Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Academic support programmes have an important part to play in addressing
the needs of students experiencing difficulties. A quality assurance exercise by the national
accreditation body highlighted the fact that academic staff involved in non-academic
counselling had no prior training.
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the academic advisor programme in a Malaysian
medical school from the academic advisors’ perspective in order to determine their
understanding of their role, their experiences and needs.
Method: Focus group discussions (FGDs) involving 10 academic advisors were conducted
using a semi-structured interview schedule.
Results: Study participants demonstrated some instinctive understanding of their role
(especially as role models in their professional development) although they did not have
clear guidelines. They strongly expressed a need for training in counselling skills and better
administrative support. There was some reluctance to undertake the task of academic
advising as there were no perceived rewards or incentives.
Conclusions: The training of academic advisors needs to be addressed in faculty
development programmes. Strong institutional administrative support is important with
efficient channels of communication to academic advisors on student performance and other
relevant information. Teaching activities need due institutional recognition and reward. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/17832 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Tan, Christina P. L. |
| Contributors | Blitz, Julia J., Ping Wong, Li, Ting Tong, Wen, Bezuidenhout, Juanita, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Centre for Health Sciences Education. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 29 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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