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Prof Rosalie Finlayson
Dr Genevieve James
Liza van Jaarsveld
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This week saw the culmination of Unisa’s three-month long inaugural Young Academics Project (YAP). This exciting project was launched to develop Unisa’s young, promising and talented academics for the future.
A group of 16 academics from the five colleges participated in the pilot project, which focused on fast-tracking participants in the areas of tuition, research and academic management, and provided them with the knowledge and skills required to be top achievers at Unisa, within the national higher education environment and on the global stage. The project also aimed to encourage these young academics to one day assume a leadership role within their academic departments, colleges and, in turn, Unisa.
Speaking at the event, Prof Mandla Makhanya, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, said that this investment in Unisa’s precious human resources bodes well for the future of the university. Ms Firoza Patel, Director: Human Resource Development, added that the YAP has been inspiring even to the administrative staff and that this could be the start of "something really big throughout Unisa".
Prof Rita Maré, Vice-Principal: Academic and Research, specifically thanked Prof Barney Erasmus, Vice-Principal: Operations, for his commitment to the strategic objective of "building a visible critical mass of high quality academics at Unisa, in particular a cohort of young academics."
According to Prof Rosalie Finlayson, YAP Programme Coordinator and Academic Advisor: Human Resources Development, the 16 young academics have performed exceptionally well and developed into a cohesive team of high potential academics. To quote one of the young academics, Langutani Masehela: "I love this group of people --- if the whole world could be like this group, the world will be a wonderful place."
The young academics also expressed their huge gratitude to Unisa and unanimously heaped praises on Prof Finlayson. In the words of young academic Liza van Jaarsveld: "She is an amazing person and to have had her for a mentor for three months is just to short. We received the best mother, teacher, mentor and motivator that the university has. Prof Finlayson kept going when many young academics were tired. The planning, effort and time that she put into the young academic programme is amazing. She is truly one in a million and we are glad that she was our mentor and guide."
Formative assessment on the programme has taken place through regular action-oriented interactive discussions and presentations to both internal and external audiences. Participants have been encouraged to chronicle their experiences during the programme and to write feature articles for publication in academic journals. Candidates have performed work assignments throughout the course of the programme with summative assessment in the form of a portfolio/article/conference paper to be presented at the end of the programme.
Post-intervention assessment of the training will continue to determine the impact of the project. Support will also be provided to the young academics to ensure that the skills and knowledge they have acquired will be passed on to other academics through mentoring and coaching.
Back: Langutani Masehela, Babalwa Mlathi, Rose Malefane, Tresella Nayagar, Mpfariseni Budeli, Prof Rita Maré, Prof Barney Erasmus, Prof Rosalie Finlayson, Gusha Ngantweni, Dr Denzil Chetty, Dr Genevieve James, Dr Zac Kotzé (assistant to Prof Finlayson, Gugu Nkosi, Tamesnie Deane & Ms Firoza Patel. Front: Liza van Jaarsveld, Richard Moloi, Kedibone Phago, Cliff Ndlangamandla, Paul Mbedzi & Peter Mkhize |
Prof Mandla Makhanya and Dr Mala Singh (Executive Director: Human Resources) congratulate Dr Denzil Chetty | |
