The second dialogue in the regional debate discuss ‘Adjusting to the new normal’
Dr Gary Paul, CUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Resources and Operations, participated in an informative online dialogue on 01 October 2020 that formed part of the Division of Student Affairs Dialogue Series at the University of the Free State (UFS). The topic of this conversation was “Adjusting to the new normal.” Co-panellists included Dr Martin Mandew, UFS and Dr Blandine Manditereza, Motheo TVET.
Dr Paul highlighted that although the future has no certainties, the COVID-19 pandemic should be viewed as a gateway between one world and the next with as many opportunities as challenges. “We should not seek a one-size-fits-all solution in the Higher Education sector, especially considering the enormous costs involved in moving online entirely. For CUT specifically, I believe that a blended learning approach will be better suited.”
He agreed with Justin Malbon from the Monash University in Clayton, Australia, advising that we should search for technologies that offer a superior, rather than a substitutive way of interacting.
“People do not only work for money or study for a qualification. The collegiality between employees and students are as important. Therefore we need to explore new ways by which we can produce socially conscious graduates.”
Dr Paul noted that we need to become resilient individuals who function within socially resilient systems. “For this to succeed, we need to consider a modular approach so that the failing of one aspect, does not collapse the entire system.” He is also excited about the need to develop different assessment methodologies. “I have never been convinced that the traditional memory test, or exam, is the best option. Students need to interact with programme content in a continuous way to truly master it. May we not miss this opportunity to create effective and valid assessment methods.”
Conclusively, the panel members of this dialogue agreed with Dr Paul that “we do not know what we do not know”. Dr Paul’s advice going forward is that we need to learn, unlearn, and re-learn in order to create conducive working and learning environments.
CUT Newsroom: the first debate, CUT takes part in regional debate about how COVID-19 is shaping Higher Education, 28 August 2020
Caption
Co-panellists included Dr Martin Mandew,UFS, pictured next to Dr Gary Paul, and Dr Blandine Manditereza.
