Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective

Academic advising remains an emerging profession and practice in the South African higher education sector, with an increase in evidence-informed literature about advising for this context in recent years. The disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have been significant for academic...

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Main Author: Danie de Klerk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Johannesburg 2022-04-01
Series:SOTL in the South
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/210
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author Danie de Klerk
author_facet Danie de Klerk
author_sort Danie de Klerk
collection DOAJ
description Academic advising remains an emerging profession and practice in the South African higher education sector, with an increase in evidence-informed literature about advising for this context in recent years. The disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have been significant for academic advising. This paper posits that the pandemic has had a catalytic effect on advising, how it is perceived, and how it is practiced at the university where the author works, thus potentially setting the scene for change. By drawing on data generated through interviews with 15 academic advisors, the paper examines the likelihood of change (or morphogenesis). The examination is underpinned by Social Realist principles. Margaret Archer’s notions of structure, culture, and agency, as well as elements of her work on the morphogenetic cycle, guides the study. The focus is on the potential of advising and advisors within and for SA HE contexts. The academic advisors interviewed emerge as a previously under-valued and poorly utilised link among students, lecturers, and the broader institution. The paper concludes by elucidating how the work of academic advisors during the pandemic could bring about greater integration of advising with other dimensions of the academic project, while foregrounding the high-impact potential of advising for SA HE contexts.
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spelling doaj.art-d3263118c367403ab08c4d44376e25e32022-12-22T01:11:27ZengUniversity of JohannesburgSOTL in the South2523-11542022-04-016110.36615/sotls.v6i1.210Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspectiveDanie de Klerk0University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa Academic advising remains an emerging profession and practice in the South African higher education sector, with an increase in evidence-informed literature about advising for this context in recent years. The disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic appear to have been significant for academic advising. This paper posits that the pandemic has had a catalytic effect on advising, how it is perceived, and how it is practiced at the university where the author works, thus potentially setting the scene for change. By drawing on data generated through interviews with 15 academic advisors, the paper examines the likelihood of change (or morphogenesis). The examination is underpinned by Social Realist principles. Margaret Archer’s notions of structure, culture, and agency, as well as elements of her work on the morphogenetic cycle, guides the study. The focus is on the potential of advising and advisors within and for SA HE contexts. The academic advisors interviewed emerge as a previously under-valued and poorly utilised link among students, lecturers, and the broader institution. The paper concludes by elucidating how the work of academic advisors during the pandemic could bring about greater integration of advising with other dimensions of the academic project, while foregrounding the high-impact potential of advising for SA HE contexts. https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/210Academic AdvisingAcademic AdvisorCritical RealismHigher EducationMorphogenesisSocial Realism
spellingShingle Danie de Klerk
Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective
SOTL in the South
Academic Advising
Academic Advisor
Critical Realism
Higher Education
Morphogenesis
Social Realism
title Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective
title_full Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective
title_fullStr Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective
title_full_unstemmed Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective
title_short Academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning: A South African higher education perspective
title_sort academic advising during emergency remote teaching and learning a south african higher education perspective
topic Academic Advising
Academic Advisor
Critical Realism
Higher Education
Morphogenesis
Social Realism
url https://sotl-south-journal.net/index.php/sotls/article/view/210
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