Bridging programmes: gain, pain or all in vain

Infusing Adjustment Issues into the Curriculum in a Science Foundation Programme

“…The contribution of S 3 to GEPS is similar to the role of programmes at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Wood & Lithauer, 2005) and the University of the Free State (Hay & Marais, 2004). The programmes at other universities in South Africa also rely on the assumption that improved self-concept, self-management skills and communication skills, as well as improved support systems, foster social and emotional well-being, thus enabling students to successfully engage with university life and their academic demands.…”

“…As Hay and Marais (2004) point out, there is an educational backlog of 'millions of school leavers who are not adequately prepared for higher education'. Being illprepared for the higher education (HE) environment affects graduation rates which are indicators of institutional efficacy (NPHE, 2001).…”

Extended BSc Programme: Performance of students in Chemistry

“…2,4 Students also register for three development modules: Academic Language; Skills and Competencies for Life Long Learning: Natural Science; and Computer Literacy. An Extended BSc student who has passed all the modules of the first year of the programme can proceed to register for the second year of the programme on the Bloemfontein Campus.…”

“…2,4 Students also had to register for development modules in Academic Literacy, Concepts in General Science and Introduction to Computer Usage. In 2011, the module 'Concepts in General Science' was replaced by the module 'Skills and Competencies for Life Long Learning: Natural Science'.…”

“…To cater for school-leavers who do not meet these entrance requirements 1 , the UFS implemented the Extended BSc Programme (for those with AP scores of 25 to 29) in 2005 to complement the very successful science stream of the University Preparation Programme (UPP) [2][3][4] (for those with AP scores of 20 to 24). In 2011, the Extended BSc Programme was moved from the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS to the South Campus where the UPP has been situated since 2009.…”