Contact details
Contact Person: Mr Charles Keyter
Position: Course Orginiser, Distance Education Centre
E-mail: ckeyter@polytechnic.edu.na
Fax: 09264 61 207 2208
Tel: 09264 61 207 2450
Postal Address Private Bag 13388
Windhoek
Namibia
Description
The Polytechnic of Namibia, through its Distance Education Centre under
the Office of the Registrar, strives to make education more accessible to Namibians
through distance education methods. It shares nine Regional Centres with the University of
Namibia.
Mission and Vision of the Polytechnic
The Polytechnic of Namibia contributes to Namibian development by
providing tertiary technological career-oriented education at internationally recognized
standards. The instruction programmes are aimed at meeting the needs of industry, the
driving force of the Namibian economy. The main objective of curricula is thus the
practice, promotion, and transfer of technology.
Target Groups
The majority of students studying at a distance are public service
employees of government ministries who live and work in and round Windhoek.
Programmes Offered
The following qualifications are offered:
- National Certificate (Public Administration);
- National Certificate (Police Science);
- National Higher Certificate (Public Administration);
- National Higher Certificate (Police Science);
- National Diploma (Public Administration);
- National Diploma (Police Science); and
- B. Tech. (Nature Conservation).
In 1997, the Polytechnic provided some 1579 students with the
opportunity to acquire their qualifications through distance mode. Many students who
complete their studies inquire about the possibilities of further education. The
Polytechnic is investigating the possibility of offering a range of B. Tech. degrees for
full-time, part-time, and distance education students. The first of these degrees for
distance students is the B. Tech. Nature Conservation. However qualifications in other
areas such as a National Diploma in Financial Accounting and a National Diploma in
Personnel Management are being investigated.
Delivery Modes and Technologies
The study guides, which have been designed as self-instructional
materials, provide students with flexible learning opportunities and are the main source
of teaching and learning. They are produced in the medium of English, and all students are
expected to study an English Communication course as part of the programme for which they
have registered. Students receive their materials at the regional centre where they are
registered, and also receive face-to-face support from tutors in the form of tutorials and
vacation schools.
Materials are mainly print-based although some courses (for example,
the English Communication Course) include audiotapes. Although computer technology is
currently not used for students as part of a learner support strategy, the Polytechnic has
established a Computer Services Unit which provides a comprehensive Information Technology
service to the Polytechnic community.
Computer Technology Infrastructure
The infrastructure at the Polytechnic, for which the Computer Services
Unit is responsible, consists of a central computer server, an Internet server, a mail and
proxy server, Java servers, and power workstations. Full-time students for information
systems classes use five computer laboratories. Each laboratory has 25 Pentium-based PCs,
most of which are linked to internal networks. Internet/E-mail is already present through
a 102 Kb link to UUNET Namibia, but, due to the absence of a computer network, its use is
restricted to the Computer Services Unit. An Internet station is available to staff.
Support of computer users is organized through the PC support component to which two staff
members are assigned. All PCs at the Polytechnic are already network-compatible.
Future plans for improving computer technology use at the Polytechnic
include the establishment of a network which will enable high-end computing as well as
unlimited Internet/E-mail access for academic staff. The Centre also has the following
projects in mind, which should boost the image of the Polytechnic as the leading
institution in Namibia in terms of technology:
- Acquisition of a very powerful database server to store and process most of the related
information available in Namibia;
- The African virtual university initiative;
- Establishment of a B. Tech. degree programme in Computer Engineering; and
- The zero-paper office, which will introduce productivity gains.
Learner Support Strategies
Since 1997, the Distance Education Centre has pushed for a high level
of face-to-face and administrative support at the nine regional centres which the
Polytechnic shares with UNAM. The good results in 1997 and 1998 can be attributed, in
part, to this collaborative support strategy.
Students are able to attend weekend tutorials that are offered by
regional appointed Face -to-Face tutors. These tutors are part-time and receive
remuneration per hour of service. At least three times a year, usually in March, June and
September, vacation schools are held in Windhoek. Tutorials and classes are only offered
at centres in courses where the number of students enrolled justifies this. Attendance at
both weekend tutorials and vacation schools is optional, but students are strongly
encouraged to avail themselves of these learning opportunities.
An important form of support is tutorial letters, which contain
detailed general comments on the assignments submitted.
Tutors do not mark assignments. Course lecturers mark these centrally
in Windhoek, and the marking process is coordinated by the head of the Distance Education
Centre.
Assessment
Continuous assessment is used in all courses offered. Students are
expected to submit a specified number of assignments per course. Admission to examinations
is dependent on a satisfactory performance on assignments. Students must achieve at least
40% in order to qualify for an examination.
In the English Communication Course, students are expected to submit
four written and four oral assignments. Oral assignments require that students record
their responses on audiocassettes. There are also activities on audiocassettes, for
example a dialogue, to which students provide written responses. The examination has both
a written and an oral component.
The assessment of a student’s academic performance is made on the
basis of a year mark and an examination mark, which together constitute the final mark.
The ratio between year and examination mark is 30:70. The students must obtain at least
50% in the final mark to pass the course.
Students can write examinations once a year in November.
Professional Development
All full-time DEC staff participate in regular short training events in
different aspects of distance education. One senior staff member is working towards a
Ph.D. focusing on a managerial model for distance education at the Polytechnic of Namibia.
One staff member has completed the Certificate Course for Distance Education Practitioners
offered by the Institute for Continuing Education at the University of South Africa.
Wherever possible training for part-time staff is organized jointly
with CES at UNAM.
Enabling and Hindering Factors
The DEC is trying to establish itself as a distance education centre
that will be in a position to offer students quality education on a par with full-time
courses offered at the campus. As part of a dedicated face-to-face institution, it has to
position itself and gain credibility with students and staff.
Collaboration with and support from the Centre for External Studies at
UNAM is enabling DEC to provide face-to-face support especially in the regional centres. |
