At the official academic opening ceremony on 12 February 2021, the university honoured 16 Unisans who epitomise excellence in Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) studies by keeping up with the latest trends in this fast growing sphere of education.

As a university operating primarily through online distance education, Unisa has a cooperative agreement with Germany’s Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg to provide Unisans with certificates of advanced studies in online teaching and learning (OTL) while pursuing Unisa’s Master of Education in Open and Distance Learning (MEd in ODL). The first two cohorts received their certificates at the end of 2020 and early 2021 respectively. They are:

• Zainab Aziz
• Piera Biccard
• Mukondeleli Katumba
• Phumza Makgato-Khunou
• Solomon Ailwei Mawela
• Kelebogile Mudau
• Aluwani Malwashe Tagwi
• Sibongile Sylvia Tekana
• Makgopa Tshehla
• Sizakele Danke
• Mirelle Ehrenbeck
• Wilhelmina Johanna Greef
• Florence Malongane
• Joel Lekau Rachidi
• Cily Elizabeth Mamatle Tabane
• Anneliese Mehnert

OTL is a full-time intensive online programme consisting of four modules, but is also characterised by its richness in learning activities, involving interactions with seminal works, pioneers and active researchers in ODeL.

Conferred Unisans were exposed to authentic online educational experiences, best practices and keeping track of current trends in ODeL. This programme aims to advance excellence, innovation and leadership in ODeL teaching, learning and research. It also contributes to the university increasingly being acknowledged in international and national contexts in broadening theorisation in ODeL and informing ODeL practice and policy development.

* By Lesego Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement