My UCT Safari: "What it is like to be a new academic at

UCT".

Preconceived ideas

FearExcitement

UCT characteristics:Rich & ExpensiveWorkaholicConfidenceNetwork capabilityDiscrimination

European ForeignAsian ForeignAfrican Foreign

Period been in R.S.A is also a factor in preconceived ideas

BEFORE UCT ARRIVALS

Depending on where you come from

Departmental Level

Faculty LevelFaculty Level

UCT

ANALYSIS AT THE FOLLOWING LEVELS

UCT

Welcome to R.S.A

Welcome to R.S.A

DISCRIMINATION × ×

POSSIBILITIES √ √

-Human Resource

Communication √ √

Introduction to UCT √ √

-Research support programme

-Research seminars & Workshops √ √

-Grants√ √

-Research culture √ √

-Infrastructure : Resources available. √ √

-Human Resource

Communication √ √

Introduction to UCT √ √

-Research support programme

-Research seminars & Workshops √ √

-Grants√ √

-Research culture √ √

-Infrastructure : Resources available. √ √

-Admin × ×

-Poor Academic support × ×

-A lot of expectations > RFJ

-Recruitment of student

-Research

-Information Overload upon arrival!! × × × ×

-Limited Foreign academic support × × × ×

-Fear of the unknown × × × ×

-Admin × ×

-Poor Academic support × ×

-A lot of expectations > RFJ

-Recruitment of student

-Research

-Information Overload upon arrival!! × × × ×

-Limited Foreign academic support × × × ×

-Fear of the unknown × × × ×

-Faculty welcome √ √

-Inter departmental communication √ √

-Faculty welcome √ √

-Inter departmental communication √ √

-Meetings!!!! × ×

-Poor Communication × ×

-Cultural Context of student &lecturer × × × × × ×

•socio-cul tural stereotypes

•student manipulation (Tutor/student)

-Meetings!!!! × ×

-Poor Communication × ×

-Cultural Context of student &lecturer × × × × × ×

•socio-cul tural stereotypes

•student manipulation (Tutor/student)

Kanjere, University of Limpopo http://www.emasa.co.za/files/full/Kanjere.pdf

students

Done in class during lecture

To regain the trust; “I thought UCT will just be white lecturers....”

African Cheating exampleEmail exampleFacebook example

Kanjere, http://www.emasa.co.za/files/full/Kanjere.pdf

tutors

BEE & various systems example

Kanjere, http://www.emasa.co.za/files/full/Kanjere.pdf

Solution: Build up a hard skin

-Welcome √ √

-IS Culture √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

-Open door policy √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

-Support system (Concept of a course admin & mentor) √ √

-Skills development programmes √ √

-Welcome √ √

-IS Culture √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

-Open door policy √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √

-Support system (Concept of a course admin & mentor) √ √

-Skills development programmes √ √

-Staff islanders × ×

-Students

-Large classes upon arrival √ √

-Staff islanders × ×

-Students

-Large classes upon arrival √ √

But its great to be at UCT

Thank you