Silas Oluka

Key activities and responsibilities:
• I provide professional development to faculty on effective teaching and assessment methodologies, and on use of new and emerging instructional technologies; Student Courses:
Goal Setting for Achieving Mastery in Learning
Personal Development Planning
• I support academic planning and academic quality assurance activities in the University for curriculum academic quality management;
• In 2009, I provided technical input into development of the University of Botswana Articulation and Recognition of Prior Learning (ARPL) Policy and now coordinate its implementation towards meeting institutional strategic goals for expanding access and participation;
• I undertake strategic and operational planning and provide oversight in performance management; Unit resource planning and budget; and collaborative engagement with other CAD Units towards overall realisation of Academic Development mandate of the Centre;
• I work with academic staff, other university support departments to promote programme /course and qualification planning in line with university and national education policies and standards;
• I facilitate in the use of evidence-based strategies and student centred pedagogical practices in higher education; providing staff academic support in student mentoring, service learning and engagement.
• I lead a select committee in the design, implementation and monitoring/evaluation processes of a Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Higher Education programme on pedagogy and leadership in higher education
• I contribute to the design and implementation of competency-based capacity building models, methodologies, and instructional practices within the institutional policy goals for curriculum design, learning, teaching and assessment.
• I am a member of the institutional strategic committee on the University Organizational and Individual Training Needs Assessments to determine, develop and implement Education and Training Interventions.
• I am a special appointee to the Academic and Policy Review Committee consisting of all Deans, Directors of Academic Departments, chaired by Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs(DVCAA). In this committee, I provide strategic reports on teaching, learning and study programme quality to the DVCAA and senior academic staff to inform strategic and operational planning and on-going review and improvement of teaching, learning and academic programme processes.
I conduct institutional research on academic quality at the University of Botswana and write concise reports, briefing/discussion papers, strategy and position papers, responses to consultation documents, presentations, policy and/or related documents, contribute to website pages relevant to academic quality portfolio.
I design and develop customised professional development modules for teaching staff to meet faculty specific academic staff development needs.
I support the implementation of formal and non-formal academic staff development initiatives at institutional and faculty level.
• I provide technical input into teaching, learning and curriculum-related activities at the University of Botswana Internationalisation Project funded by the International Association of Universities
• I am a core member of a 5-member team on the integration of HIV/AIDS into the University of Botswana curriculum.
• I provide strategic and expert advice to faculties and departments on University policy, procedure, regulations, strategic planning and directions in relation to study programme design, learning, teaching and assessment.
• I represent the University in Botswana national bodies such as the National Qualifications Authority and Tertiary Education Council, review programmes, strategic and advocacy activities. I provide both the University and the partner institutions with exemplars for policy and strategic directions in higher education curriculum, academic quality and their implementation.