Two academics have completed the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) Programme and have started sharing their newly-acquired skills with their colleagues to enhance teaching excellence at CPUT.

Dr Nomakhaya Mashiyi, Language Coordinator in the Faculty of Education, and Dr Bernadette Millar, a senior lecturer in the Clothing and Textile Department, are now certified TAU Fellows.

The programme is funded by the Department of Higher Education and Training and empowers academics countrywide to be change agents at their universities.

Hosted by the University of Johannesburg, the inaugural two-year long programme consists of contact sessions and online support from supervisors.

The programme’s 53 participants were each required to do an individual’s research project aimed at promoting the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching as a marriage of learning and teaching with research.

“My research study evaluated academic and non-academic support programmes at CPUT’s Education Faculty,” says Mashiyi.

She added that the programme was innovative and empowering.

“We discussed teaching and learning at our universities and our envisaged role in promoting effective teaching and learning.”

She is of the view that each institution should create spaces for the TAU fellows to engage with fellow lecturers on matters on matters relating to teaching and learning.

Millar says the TAU Fellowship is very important for the country’s universities because it foregrounds learning and teaching in Higher Education.

“It was very stimulating to connect with academics from other universities and see the challenges we each face before deciding on how to move forward,” she says.

“I feel very honoured to have been part of the fellowship as I learnt a great deal and have since passed the knowledge to my colleagues and will also use it when supervising postgrad students.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In a showcase of academic dedication, CPUT has proudly announced that two academics have been selected for the prestigious Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) 5 programme.

The Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development’s (CHED), Dr Xena Cupido, said the prestigious fellowship programme, aimed at fostering excellence in learning and teaching across South African universities, has welcomed Dr Sanet Cox and Dr Bronwyn Swartz into its ranks, marking a significant milestone for CPUT.

Swartz feels “very grateful to be supported” and said she heard about TAU from a previous colleague, who told her that “it was an incredibly supportive programme for academics aspiring to improve their Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT) capabilities”.

“I am hoping that I will be able to make an impact. The structure of the TAU includes doing two projects. I have just started three projects, two of which I will take advantage of being part of TAU to make progress or complete. I am very excited about this.”

Cox is “excited” about the nomination and acceptance into the programme and has been “overwhelmed by the kind responses that I have received from colleagues”. “I feel very honoured to be a part of this prestigious programme and look forward to participation, and to learning from experts.”

She continued: “Not only is it the next logical step in my academic career, but it also provides me with the opportunity of becoming a change agent in my working environment. I have been involved in lecturing and student support activities for many years and I am eager to engage in research regarding student support that may bring about sustainable change in the future of my department, in our faculty, and in the education system.” As a lecturer in the Education Faculty, she is aware that primarily she teaches university students on an academic level, while on a secondary level she models teaching to pre-service teachers, who need to go into the world and apply skills that they have been taught.

Cupido said the TAU Fellowships Programme is designed to nurture a new generation of senior academics, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to act as scholars, leaders, and agents of change within their respective disciplines. “By focusing on inter-institutional collaboration and promoting social justice in education, the programme seeks to enhance the quality and impact of learning and teaching in South Africa's public universities.

Cox and Swartz’s acceptance into the TAU 5 cohort underscores CPUT's commitment to academic excellence and its role in shaping the future of higher education in the country.” The programme spans 19 months and includes a series of block-week contact sessions, individual projects tailored to each participant's learning and teaching environment, collaborative group projects, and reflective reports. This comprehensive approach ensures that fellows not only contribute to their institutions but also to the broader academic community, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Cupido added that the CPUT's participation in the TAU Fellowships Programme has been notable, with 10 TAU fellows, having completed the programme to date. “This achievement reflects the university's dedication to advancing the pedagogical skills of its faculty and its commitment to contributing positively to the higher education landscape in South Africa.

Swartz said: “I will have to do an individual project tailored to our learning and teaching environment. I will also be expected to take part in collaborative group projects and write reflective reports.”

Cox’ research interest for TAU will focus on the “impact of our support programme (FYE specific) on our students, their success, and the retention rate”. Cupido said: “The university extends its heartfelt congratulations to doctors, Cox and Swartz on this remarkable achievement.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.