Amathuba progress and what lies ahead for 2023

Dear colleagues and students

As this year comes to a rapid close, we would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the progress of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) new digital learning platform, Amathuba. We also outline the road ahead, including what you can expect next year.

Implementation of Amathuba, UCT’s new digital learning platform

Amathuba, powered by Brightspace, was implemented during the first semester of 2022. A total of 41 pilot courses were taught on Amathuba to trial the platform so that improvements could be made during the second semester to enhance the teaching and learning experience. Feedback from both pilot teaching staff and students has been considered regarding further improvements to be made to the platform.

First-year course migration progress

We are very excited that just over 200 first-year courses will be launched on Amathuba in the first semester of 2023. More than half of the first-year courses have been successfully migrated and converted to Amathuba and handed over to course convenors. The remaining first-year courses are in the process of being migrated to this new platform.

The Centre for Innovation in Learning & Teaching (CILT) is working closely with first-year course convenors, teaching staff and administrators to complete the migration and conversion of as many of the remaining first-year courses before staff go on leave. Just-in-time support will be available at the beginning of 2023. We urge staff who have not been in contact with the CILT migration team to reach out to the CILT learning designer as soon as possible.

First-year student support sites

Through co-ordination with faculties, first-year student support sites – such as orientation information – will also be launched on Amathuba at the beginning of the first semester next year should site owners choose to migrate them.

• Take a virtual tour of an Amathuba course site.

Amathuba support options and available resources

If you are a course convenor, part of the teaching or administrative staff for a first-year course, or a site owner of a first-year academic student support site and have not yet started the migration process to Amathuba or are currently busy with the migration and conversion of your course, there are various support options that you can still make use of, including:

• Amathuba Guided Training and recording of training for course teaching staff and administrators.
• Additional guided training for teaching staff and administrators starting in the week of 9 January 2023.
• Amathuba stand-alone webinars available on the CILT YouTube channel.

Additionally, you can:

• book an online consultation with a learning designer.
• walk in to get help at the CILT offices from 23 January to 17 February (mornings, Monday to Friday).

For further support, please email the CILT Helpdesk or call 021 650 5500 (between 09:00 and 17:00, from Monday to Friday).

I am encouraged by the active participation and commitment of the pilot course convenors and their teaching and administrative staff, and the successful completion of the pilot courses using Amathuba to enhance their learning and teaching approach in the second semester of 2022.

I am also very grateful to all the first-year course convenors, teaching staff and administrators who have taken the time out of their busy schedules to make use of the Amathuba support resources made available to them by CILT and who are migrating and converting their courses onto the platform. Thank you to the CILT team, the deputy deans for undergraduate teaching and learning, and all the heads of departments in each faculty who continue to manage this process effectively.

Sincerely

Professor Harsha Kathard
Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements