A Word of Welcome from our Acting Executive Dean
 
Welcome to Nelson Mandela University and specifically to the Faculty of Education family. It is an honour to welcome you to my Alma Mater where, not too long ago, I also enrolled for my first qualification. Congratulations for obtaining a Bachelors pass and thank you for choosing the Faculty of Education at nelson Mandela University to pursue your tertiary studies. For the 2024 Academic year, the faculty received more than 10000 applications. Unfortunately, the faculty can only accommodate 700 students and I am happy to announce that you are one of the 700.
 
The start of a new journey at a Higher Education Institution is exciting and inspiring. It is exciting because it is a new adventure where you will meet likeminded people who will be your new friends. Inspiring because you will be learning critical skills needed in your career. You have chosen to pursue a career in teaching – a career that contributes to the development of all other careers. To be a teacher is to constantly work towards changing the world into a better place for all of us to live in. As a faculty, we are passionate, enthusiastic, and committed to providing you with the highest standard of quality education to equip you with the skills to be an effective teacher committed to the development and success of the learners that you will educate.
 
The faculty’s vision statement is: 
 
To be and to nurture a dynamic community of professional teachers, leaders and scholars in education committed to co-creating a vibrant, socially just, and democratic society. 
 
Our mission statement is:
 
We are committed to cultivating passionate, engaged, knowledgeable, effective and compassionate teachers, researchers and leaders who are critical thinkers and agents of hope, change and social justice through practising humanizing pedagogies, establishing collaborative partnerships with relevant stakeholders, using future-oriented technologies creatively and bringing the classroom into the world and the world into the classroom.
 
The four-year B.Ed qualification will prepare you to espouse the values mentioned in the mission statement. In addition to these values, your communication and collaboration skills, empathy, and patience will be enhanced. We pride ourselves on developing high-quality, compassionate teachers who will be critical thinkers and agents of hope and change.
 
We look forward to getting to know you and to working with you over the next four years. Adapting to life at university is not easy, and therefore the faculty will provide you with additional support through tutorials and student advisors. You will also meet Ms Nozuko Rhayi who is our First Year Experience (FYE) Programme co-ordinator. She is passionate and committed and will ensure that you settle in quickly and get the necessary support throughout the year to achieve academic success. The most important thing to remember is that if you are experiencing a challenge, you need to speak up so that we can assist you to resolve the challenge.
 
I would like to encourage you to work hard but also to enjoy your time at the university. Make sure that you attend classes regularly and submit your assignments on time. The university will also provide you with opportunities to engage in social, cultural, sporting and leadership activities – embrace these opportunities as it also allows you to develop critical skills that you can use as a teacher. As a faculty, we are committed to providing you with a learning and teaching environment that is supportive and enabling. For the next four years we will work hard, but also play hard; we will laugh together and also cry together. Plan to be diligent, study hard and give it your all, so that in four years’ time we can applaud you as you walk across the stage as a qualified teacher ready to make a difference in South Africa and the world. Hold on tight to your dreams and stay committed to your goals. Everything of the best CLASS OF 2027!

 

Prof Heloise Sathorar
Acting Executive Dean

 

Contact information
Mrs Jackie Smith
Secretary of the Acting Executive Dean
Tel: 041 504 2953
jackie.smith@mandela.ac.za

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