The University of Fort Hare

The stated goal of the UFH project is “to improve the health of the people of the Eastern Cape by transforming nursing scholarship at the DNS”.
In pursuit of this vision, the DNS has established four key objectives to be pursued during the course of its involvement in the UNEDSA Programme, which are:

• To ensure that the DNS has all the physical and technical infrastructure, furnishings and fittings, intellectual and other resources to operate to the highest standards;
• To improve the teaching and learning capacity of the DNS;
• To improve scholarship by implementing a taught Master’s programme and a PhD programme; and
• To participate in the capacity-building, developmental and other activities offered by the UNEDSA Programme.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• The new Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) is almost complete. The second semester classes commenced in this building from the beginning of July2011.
• The following were procured: books for the library, clinical lab equipment plus Chairs & desks for the new teaching and learning facility
• Review of the M Cur curriculum to be in line with the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) & South African Nursing Council (SANC)
• PhD degree was approved by Department of Education (DoE) and the Pre-doctoral training programme is scheduled for January 2012
• UNEDSA grant received by 3 staff members & 15 M Cur students towards their research projects.
• 18 students registered for the Research M Cur programme in 2011
• 21 M Cur students graduated-10 May 2010 & 11 in May this year.
• 2 scientific writing workshops culminating in the publication of 3 papers that are still under review, and 8 papers were compiled and published in a book form.
• 5paper presentations were conducted.
• The 22nd to the 30th June 2011 were red-letter days, which marked the move of the entire DNS and the projects to the UFH staff offices in Gasson Centre, and the students to the new Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC). Although the new Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) building still needs some final touches, classes for the second semester commenced in this building from the beginning of July 2011. The move is highly appreciated by DNS staff and students as it brought to an end the separation of the staff into separate groups. We are now able to interact with colleagues from other Faculties in the UFH East London campus.
• The University of Fort Hare was accepted as a sub-Chapter of the Tau Lamba at Large Chapter, of the African Honor Society of Nursing on the 12th May 2011. Twenty staff members were inaugurated as members of the Sigma theta Tau International (STTI) Society. The ceremony was conducted by the STTI Secretariat; Professor Hester Klopper from North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus.