The University of Kwa-Zulu Natal became the first university in South Africa to use podcasting as an educational tool when it launched its new media initiative at the Westville campus earlier this month.Through a R1 million partnership with UKZN Innovation, the School of Information Systems and Technology (IS&T), the University Research Office and the Core Group, students will have access to lectures on their PCs and mobile phones via the Internet.

The initiative allows lecturers to publish audio and video files online, giving learners access to study materials at all hours. Lectures and teaching aids – which include presentations and lecture notes – can be recorded and downloaded through personal devices such as cellular phones, iPods, handheld and personal computers.

Addressing guests at the launch, Dean of the Faculty of Management Studies, Professor Lesley Stainbank, said: “The introduction of podcasting at UKZN indicates that the faculty is at the forefront of innovative methods for improving the teaching and learning experience of all students.”

She also congratulated Professor Manoj Maharaj (Head of IS&T) and his team for spearheading this initiative at UKZN.

The Guest speaker was Rodney Ichikowitz, Ceo of the Core Group, which is brand custodian of leading personal technology brands, including Apple and Nintendo. “We cannot engage today’s students using methodologies of yesterday,” Ichikowitz commented. “This tool could be used in distance learning to make Higher Education more accessible to many people.”

Ichikowitz saluted Professor Makgoba and Professor Maharaj as well as Mr Reggie Govender, CEO of UKZN Innovation, for adopting the cutting edge innovation, saying Apple was looking forward to working with UKZN in creating the next paradigm in education.

Professor Maharaj demonstrated how easy it was to use the technology by recording his voice and playing the recorded video.

Plans to roll out the project to all UKZN campuses are under way with the aim of enabling students to have unbroken access to lectures online province-wide.

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