Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and ExtraCurricular

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering BUILDING A WELL-ROUNDED AND WELL-GROUNDED STUDENT THROUGH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA: STUDY ON TUT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT PRACTITIONER ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE 15 – 18 OCTOBER 2014 RIVERSIDE HOTEL, DURBAN, KZN PROVINCE THEME: “MAKING STUDENT AFFAIRS FASHIONABLE. ” By: Mr Itumeleng Molose (TUT) 1

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering BACKGROUND Ø The rise of mass higher education, competition between graduates in the labour market is increasing. Ø Students are aware that their degree will not guarantee them a job and realise they should add value and distinction to their credentials to achieve a positional advantage. Ø Participation in extra-curricular activities (ECAs) is one such strategy, as it allows students to demonstrate competencies not otherwise visible in their résumés due to limited job experience.

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering WHAT ARE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES? Activities not falling within the scope of a regular curriculum; specifically: of or relating to officially or semi-officially approved and usually organised student activities connected with university/college and usually carrying no academic credit. ~ Merriam Webster

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES • • • Sports (Soccer) Voluntary work (Community Outreach) Leadership (SRC) Cultural (Drama) Religious (Church formations)

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering WHAT ARE SOFT SKILLS? Ø Personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. Ø They are mostly associated with a person’s EQ (Emotional Intelligence) Ø Soft skills cannot be taught but they can be developed.

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering SOFT SKILLS ØCommunication Skills ØLeadership Skills ØPresentation Skills ØConflict Management Skills ØTeam Work ØSelf-Confidence

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering WELL ROUNDED STUDENT • When you say something is well-rounded, it means that thing is complete. Therefore a well-rounded student is a complete student. • Academics have the responsibility to teach students the curriculum. i. e. Education (Inside Class) • Student Affairs Practitioners have the responsibility to develop student’s soft skills. i. e. Extra-Curricular Activities (Out of Class) Education + Extra-Curricular Activities = Well Rounded Student

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering WELL GROUNDED STUDENT ØA student that has a firm foundation. A tree that is well rooted is not easy to fall than the one that is not well rooted.

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY Ø To determine and examine the student’s perception regarding participation in extra-curricular activities and the impact it has in the development of their soft skills. Ø To outline the importance of participating in extra-curricular activities and the benefit it comes with. Ø To encourage students to actively participate in extra-curricular activities in order for them to gain soft skills.

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering STUDY OUTCOMES PARTICIPATION ON EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES [CATEGORY NAME]; [PERCENTAGE]

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering STUDY OUTCOMES Participation on ECAs 59% 41% One ECA More than one ECA

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering STUDY OUTCOMES Extra-Curricular Activities help students acquire soft skills [PER CEN TAG E] Yes No

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering CHALLENGES ØLack of encouragement to participate in ECAs. ØLack of sufficient funding ØLack of resources ØAcademic time schedules ØLack of skilful/passionate practitioners

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering RECOMMENDATIONS • Student Affairs environment should improve the awareness of extra-curricular activities. • Students should be made aware of the importance of participating in extra-curricular activities at their first year level. • Universities should employ skilful people to can execute extracurricular activities. • More funding should be availed for ECAs as they play a vital role in the type of graduates Universities would like to produce which are well grounded and well rounded.

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering CONCLUSION In conclusion, students have an opportunity to build their future profile while still at university by actively participating in Extra-curricular activities and make sure that by the time they graduate they poses as much soft skills as possible. The labour market out there can be rather harsh and it requires well-rounded and well-grounded people who will hit the ground running and do business for the employers without much of difficulty.

Corporate Affairs and Marketing Student Affairs and Extra-Curricular Development Brand Events Management Accommodation, Residence Life and Catering