In 2021, the Central University of Technology became the first South African university to join the MIT Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL) as a Higher Education collaborative member. Since then, the initiative has worked to promote excellence and transformation in education at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and CUT by engaging educators, technologists, policymakers, societal leaders, employers, and employees.

The visit to MIT was related to attending an event scheduled by Abdul Jameel World Education Laboratory (J-WEL) for its members on “Architectures in Learning” to explore how learning may be shaped by structures underpinning cognition and emotion, the experience of space, and the scaffolding provided by curriculum design.

The “Architectures of Learning” event unpacked the key concepts of mind (cognition and emotion), space and curriculum and how they are combined to provide effective learning beyond the traditional classroom. Numerous cases formed part of the event to ensure that the concepts were understood and could be applied in any context. This will form the basis of further engagements between CUT and J-WEL. The event also provided opportunities for MIT experts to share their unique take on how to design for learning and extend the learning opportunities beyond the traditional classroom.

It also provided an opportunity to engage with the following MIT entities: Open Learning; Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre; Fab Lab; Media Lab; and MIT Management-Sloan School. The MIT Media Lab in particular, has created a very sophisticated environment for creativity by bringing together disciplines that would otherwise not work together under traditional approaches to solving problems. The Media Lab always looks into the future and has often produced ground-breaking technologies. As the pioneer of the FabLab, MIT has maintained a very high standard of how FabLabs should be equipped and operated. This has enabled it to continue to be a role model to the over 2000 FabLab across the world (including the one at CUT).

Some two dozen MIT J-WEL global collaborators joined the conversation, enabling featuring of ideas from J-WEL innovators worldwide. Lessons learned during engagements with the various MIT entities can provide an impetus to related CUT initiatives.

Uploaded: 27 June 2023