From 22 to 23 January, members of the Rhodes University Career Centre participated in the Curriculum Advisors Training Workshop hosted by the Centre for Higher Education Research, Teaching & Learning (CHERTL). The workshop focused on dismantling institutional silos and fostering active collaboration among Curriculum Advisors, Academic Advisors, faculties, and the Career Centre, all united by a shared commitment to delivering holistic, coordinated, and student-centred support.
The training created a platform for cross-functional engagement, encouraging participants to rethink how advisory roles intersect to better guide students throughout their academic journeys. By strengthening these partnerships, the university aims to ensure that students experience a seamless support system that responds effectively to both their academic progression and career development needs.
During the workshop, the Career Centre delivered a presentation titled “Referral Pathways: The Role of the Career Centre in Supporting Informed Career Choices.” The session sparked meaningful dialogue around the distinctions between curriculum advising and academic advising, while highlighting how the Career Centre’s work complements and reinforces both functions. Central to these discussions was the importance of intentional referrals, ensuring students are directed to the most appropriate support services without duplication or overextension.
These engagements formed part of the university’s broader readiness to welcome first-year students. By aligning advisory structures ahead of the academic year, Rhodes University seeks to provide new students with greater clarity, accessible guidance, and purposeful support as they begin shaping their academic and career pathways.
The workshop reaffirmed the value of collaboration in higher education, underscoring that student success is best achieved when institutional partners work in concert rather than in isolation. The Career Centre looks forward to building on these connections and continuing to partner with advisory and faculty colleagues to enhance the student experience and promote informed career decision-making.