Nelson Mandela University is the SI National Office for Southern Africa and is, as such, responsible for the training of SI Supervisors and academic staff from institutions around Southern Africa. It is also responsible for maintaining a flagship programme at Nelson Mandela University. We work collaboratively with the International Center for SI at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and the SI National Centers in Canada, Europe, and Australasia. The National Office comprises of Ms Liesl Smith who is an International Certified Trainer in Supplemental Instruction and Dr. Philip Kitching who is in training to become certified. To date many South African institutions have implemented SI programmes, including universities, universities of technology, TVET colleges, and private institutions.
For more information on our services, make your selection below:
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SI Supervisor and Advanced Supervisor Training
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Consultations
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Networking
SI International Centre at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (USA)
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) programme was created by the late Deanna C. Martin, Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 1973. The programme was developed in response to the high drop-out and failure rate in historically difficult courses, particularly for minority and under prepared students. The programme differed from many other academic support programmes at the time, in that it offered a comprehensive and detailed model on how the programme should function while accommodating student needs. The programme is based on the principles of peer-collaborative learning and the integration of learning skills in a course-specific rather than remedial setting.
In 1981, after nine years of application and refinement at UMKC, the SI programme became one of the few post-secondary programmes to win certification by the U.S. Department of Education as an Exemplary Educational Programme. With this award, SI became eligible for funds from the National Diffusion Network, the national dissemination agency for the U.S. Department of Education. With this funding the staff at UMKC began assisting other tertiary institutions in the country to implement the SI model. Dr Martin recognised the potential of SI in different countries and SI National Centres were established to assist with the dissemination of SI around the world.
For more information visit to the International Center for SI website
Nelson Mandela University
The former University of Port Elizabeth (now Nelson Mandela University) implemented the SI programme in 1993, as a result of the transformation process which was taking place at that time. One of the key issues to emerge from this process was the University's commitment to students, and specifically to their academic development through a student centred learning approach.
The SI programme was selected by the University after a detailed survey of existing student academic development programmes both locally and abroad. The programme was adopted because it was felt that it could meet the holistic needs of its students, it could be instituted campus wide, and it was a cost-effective programme with a proven track record. A pilot SI programme was begun in 1993 to evaluate the potential of the programme for the university. Particular attention was given to its cost-effectiveness and its ability to act as a vehicle for transformation and a catalyst for change. Based on the success of these trails, the programme grew rapidly on campus and was retained.