Research article

The Creation of “Mini-Me’s”: A Story of Higher Education within South Africa

Hannah Thinyane

Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa

Author Email: H.Thinyane@ru.ac.za

Accepted 21 February, 2014

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a case study aimed at identifying the skills that lecturers in a computer science department value in an undergraduate student, and to determine if there is a departmental construction of an ‘ideal’ student. To answer this question, a case study was undertaken in the Computer Science Department at a small university in South Africa. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire and to take part in an interview to solicit feedback on their notion of an ‘ideal’ student. This study found that participants valued the following skills within undergraduate student: creativity; computer playfulness; planning, analytical or abstract thinking, and problem solving; introverted personality; engagement in class; working independently; self efficacy; and responsibility. It also found a strong correlation between participant’s own performance as a student and their understanding of an ‘ideal’ student. These results are then discussed within the context of South African Higher Education.

Keywords: Education, South Africa