The Centre for Higher Education Research Teaching and Learning
The work of the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL), together with the Dean of Teaching and Learning, involves the development of academic staff as professional educators, the promotion and assurance of quality in teaching and learning and the development of student learning in conjunction with academic departments, the latter more directly through the work of the Extended Studies Unit (ESU). In addition CHERTL also functions as an academic department of Rhodes University focused on Higher Education as a field of study and the development of teaching and learning in higher education.
The Centre conducts research on teaching and learning in higher education and offers formal programmes in Higher Education Studies contributing to the development of quality teaching and learning. The Centre is also responsible for promoting Service-Learning within the institution; for the administration and development of the next generation of Academics programmes, supported by the Mellon and Kresge Foundations; for quality assuring short courses and supporting tutor coordinators.
The scope of CHERTL’s work moves beyond the institution, playing an active role at national and international levels. CHERTL contributes significantly to the national higher education landscape, both through the offering of formal qualifications at other institutions as well as through representation on national bodies such as the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) and the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC).
Induction of academics new to Rhodes and induction of academics new to teaching
“I am enjoying the Academic Orientation Programme and learning a lot of new things from presenters as well as participants; also many things I already know are making new sense in the context of Rhodes. Quite unexpected is to make new friends, and contacts in other departments that promise cross disciplinary involvement around issues such as 'diversity'. Overall there is information but openness to a self-critical attitude on the part of CHERTL, the VC and other presenters which is so refreshing and which invites us to contribute to change and not just receive information”. (Prof Michael Joseph)...read more
CHERTL book launched at HELTASA conference
[If you are interested in purchasing a copy of this book please contact Nomfundo Siqwede (n.siqwede@ru.ac.za or phone 046 6038171)]
A much acclaimed volume with chapters written and edited by Rhodes University staff members from the Centre for Higher Education Research Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) was launched along with three other new books on higher education at the Annual conference of the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) held at Stellenbosch University from 28 to 30 November. ...read more
Prof Garman to receive Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award
2012 marks Prof Anthea Garman’s 16th year as an indispensable part of the Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies. This month, she is to receive the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award....read more
Creating magic -Dr Seddon to receive VC’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award
A dynamic and involved lecturer at the Rhodes English department, Dr Deborah Seddon is passionate about teaching, which is why she will receive the Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Teacher’s Award later this month....read more
Rhodes introduces a new postgrad orientation programme
Rhodes University has unveiled a first of its kind postgraduate research programme to assist postgraduate students in engaging with various theoretical approaches, data collection methods and methods of analysis. ...read more
A Million Euros for a National Postgraduate Supervision Project
The Rhodes University Centre for Higher Education, Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) national project on postgraduate supervision received a major boost when it recently accepted a grant of 1 million euros from the Dutch agency NUFFIC.
Professor Chrissie Boughey, Dean of Teaching and Learning at Rhodes and project leader for the collaborative project on the development of postgraduate supervision, said the funding will be used to develop a course on supervision and roll this out at South African universities, particularly those with low PhD
graduation rates....read more
Academic Orientation Programme 2012
Over the cusp of January and February CHERTL hosted the annual Academic Orientation Programme. While this programme is aimed at new academics to Rhodes, the programme was open to all academics, the content being of wider relevance and potential interest.
The programme was divided into two distinct sections. The first section, Academic pathways at Rhodes: Scholarship and Transformation, was focussed on the context of Rhodes University and the ways of being within the context....read more
CHERTL Assessors’ course on the go
It is an idiosyncrasy of higher education that many reach the status of lecturer without ever taking a formal course in teaching and learning.
In today's world there is growing national and international understanding of the central role assessment plays in higher education, and how assessment decisions by lecturers have a significant impact on the future options and careers of students.
The Assessors’ Course, offered by the Centre for Higher Education, Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL), is a module of the PostGraduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE) programme. Its purpose is “to support the development and enhancement of understanding and engagement in the assessment of student learning in the Higher Education context.”...read more
Professional development of academic staff
The Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching and Learning (CHERTL) at Rhodes University this year launched a new course, the first of its kind in South Africa, specifically designed for people currently working in higher education institutions in the field of educational or academic staff development. ...read more
NRF Funding for Social Inclusion
CHERTL are thrilled to have been awarded just over R1 million for a project to be undertaken under the leadership of Professor Chrissie Boughey and in collaboration with researchers from 6 other South
African Universities into social inclusion in Higher Education.
Higher Education holds the promise of contributing to intellectual, cultural, social, economic and political development, and to equity, democracy and social justice. Institutions of higher learning have the potential to offer powerful opportunities for fostering the economic and social advancement of members of disadvantaged and marginalised social classes and groups, for promoting understanding of, and respect...read more
