Program Overview

Introduction to the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Studies

The Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Studies (PGDip HES) is a program offered by the University of Cape Town. This program includes several courses, one of which is the Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (LTHE) course.

Course Overview

Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (EDN4504F)

The LTHE course is a compulsory and core course in the HES PGDip/Master's offering. It supports the development of self-reflective and critical knowledge generation through a strong socio-cultural theory and learning component embedded in critically reflective practice. The course is complemented by a pedagogical approach that focuses on epistemological access and success, linked to the context of transformation and decolonization.

Course Details

• The LTHE course has a strong focus on participatory learning and action through a diverse range of disciplinary experts who share diverse insights, perspectives, and experiences.
• Pedagogically, the LTHE places strong emphasis on the Critically Reflective Practitioner Model of professional/academic development.
• The course is designed to enable lecturers to explore their own contexts of teaching practice by engaging in critical reflexivity.

Session Details

• The LTHE course runs in the first semester (12-14 weeks) every Tuesday from 16h00-18h30 in hyflex mode.
• There are 5 assignments, including 1 x oral presentation.

Program Structure

The PGDip in Higher Education Studies includes the following components:

• LTHE
• Academic Literacies
• HECCD
• Higher Education Assessment
• Master's in Higher Education Studies
• SHETTL
• Master's and PhD Supervisors
• Application Process

Research Areas

The Centre for Higher Education Development at the University of Cape Town is involved in various research projects, including:

• Current Research Projects
• Digital Open Textbooks for Development
• Completed Research Projects, such as:
  • Challenges of Equity and Access: The Higher Education Curriculum Answers Back
  • Community Engaged Learning, Global Citizenship and Curriculum Transformation
  • C-DELTA
  • Next Generation of Extended Curricula
  • ROER4D
  • Decolonizing the Humanities Curriculum
  • First in the Family at University (FIFU) Project
  • The Impact of Digital Forms of Writing on Access and Diversity in Higher Education
  • Multimodal Texts and Pedagogies in Higher Education
  • Researching Mathematics Teaching and Learning, and Developing Human Capacity
  • The Unbundled University

Professional Development for Staff

The university offers various professional development programs for staff, including:

• Cohort Professional Development Programmes
• Short Courses for Staff

Student Support

The university provides various support services for students, including:

• NBTs
• Writing Centre
• Postgraduate Support
• Short Course for Students

Transformation and Social Responsiveness

The university is committed to transformation and social responsiveness, with various initiatives and programs aimed at promoting these values.