The School of Public Leadership (SPL) has just successfully concluded the 2016 Hons BPA/BCom contact week in Centurion, Gauteng. To further the university's overarching strategic priorities to broaden access; sustain excellence; and enhance societal impact the SPL offers the contact weeks of the Hons Programme in both Bellville and Tshwane. This enables more convenient access to students based at various national and provincial government departments in the central and northern parts of South Africa.

The programme strongly relies on the use of information and communication technology to ensure excellence in teaching and learning despite the geographical spread of students throughout the country. For the past two years, all Hons students receive a laptop computer as part of their registration. The laptop comes with all necessary software applications utilised by the respective subjects in the Hons programme. Students also receive a 'wingle' wifi device and a twelve month data contract. This ensures continuous access to all additional study material and support on the Sunlearn web-based learning platform, the online library catalogue and e-texts of the University and the internet and their student e-mail account.

Pre-recorded class sessions are provided on a memory stick, allowing students to 'attend' the required lectures at a time and place that fit around busy work schedules. Almost all textbooks are e-books that may be downloaded onto to both the student's laptop and the web-based bookshelf. This means access to study material at any time and place where internet access is possible. The transition to e-books does not only provide eco-friendly and readily accessible study material, but enables the programme to provide students with the best national and international texts for the various subjects of the programme. The electronic reader enables students to highlight and make notes directly on the text as with a printed book, but also allows for the easy export and sharing of notes.

With assignments submitted online and exam venues at centres around the country and even in Windhoek, Namibia, the SPL Hons programme truly caters for modern learn-and-earn students and life-long learning.

Photo: HonsBPA/BCom Centurion Group