Exploring Student Teachers’ Views on ePortfolios as an Empowering Tool to Enhance Self-Directed Learning in an Online Teacher Education Course

This paper explores Economics student teachers’ views on ePortfolios as an empowering tool to enhance self-directed learning in an online teacher education course. An interpretive phenomenological research approach was employed for data collection and a purposive convenient sampling technique was selected to collect data. Only Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) and Batchelor of Education (BEd) Senior Phase/Further Education and Training Economics Subject Methodology (SDEC00N) student teachers registered on myUnisa for the modules were targeted. Multiple sections from the ePortfolios that had been considered for the purpose of this study were taken from their creative writing assignments, a research projects, lesson plans, reflective journal entries, podcasts, blog postings. Data were collected and analysed on a weekly basis to create a plethora of information. Student teachers felt that they were empowered with different subject content knowledge, technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPCK) and other technologies, student-centred methods and techniques through the ePortfolio project

Advanced Practice and Specialisation in Pharmacy: Global Report 2015

This report is the most comprehensive collection of data and evidence that relates to practitioner advancement of practice and policy, and maps out a wide range of national initiatives worldwide. This report should be viewed as a first attempt to map out global trends and will stimulate further reportage and analysis as engagement in this practice continues to progress

Reconceptualising Health Professions Education in South Africa

Cite: Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), (2018). Reconceptualising Health Professions Education in South Africa. [Online] Available at: DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/assaf.2018/0021This consensus study was initiated by ASSAf as a response to the ongoing challenge of shortages of healthcare professionals. The study was conceptualised following an ASSAf workshop on the Lancet report titled Health professionals for a new century: transforming education to strengthen health systems in an interdependent world. The study aims to address the full value chain in health sciences education from student selection, through pedagogical developments, unpacking of the current bottlenecks in the system and looking at how the future health sciences education system can be financed and regulated. Objectives of the study are to provide evidence-based information and recommendations to policymakers and relevant stakeholders on how health professional education might be transformed to improve the health of the nation. This includes the various professions in health. Some of the key findings of the study include: barriers in student section; inadequate production and retention of skilled health professionals; urban-rural maldistribution of graduates; core competencies’ challenges; internship and community-service obligations and transition; and shortcomings in financing of health sciences education. Recommendations on how to address the challenges are very practical. It is envisaged that policymakers and relevant stakeholders will implement these for the revitalisation of health professions education in order to improve health of South Africans.Stellenbosch University Rural Medical Education Partnership Initiative (SURMEPI

Vocational Education and Training in Sub-Saharan Africa: Current Situation and Development

There is a rising demand for specialist workers in several countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The area still lacks a consistent system of professional training and further education. The conference transcript comprises practical knowledge collected by the authors to depict the current state of professional training within the Sub-Saharan African countries. The paper also introduces the reader to concepts for the development of a professional training system and provides an overview of the strategies and plans of different countries and institutions. The included articles were written within the framework of a symposium on the status quo and the perspective of professional training and further education. This gathering took place in Namibia in August 2016 and brought together researchers and business actors from the Sub-Saharan states, Europe, Australia, and Asia.In einigen Ländern der südlichen Saharazone (SSA) steigt die Nachfrage nach Fachkräften. Ein durchgängiges System der beruflichen Aus- und Fortbildung ist in der Region noch nicht etabliert. In dem Tagungsband tragen die Autor:innen Praxiswissen zur Situation der beruflichen Bildung in den afrikanischen Subsahara-Staaten zusammen. Sie stellen Konzepte für die Entwicklung eines Systems zur beruflichen Ausbildung vor und geben einen Überblick über Strategien und Vorhaben verschiedener Länder und Institutionen. Die Beiträge entstanden im Rahmen eines Symposions zum Status quo und zur Perspektive der beruflichen Aus- und Fortbildung. Es fand im August 2016 in Namibia mit Teilnehmer:innen aus Wissenschaft und Praxis der Subsaharastaaten, Europa, Australien und Asien statt