Guidance support for undergraduate university students

Abstract

The implications of the rapid political, social, economic and technological changes at present occurring both in South Africa and internationally demand a review of the traditional approach to university training with regard to its relevance in terms of preparing students both for life in general and for the successful practising of a future career in particular. The Information Age requires that a shift take place from the teaching only of the mastery skills of previous eras to the encompassing of life or core skills that can be adapted to changing circumstances. As it cannot be assumed that students will acquire these skills incidentally or vicariously, they need to be consciously and deliberately taught in order to provide graduates with the ability to adjust to and cope with the uncertainties of the future. Universities as a whole need to become involved in an alternative approach to higher education. The aims of this study are:<ul><li> To employ a life-skills questionnaire that may be used as a diagnostic medium designed to ascertain if and where problem areas lie with regard to university entrants so as to facilitate addressing of said problem areas</li><li> To ascertain the needs and expectations of both employers and private practitioners in order to identify where the training of graduates falls short of the above with respect to life skills, and to establish what steps both employers and the self-employed are having to take to remedy the situation</li><li> To suggest the concept of relevant Guidance Support as a means to both address and redress problems surrounding issues of insufficient training of graduates with respect to life or core skills. </li></ul> The study comprises a title and concept elucidation, methodological justification, formulation of the problem and research hypotheses, an exposition of the aim of the study and an outline of the programme. Perspective is gained on the level of life skills present in university entrants via the presentation of a Life Skills Questionnaire and its possible uses are discussed. A survey of the needs of both employers and the self-employed, comprising a literature review, a Life Skills Questionnaire aimed at deans of faculties and councils and personal or telephonic interviews, revealed that graduates are insufficiently prepared to meet the demands of the world of work in terms of life competencies and skills. The concept of Guidance Support, concomitant with the notion of establishing a guidance support department is explored. The value of considering such a concept is covered, followed by a discussion of the functions and the advantages to a university of a guidance support department. The study contains a number of recommendations with regard to promoting the training of graduates sufficiently skilled to meet the demands of the world of work.