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Welcome

Dr Keith Jacobs is the current Regional Director of the Unisa Western Cape region. He holds the qualifications of B.Ed., MBA and PhD (Engineering Management). He is a proponent of transformation leadership and development, and his main responsibilities within the Western Cape region include the strategic and operational management of the university's vision, mission and operational requirements.

Welcome

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the fourth Unisa Western Cape Academic Symposium. 

The annual symposium was created as a forum for academics to express teaching and learning strategies. This symposium interrogates “Practical considerations for teaching and learning in the dynamic landscape of higher education in South Africa.

When preparing, academics generally only think of the goals of the subject rather than how they are going to motivate students with the subject matter. In general, students do not approach subject matter with an insatiable desire to learn. They have to be convinced that the subject is important and relevant to them. This is especially important in subjects, which are compulsory. Motivational considerations should therefore be at the forefront when preparing for each lecture. The following questions should be asked:

• Why is a particular lecture important? 

• Why is a particular theory or empirical analysis important? 

• Why should the student be interested?

It is essential that the lecturer is first convinced of the relevance and importance of the subject and material. Unless the lecturer is enthusiastic, it is very unlikely that the student will be motivated to learn. 

It is my wish that this symposium will interrogate the value of motivating a student and how it is best done.