provide vehicles for studies which traverse more than one of these areas, as they impact on cross-disciplinary enquiries. Approval outcomes from a range of professional bodies and accreditation of new programmes by the Council on Higher Education demonstrate the ways in which the University’s focus gains ground, meeting its strategic goals, and giving life to its vision. In 2021 and 2022, the CHE and the Institutional Audit Panel (which visited the University in May 2022) were presented with an internal quality assurance system embedded in a dynamic and visionary institution, making a real societal impact on social justice and the lives of its students and alumni. Likewise, research – whether for its own sake, or in and for teaching – ensures that programmes at the University are at the forefront of a wide range of disciplines, exposing students to the latest developments in their fields, and to the available technologies. The University’s expert staff publish in a variety of academic and non-academic media, informing and feeding debates and the development of knowledges across a diverse range of fields. Regardless of whether the focus is on decolonisation, the 4IR or the SDGs, there is no definable destination, no identifiable point at which this exercise may be considered complete. As can be seen from the reports, the processes are clearly iterative and require ongoing and consistent alignment with the issues at hand. There is a clearly expressed need for decolonised curricula that address contemporary societal needs, such as those occasioned by the 4IR and the SDGs. It is clear that at UJ, these efforts are integrated into the ways in which faculties deliver on their mandates in respect of the three core areas. The inter- and multidisciplinary programmes (MPhil and DPhil) accredited in 2020 took effect in 2021, with specialisations in Mythology and Ancient Cultural Studies, Quality Engineering, Innovation and Development, Digital Transformation, Afrikaans Creative Writing, Sports Management and Children’s Literature being processed. The DHET approved the addition of five new programmes, the key among which were the Master of Quality Engineering, Master of Science in Data Science, and a Master of Science in Machine Learning. No doubt, the continued and active support of the University in the provision of enabling conditions for efforts in these areas will continue to yield positive results for students and faculty alike. Regardless of whether the focus is on decolonisation, the 4IR or the SDGs, there is no definable destination, no identifiable point at which this exercise may be considered complete. 2022 ANNUAL REPORT: DIVISION FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE 85
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjU1NDYx