Teaching and Learning Office

College Deans: Teaching & Learning

The position of College Dean: Teaching and Learning was created as part of the University-wide reorganisation process and launched in January 2012. Combined with the challenges brought about by the reorganisation, developing a character for the position provided new opportunities for Teaching and Learning, enabling the University to impact more directly on improved student progression and graduation. In an effort to promote and support student success, the Teaching and Learning Strategy Group identifies strategic goals through a systematic process of data review, research, discussion, planning and implementation.

The work of the Teaching and Learning Strategy Group is underpinned by the principle that student success is not the result of the implementation of one programme or approach, but rather the result of various initiatives applied in concert. Under the leadership of the DVC: Teaching and Learning, Professor Renuka Vithal, a number of strategic areas have merged as the foci of the group’s work. These include: providing an overall strategic direction for teaching and learning at the University; developing and revising teaching and learning policies; implementing Senate approved policies; and contributing to the promotion of the scholarship of teaching and learning across the University through a variety of scholarly fora and activities.

In addition to key functions of policy development and implementation, the College Dean: Teaching and Learning participates in various strategic initiatives including response to key national policy documents and position papers. In 2012, the Teaching and Learning Strategy Group responded to the revised Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework and the DHET Green Paper on Post-School Education and Training.

Professor Naven Chetty

College Dean: T&L (CAES)

Professor Naven Chetty has a PhD in Experimental Physics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He was awarded the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science distinguished teacher award in 2014. Professor Chetty is currently the head of the Science and Engineering Access Programme at UKZN. His passion is teaching and he enthusiastically enlightens students about the wonders of Physics and he strives to change the face of teaching and learning in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science. He has published more than 20 papers in ISI rated journals and has graduated a number of students at MSc and PhD level.

Professor Msizi Mkhize

College Dean: T&L (CLMS)

Professor Mkhize is an Associate Professor in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance (SAEF). He holds a Secondary Teachers Diploma (Indumiso), Bachelor of Commerce (UNIZULU), Bachelor of Commerce Honours (UNISA), Master of Commerce and a PhD (UKZN). Professor Mkhize is a recipient of the 2018 UKZN Distinguished Teachers’ Award which was in acknowledgement of a sustained contribution to teaching and learning at the University. In 2019, he received a National Excellence in Teaching Commendation from the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA).

Professor Sinegugu Duma

College Dean: T&L (CHS)

Professor Sinegugu Duma obtained a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cape Town (2006); Masters in Nursing Education from University of KwaZulu Natal (1998); a B Cur in Nursing Administration and Nursing Education from UNISA (1994); and Diploma in Nursing (Psychiatry, Community) and Midwifery from Natal College of Nursing. She has authored a book “The Pain of Being a Women” and published more than 20 articles in scientific nursing education, forensic nursing and nursing practice journals. At the University of Cape Town she established and chaired the first ever national Campus Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), which coordinates services for victims and survivors of sexual violence on campus. Her current research is on prevention of sexual violence in different settings, including universities.

Professor Ruth Hoskins

College Dean: T&L (CHUM)

Professor Ruth Hoskins served as the Academic Leader of Teaching and Learning in the School of Social Sciences for more than four years. She has actively provided leadership in the areas of the Council for Higher Education (CHE) Higher Education Qualification Sub-framework Standard (HEQSF) realignment of the many programmes in the School of Social Sciences. She has chaired and served on many review panels of Schools, academic programmes in other Colleges at UKZN, nationally and internationally at other academic institutions. Currently involved in the development of CHE Qualification Standards for the Library and Information Science (LIS) sector.