INDUCTION FOR PART TIME LECTURERS (25)

ACADEMIC POLICY OF THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, FREE STATE (CUT)



A. POINTS OF DEPARTURE

University education can be defined as a developing process of teaching, learning, training, and the development of scientific thought.


B. PURPOSE AND BASIS OF THE POLICY

The purpose of the CUT academic policy is to assist in:

* the planning and advancement o teaching and learning;
* the identification of the characteristics of effective and efficient education;
* the identification of indicators of quality in education;
* responsible decision-making when it comes to education

With its academic mission of scientific excellence as basis, the CUT’s teaching mission encompasses, as the point of departure, the following:

* nuanced education that is academically and occupationally oriented for the training of highly qualified persons, and
* the development of the ability to practise academic thought.


C. POLICY POINTS OF DEPARTURE

D. In the realisation of the above-mentioned teaching mission, the faculties of the CUT subscribe to the following points of departure:

(1) The composition and regular revision of a document that sets out the educational philosophy, teaching mission, goals and objectives of each faculty and which corresponds with the academic mission (task and credo) of the CUT.

(2) Faculties undertake – without sacrificing academic standards – to view curriculation as a dynamic process that should continually be adapted in an academically justifiable way to meet learners’ changing needs.

(3) The creation and regular revision of clearly formulated learning goals and objectives for every programmer and course in each faculty.

(4) The consideration of an increasing variety of learners and learning needs in the composition and presentation of programs, courses and services.

(5) The optimum provision of support structures, academic information services and resources in order to ensure sufficient, appropriate and stable education in the faculties.

(6) The regular evaluation of programs and courses in view of the internal and external quality assurance of education.


D. PROCEDURES

In practice, the realisation of the aforementioned policy points of departure depends on each faculty at the CUT possessing:

(1) a complete educational goal formulation, encompassing a detailed teaching plan (undergraduate and postgraduate) in each department;

(2) an effective and efficient teaching decision-making structure at faculty and departmental level;

(3) an effective and efficient system for the recruitment, selection, evaluation, rewarding and continual development of lecturers, bearing in mind the importance of quality teaching;

(4) an effective and efficient system for the selection, orientation, learning development and academic support of students;

(5) a teaching code that reflects the academic values of the faculty in respect of education; and

(6) sufficient facilities (e.g. lecture halls, laboratories, technology) and resources (e.g. library material, printed material, software) to ensure quality teaching.