Friday, 27 January 2012
Social work the subject of choice
The King Bhekuzulu Hall at Unizul - bustling with new students waiting to register
Social work, followed closely by Education, are the degrees of choice for new students registering at the University of Zululand this week.
In the Education department, the BEd Intermediate and Senior course received 7 556 applications, then Nursing Science with 6 923 applications, BEd Life Orientation and Language had 6 335 applications, BEd Further Education and Training 4 858 and BEd Early Childhood Development and Foundation 4 244 applications.
Both social work and education degrees attract grants if students achieve high enough marks, the likely reason for the high interest in the courses.
Most applicants apply to more than one university so the numbers of accepted students will only be finalised at the end of registration.
Smooth start
Registration of new students started on Monday with a new streamlined student-friendly registration process in place.
Students with acceptance letters are directed to the King Bhekuzulu Hall to register.
Those without are directed to two holding marquees on the football field and from there to the gymnasium where staff members at computer terminals await to assist them.
Directing students is an orientation team of students selected by the Acting Dean of Students and trained to guide newcomers through the registration process.
Commenting on the first day of registration, Acting Registrar Ernst Doëseb said that proactive preparations are definitely paying off.
‘The flow of students is already quite good and should get even better as the week progresses and we all get into the swing of the registration process.’
The university has 4 600 places for first year students at its KwaDlangezwa and Richards Bay campuses.
Students are expected to apply through the Central Admissions Office (CAO) in Durban.
However, some from deeply rural schools with limited computer access still travel long distances to try and apply in person and the University tries to accommodate their special circumstances.