CONCEPTUALISATION OF STUDENT UNDER-PREPAREDNESS AND ITS EFFECT ON SELECTION CRITERIA FOR EXTENDED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS.
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| Title: | CONCEPTUALISATION OF STUDENT UNDER-PREPAREDNESS AND ITS EFFECT ON SELECTION CRITERIA FOR EXTENDED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS. |
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| Authors: | Nxumalo, T.1 |
| Source: | South African Journal of Higher Education. Nov2025, Vol. 39 Issue 6, p220-235. 16p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Higher education, *Academic programs, *Educational intervention, *Field research, *Articulation (Education), *School entrance requirements, Knowledge gap theory, Design |
| Geographic Terms: | South Africa |
| Abstract: | Student under-preparedness is a growing concern in higher education institutions (HEIs) around the globe. In South Africa, extended curriculum programs [ECPs] were devised as a context-fit remedial strategy to assist underprepared students to successfully transition into academia. As a result, under-preparedness is a key criterion for the selection of students into extended programs. Nonetheless, the concept of under-preparedness has not been accurately articulated. This research envisages a cascading effect, wherein the incoherence in the interpretation of underpreparedness endorses the inconsistencies in formulating the selection criteria for extended programs. The research used a case study approach, conducting in-depth interviews to ascertain how the conceptualisation of under-preparedness informs the selection of students for enrolment in extended programs at a University of Technology. To enhance the reliability of data, the results were triangulated using document analysis. The findings confirm the disparities in the conceptualisation of underpreparedness. Accordingly, the selection criteria reveal significant fragmentation, with some programs deviating from prescribed standards. The research proposes a holistic framework and provides valuable recommendations to assist the higher education institutions to streamline their programs to be fit-for-purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of South African Journal of Higher Education is the property of Sabinet Online Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 189743409 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: CONCEPTUALISATION OF STUDENT UNDER-PREPAREDNESS AND ITS EFFECT ON SELECTION CRITERIA FOR EXTENDED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nxumalo%2C+T%2E%22">Nxumalo, T.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Higher+Education%22">South African Journal of Higher Education</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 39 Issue 6, p220-235. 16p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+education%22">Higher education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+programs%22">Academic programs</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+intervention%22">Educational intervention</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Field+research%22">Field research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Articulation+%28Education%29%22">Articulation (Education)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+entrance+requirements%22">School entrance requirements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+gap+theory%22">Knowledge gap theory</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Design%22">Design</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Student under-preparedness is a growing concern in higher education institutions (HEIs) around the globe. In South Africa, extended curriculum programs [ECPs] were devised as a context-fit remedial strategy to assist underprepared students to successfully transition into academia. As a result, under-preparedness is a key criterion for the selection of students into extended programs. Nonetheless, the concept of under-preparedness has not been accurately articulated. This research envisages a cascading effect, wherein the incoherence in the interpretation of underpreparedness endorses the inconsistencies in formulating the selection criteria for extended programs. The research used a case study approach, conducting in-depth interviews to ascertain how the conceptualisation of under-preparedness informs the selection of students for enrolment in extended programs at a University of Technology. To enhance the reliability of data, the results were triangulated using document analysis. The findings confirm the disparities in the conceptualisation of underpreparedness. Accordingly, the selection criteria reveal significant fragmentation, with some programs deviating from prescribed standards. The research proposes a holistic framework and provides valuable recommendations to assist the higher education institutions to streamline their programs to be fit-for-purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of South African Journal of Higher Education is the property of Sabinet Online Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=189743409 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.20853/39-6-6567 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 220 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Higher education Type: general – SubjectFull: Academic programs Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational intervention Type: general – SubjectFull: Field research Type: general – SubjectFull: Articulation (Education) Type: general – SubjectFull: School entrance requirements Type: general – SubjectFull: Knowledge gap theory Type: general – SubjectFull: Design Type: general – SubjectFull: South Africa Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: CONCEPTUALISATION OF STUDENT UNDER-PREPAREDNESS AND ITS EFFECT ON SELECTION CRITERIA FOR EXTENDED CURRICULUM PROGRAMS. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nxumalo, T. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 11 Text: Nov2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10113487 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 39 – Type: issue Value: 6 Titles: – TitleFull: South African Journal of Higher Education Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
