Page 30 - DUT Annual Report 2023

PhDs, increase publications, advance innovative learning and teaching practices, and early career planning. With 34 approved nGAP posts and nine New Emerging Scholars posts, DUT is well on its way to transforming staffing to impact teaching and learning.
Special Programmes
Innovative Teaching and Learning: Project-
Based Learning and Design Thinking
The DUT’s pledge to its Philosophy of Education “Our creativity and innovation shape adaptive graduates who transform society,” continued with its support of mainstreaming project-based learning (PBL) and design thinking (DT) as two innovative educational strategies that promote creativity, innovation, adaptability, and criticality. These methodologies encourage students to solve real-world problems using their knowledge and develop innovative solutions that can lead to new products and services. These methodologies are not just educational tools but are catalysts for fostering real-world, problem-solving capabilities, creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship among our students.
In 2023, the university supported 15 projects across five faculties to integrate PBL and DT into academic programmes. The launch of these projects was held in June 2023. The aim of the projects was to promote self- directed learning, facilitate self-awareness, and encourage students to become active partners in applying and generating knowledge. These proposals prioritised active
and collaborative learning, teamwork, and problem- solving through the effective integration of theory and practice. A total of 63 staff were involved in the different, funded projects. Furthermore, DT and PBL were integrated at varying levels and impacted the Learning and Teaching in 39 modules across five faculties.
Reflections on previous years, highlighted that the integration of PBL and DT requires continuous professional development and student support to maximise the benefit of these approaches. CELT therefore supported these projects through continued input sessions and community of practice engagements through the duration of the projects.
Reflections at the launch and final presentations showcased the change in the thinking of staff and the innovation in learning and teaching. In addition, the projects showed a contribution towards impacting positively on specific communities.
Online Distance Learning (ODL)
The university in 2023 continued to make steady progress in its quest to introduce ODL. This is in line with the change in policy direction by DHET in 2014 encouraging primarily contact public higher education institutions to provide additional educational opportunities through distance education for South Africans. ODL activities in 2023 revolved largely on building on the progress achieved in the previous years and revitalising the processes around funding for ODL, strategic leadership, and operational procedure.
Figure 1. Distribution of funded projects mainstreaming project-based learning and design thinking
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DUT ANNUAL REPORT 2023