This study focuses on moral values in education, in particular, their inclusion as part of the academic curricula of Durban University of Technology (DUT), Faculty of Management Sciences. The literature lends much support for moral values as being important for students and Higher Education as a whole but there is still very little focus provided with regards to having them incorporated as part of a module in the programmes of Higher Education. This study is based on the researcher’s view that the teaching of moral values should be intrinsically linked to academic programmes to produce well groomed graduates who would become morally responsible and add value to a democratic society and in particular the world of work. The research study seeks to ascertain the opinions of the students and staff of DUT concerning:
- the integration of the study of moral values in academic programmes at the DUT? and
- the roles staff and students could play in reinforcing the importance of moral values?
This research falls within an interpretivist paradigm and takes a qualitative approach as it examines views, perceptions and feelings of the relevant role players of the Durban University of Technology. The Faculty of Management Sciences is chosen for this research study. Students from the cohorts of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year levels of the four selected departments are chosen as part of the research sample. The sample also includes three academic staff from the four selected departments as well as all Heads of Departments from the Faculty. Semi-structured interviews are conducted with management members chosen by the researcher. Arising from the findings of the study, staff and students are of the view that if moral values are absent in students they will display a negative behaviour which has an adverse impact on their working career. Many students are of the view that including moral values in the curricula of Higher Education will build students’ characters and morally equip and develop them into responsible citizens. Arising from the strong support of the various stakeholders, it is recommended that the teaching of moral values should be integrated in the curricula of Higher Education. It is also recommended that educators and management lead by example and be role models to their students. Debates, case studies and community-based learning in relation to ethical issues are some of the more popular teaching methods that are recommended. It can be concluded that there is support from various authors and major role players for the integration of moral values in the curricula of Higher Education.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ukzn/oai:http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za:10413/5195 |
| Date | January 2010 |
| Creators | Naidoo, Tigambery. |
| Contributors | O'Brien, Frances Yvonne. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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