New adult students introduced

New ones: Janice McMillan(far left)welcomes new students doing the Diploma in Adult Education.

The Higher and Adult Education Studies Development Unit welcomed the latest intake on its two-year Diploma in Adult Education on 27 July.

The 45 students are in their 30s and 40s - an unusual age group for UCT students - and come from various community organisations, non-governmental organisations and government departments.

The industry skills body generously funds students drawn from the clothing, textile, leather and footwear industry, while many educators receive bursaries from DVV International, a German adult education organisation.

Another group of 28 diploma students are trade union educators sponsored by Ditsela, a national trade union education institute.

The programme has been in existence for 12 years, and the course aims to develop a grasp of the field of adult education, community education and workplace education, and familiarise adult educators with some of the theoretical traditions of the subject, among other things.

Course convener June Saldanha explained that some of the adult educators - it's their first time at a university for most- could possibly continue their studies at UCT, perhaps even to master's level.

'Enjoy being at UCT,' lecturer Janice McMillan, told the group, 'and use its facilities to develop your skills and expertise.'