/ 27 May 2011

In and out of the class

In And Out Of The Class

VUT’s Student Support Services Division is practically the “home-from-home” part of our institution. It plays an integral role in the life and journey of students on campus.

Employing a holistic and philosophical approach in the service it provides students, the division operates on the basis of collaboration with all faculties and departments within the institution. “SSS” as they are known on campus engages students on issues pertaining to leadership, politics, health, accommodation, entertainment as well as the spiritual, cultural, sport and financial aspects of the students journey through VUT.

This is according to Thomas Mkhatshwa, Executive Director: Student Support Services and Tulas Majola, Director: Student Life and Governance, who say that the department, far from being conservative and dogmatic, wants to ensure that once the students graduate, they make a meaningful contribution to society.

“The provision of support services to students is a priority at VUT. We found that the stresses of student life needed to be mitigated by some formal intervention by the institution. For an example, we established that granted the history of the institution, there was a need to break down the barriers that hinder collaboration between student support services and the various faculties and departments. We believe that it is important for all institutions of the university to work closely together to ensure a seamless and positive academic experience. We have started to break down the silos and gradually succeeding in creating winning partnerships within our academic walls”, says Dr Mkhatshwa.

Using various means of communication, ranging from traditional fliers and SMS notifications, through to social media such as Facebook and Twitter, VUT’s Student Support Services division engages with local and international students from all walks of life on a personal level to provide the best services to them.

“VUT is an exciting place to be at right now. We have evolved as a department to follow a more developmental approach to compliment what happens in the class room, with awareness campaigns, boot camps, training interventions, and programmes that focuses on developing well-rounded students, rich and poor, that have an outward and positive disposition to people around them and the environment.

“We realize that the current schooling system fails to prepare students adequately for university life and it is our obligation to groom them, mentor them and enable them to unleash their talents and potential. Culturally, VUT has a very diverse student profile considering that we admit students from all corners of the country and the continent. We work arduously to infuse values such as self-esteem, respect, tolerance and collegiality and to negate tribalism and xenophobia among all members of the VUT community. The diversity of our student body is to be cherished, we tell everyone, because it exposes us to our interconnectedness as human beings, says Mkhatshwa.

Importantly, Student Support Services has introduced a Food for Life programme. Students, no matter what their social standing, have access to food throughout the examination period, ensuring that they can focus on the reason they are at the university — to better themselves and get a well-rounded education. “Staff members of the “SSS” department adhere to high ethical and professional standards of conduct. Our students’ counseling and support services are equipped to render a professional service, to promote personal development and to assist students in successful career planning, as well as life skills training”, he adds.

In order to enable students and faculties to make informed decisions about careers and study fields, the university utilises accredited psychometric tests to determine areas of strengths and potential amongst our students for both placement in programmes and career choices. VUT’s Student Support Services division also renders a comprehensive primary health care services to promote health, prevent diseases, as well as treat minor ailments.

“We provide voluntary confidential counselling and testing (VCCT).The campus clinic is staffed by qualified clinicians, psychologists and a medical practitioner who uses the broad spectrum of health services available in the area. The university conducts regular health awareness campaigns around lifestyle diseases, tuberculosis, diabetes, sexually-transmitted diseases, winter flu and HIV/Aids.”

Test results from our VCCT programme are made available immediately so as to minimize anxiety for those who take them. Our HIV/Aids policy is to encourage unfettered discussions about HIV/Aids, to provide information, to encourage delay in sexual activities and to promote condom protection and a healthy and positive lifestyle through sport and social activities.

“South Africa is believed to have the highest incidences of HIV/AIDS in the world, between 70-80% of new infections are occurring among those aged 15-25 years. Tertiary institutions are the worst affected because the majority of their students is between 18 and 24. In a survey by the Department of Education it is estimated that one in four undergraduates and one-in-eight postgraduate students were infected in 2000. One in five University students are estimated to be HIV infected. As you can imagine, today these figures are much higher,” he adds.

Other services include the Chaplaincy unit, which is responsible for ensuring that the university community is able to participate in healing and reconciliation ceremonies, practice of own faith, meditation and spirituality. All religious groups are accommodated within the Chaplaincy and operate according to an agreed roster of activities. With the advertising support of companies like BHP Billiton, Afrisam, AreceloMittal, ARM, Elite Angolan Careers, we have been able to produce an upgraded VUT Graduate Development Handbook that provides students with relevant information for their further and personal development.

As a member of SATN (South African Technology Network), VUT students are able to access resources such as the SATN WIL Learning and Teaching Resource which focus on the employability of our graduates through work-based and work-integrated learning and placement in industry. Our WIL (Work-Integrated Learning) co-ordinator, Mr Alpheus Maphosa serves on SASCE (Southern African Society for Co-operative Education) which promotes careers exhibitions and information on student experiences in the corporate world.

In line with our mission — to produce top quality, employable and entrepreneurial graduates who can make an impact in society — VUT held the International Student Summit for international students with the theme, The Impact of Unemployment and Opportunities for International Students” What’s the Problem. Our institution has approximately 1 500 students from the SADC region and the international summit provided a platform for them to focus on the relevance of their qualifications and employment opportunities in the region.

This article originally appeared in the Mail & Guardian newspaper as an advertorial supplement