty of interesting reading matter and is well worth a bookmark.
http://careers.iafrica.com/fastlane/
The US-based Mapping Your Future website has plenty of information that isn’t at all relevant to South Africa, but go to the “Planning a Career” section for some invaluable tips on how to choose a career, as well as advice on job hunting, writing a Curriculum Vitae, and job interviewing techniques. The site helps learners develop a career plan and provides guidelines for assessing skills and interests.
http://www.mapping-your-future.org
Visit CareerWorld for profiles on a wide variety of careers, from acting and anthropology to surveying and veterinary nursing. Features include “the good CV guide” with tips on what to include and what to leave out of that all-important document, and advice on how to successfully get through job interviews.
http://www.careerworld.net/
Online magazine The Next Step has several interesting articles on both unusual and conventional jobs, such as making toys for a living, or investigating genes as a biomedical researcher. You’ll also find features on life skills such as time management and study habits.
http://www.nextstepmagazine.com
Most South African universities and technikons now have an online presence:
Technikons
Border Technikon
Cape Technikon
Eastern Cape Technikon
Technikon Free State
Natal Technikon
Peninsula Technikon
Port Elizabeth Technikon
Technikon Pretoria
Vaal Triangle Technikon
Technikon Witwatersrand
Universities
Rand Afrikaans University
University of Cape Town
University of Durban-Westville
University of Fort Hare
Midrand University
University of Natal
University of the Orange Free State
University of Port Elizabeth
Potchefstroom University
University of Pretoria
Rhodes University
University of South Africa
University of Stellenbosch
University of the Western Cape
University of the Witwatersrand
— The Teacher/Mail & Guardian, February, 2001.