GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE The Division for Teaching Excellence’s (DTE) new name, adopted in 2022 has, in 2023, accurately reflected its role in the achievement of its planned activities and projects. The DTE advances excellence in teaching and learning, through a variety of activities, including the facilitation of programme design and renewal, and the provision of collaborative and collegial platforms from which academics are encouraged to share their best practices and quality activities. In addition, the DTE leads, manages, and administers key university and national projects, a number of which are funded through the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP). In sum, the DTE’s activities are integral to the enhancement of internal academic capacity and quality, providing a range of forums at which meaningful and rigorous engagement with internal and external stakeholders takes place. In 2023, the DTE’s Senior Director applied for and was awarded an Associate Professorship. This acknowledgement of the importance of the Division’s work, and of Professor Menon’s leadership of her team under the Deputy ViceChancellor: Academic, is testament to the UJ’s commitment to quality and excellence in teaching. This work is undertaken by the staff in Division itself, and in its two centres: the Centre for Academic Planning and Quality Promotion (CAPQP) and the Centre for Academic Staff Development (CASD) each of which is under the leadership of a dedicated Director. In 2023, the Director of CAPQP was awarded her doctorate which no doubt contributes to the gravitas of the position. With the Senior Director, the Directors focus on the integration and alignment of activities with the University’s strategy. Staff meetings of the Division are conducted quarterly, and frequent interaction between the Senior Director and the two Directors means that the work of the Division is coherent and consistently evident across the University. The Division’s overall focus on teaching and learning, academic programmes, staff development and capacity in a wide range of areas integrate synergistically with the work of the other two Divisions in the DVC: Academic’s mandate. These are the Division of Academic Development and Support (ADS) and the Division for Institutional Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring (DIPEM). Continued collaboration and coordination of activities between the three divisions ensures coverage of the full spectrum in the academic development portfolio. The feedback received from the CHE in respect of the Institutional Audit in 2023 is evidence of the success of the University’s continuous and frank self-evaluation, and its commitment to ongoing refinement of all academic and support activates. The Audit report confirms UJ’s evaluation of its strengths and affirms the University’s ongoing depth of engagement with the academic project across all domains. 2023 ANNUAL REPORT DIVISION FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE 5
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