College of Education

Defying the odds during academic journey

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Among personal challenges he faced during a critical period of his studies, Unisa alumnus, Nathanael Govender, had his parent placed on life support during his final dissertation submission. But, having fought profusely, he says: "I am excited about my results and appreciate the university for offering students quality support and education."

Nathanael Govender

Govender recently completed with cum laude his Master of Education: Adult Education under the College of Education. Having obtained his Postgraduate Diploma: Tertiary Education in 2018, for him, it is a significant milestone to get a second cum laude at Unisa. "As a working adult and family person, studying comes with a sacrifice, so this achievement is a reminder that everything we invest in has a reward," he says. He adds: "No matter the challenges and circumstances, with determination, we can succeed in what we put our minds to."

Speaking about his master's research, he explains: "One of the hallmarks of adult education in the occupational education and training sector is that adults bring a wide array of varying experiences into the learning process." He continues: "My study focused on barriers faced by adult education providers tasked with implementing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for occupational learning programmes."

According to Govender, RPL is a fundamental process to recognise and credit the relevant experience of adult learners across South Africa. He acknowledges that some have years of accumulated field experience without formal qualifications. "Based on the discovered barriers experienced by providers on the ground during the implementation of RPL and where challenges were unearthed, the study proposed recommendations underpinned by adult learning theories to augment practice," he remarks.

Govender notes that his passion for his study field saw him through the challenges during his academic journey. He says that being enthusiastic about his endeavours drove him to succeed. "As students, we experience challenges in our learning journeys," he says. "However," he adds: "I knew that I was not alone and drew my strength and encouragement from my loved ones, God, supervisor, and peers."

He attests that he had a stimulating academic experience at Unisa. He remarks that studying at the university challenged him to want to learn more, enhanced his perception about his field, and reinvigorated his thirst for knowledge. "I recommend Unisa to others. As part of the local and international community, it is the leading and largest open and distance learning institution." He says: "Its continued prestige is depicted by the sturdy support structure, quality and rigour of its academic programmes, coupled with its illustrious history and notable alumni."

Applauding Unisa on its 150th anniversary, Govender concludes by appreciating the university's continued momentous achievements and endeavours in developing, advancing, and changing students' lives for 150 years. 

#Unisa150      #Unisa150Stories

* By Nancy Legodi, Acting Senior Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2023-03-23 00:00:00.0

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