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Ten trends in tertiary education in South Africa in 2013

20 Feb 2013

The need for higher and further education and training in South Africa is intensifying in the face of an extremely competitive job market and a national unemployment rate of 25%. However, a number of challenges affect the provision of education, from limited resources to continuing technological developments, the growth of niche education and distance learning, the relationships between employers and education providers, and the need for qualifications to be relevant to the workplace.

A range of key factors will shape the provision of higher education and training in South Africa in the future:

Mobile technology: The immense growth of the smart devices and the mobile market enables the delivery of educational material through cellphones and tablets. Students can access educational information more easily.
Improved access to the internet: Bandwidth quality is improving. Networks and service providers have reduced the cost of bandwidth and computer prices are lower. These developments have made it possible for students to afford to access distance learning resources online.
The growth of social media: Engagement on social media has prepared students to communicate and learn in social forums using online technology.
Free educational software and resources: Free delivery platforms and educational resources are available online to enhance the learning experience. The challenge for educational providers is to integrate these seamlessly into the learning experience.
Distance learning: The distance learning delivery mode has received renewed attention from the DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training) as an option to address the lack of access to residential universities and institutions faced by many South African students.
The need for bridging courses: Many potential students are turned away from institutions because their grades are not high enough to compete for the limited number of spaces. Bridging courses will play a vital role in assisting students to gain access to degree programmes and will produce students better prepared for higher and further education.
Business, banking and financial skills: Skills in commerce are needed to support the responsible expansion of the economy.
Closer collaboration between business and education: In order to provide relevant qualifications and to ensure employable graduates, it is important that business sectors collaborate with educational institutions in order to address the specific skills needed.
Lifelong learning: Continuous improvement and updating of skills and knowledge is essential to keep pace with a rapidly evolving economy and to remain competitive in the job market. Alternatively, people may change careers several times during the course of their lives - lifelong learning is a global trend.
Local and global: It is no longer enough to gain knowledge and skills for a national scenario; we need to be global corporate citizens with knowledge of the world economy to be effective in business.