The university is making strides in its mission to broaden access to quality education
After running various online master’s programmes over four intakes in 2017 and taking growing enrolments and pass rates into account, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) is set to introduce a range of fully undergraduate online degrees, including an accounting qualification.
The newly introduced 100% online programmes are part of the institution's commitment to provide alternative means of acquiring internationally renowned qualifications available to students who are not able to attend face-to-face lectures.
The new online qualifications, with the first intake set for the beginning of July, include the Bachelor of Commerce in International Accounting, the Bachelor of Human Resource Management, Advanced Diploma in Financial Markets and Advanced Diploma in Transportation Management.
Professor Rory Ryan, Executive Director of Academic Development and Support, said: “UJ is committed to applying new technologies in providing a 21st-century learning experience to our students. This natural evolution of accessible education brings greater ease of access to learning.
“Students can further their careers and educational goals anywhere and at any time. The programmes are designed to suit multiple learning pathways that allow for a variety of learning paces, while keeping students engaged, motivated, supported and geared for success.”
Professor Amanda Dempsey, Senior Director of the CBE School of Accounting, said: “By shifting to online learning, UJ is creating a generation of informed and connected global citizens.
“Moreover, we are contributing to the needs of an adaptable, sustainable, knowledge-based economy which in turn, nurtures a democratic, diverse, and inclusive society.”
According to a report by Ambient Insights, the African e-learning market is witnessing massive growth, spurred by public-private partnerships.
It points out that Africa's e-learning market doubled from 2011 to 2016, reaching $513 million, with SA being Africa's largest e-learning market, followed by Angola, Nigeria and Tunisia.
Popular auditing lecturer Prof Ben Marx (pictured) has taken over from his long-serving colleague Alex van der Watt as head of the accounting department at the University of Johannesburg. Ben is a long-standing member of the CFO Awards’ panel of judges.
