media releases - Open and Distance Learning Institute to be launched

Unisa will launch its Institute for Open and Distance Learning on 5 May 2008 in the ZK Matthews Hall. The event will be part of Unisa’s Inspired Week held annually for staff.

Prof Barney Pityana, Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, will preside at the launch while Prof Mandla Makhanya, the University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor, will present a keynote address. The ZK Matthews Great Hall at Unisa will be the venue for the launch of this new Institute, which will be attended by many dignitaries.

The Institute is expected to work collaboratively with and across all the five Colleges of Unisa to improve professional practice and staff competence in ODL activities including the enhancement of ODL research capability.

According to the pioneer UNESCO Chair of ODL and founding Director of IODL at Unisa, Prof Dele Braimoh, efforts for achieving a positive transformation process in revolutionizing the practice of ODL, particularly with regard to stimulating research agenda among the academic and the professional staff of Unisa, will be a top priority of the Institute’s developmental goal.

Apart from the extensive capacity building of Unisa staff members in ODL principles and practice, it is also the vision of the young but prosperous Institute to embark on academic training at the Masters and the Ph.D. levels. Furthermore, as part of IODL’s strategic plan, there will be opportunities to attract international scholars for sabbatical leave at the Institute while arrangements will be make to appoint postdoctoral fellows for a specific duration, focusing on identified niche research areas.

With the crop of internationally competent staff members and a deliberate effort at networking, continentally and internationally, there is every belief that the Institute will positively turn around ODL practice at Unisa. This will not only make Unisa a force to be reckoned with globally as a giant African ODL tertiary institution but also pave the way to achieve impressive ODL research output including an enhanced throughput rate across all Unisa academic programmes.

For further information please call the IODL office at 012 429-3256. Ms Parsons can assist.