Dimensioning academic strategies and priorities with e-learning trends and technologies at the University of the Free State

 

Gabriel Kabanda

 

Research Article | Published February 2015

Journal of Educational Research and Reviews, Vol. 3(2), pp. 12-22

 

 

Zimbabwe Open University, 7th Floor Stanley House, Corner First Street/ J. Moyo Avenue, P.O. Box MP 1119, Harare, Zimbabwe.

 

*Corresponding author. Email: gabrielkabanda@gmail.com. Tel: 263-4-251873/793008-9 

 

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The purpose of the research was to determine the strategies and priorities as an academic leader for creating a world-class academic university in terms of quality and impact of teaching and learning. The University of the Free State (UFS) is faced with the problem of relatively low scholarship throughput. The Xerox Excellence Model represents one of the early excellence pioneering models, and the EFQM European Excellence Model is a representative of international quality award model that informs customer service excellence. The status of the University of Free State (UFS) is analysed qualitatively using a research design based on Discourse Analysis, Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory, supported by Document Analysis of the Strategic Plan 2012-2016 and the Integrated Report for 2013. UFS is benchmarked against other top world-class universities. The recommended strategies hinge on sustaining momentum on excellence, broadening access, investing in Leadership Success, enhancing research capacity and learner support, and focus on institutional service excellence. Strategies and priorities identified are to be supported by the evolving future e-learning trends (MOOCS, micro-learning, OERs, etc.) and technologies (cloud-based learning, gamification, notification systems in LMS, SaaS authoring tools, HTML5, Tin can API, etc.). The global university performance of world-class universities are assessed across all of their core missions – teaching (the learning environment), research (volume, income and reputation), knowledge transfer (citations), industry income (innovation) and international outlook (staff, students and research).