The goal of the Targeting Talent programme is to implement a targeted enrichment and support programme that will identify and eventually recruit academically excellent or high potential black learners from under-resourced schools. It addresses the critical shortages in the output from schools of matriculants who are ready to enter science, engineering and technology-oriented (SET) programmes at universities like Wits.

The Targeting Talent programme at Wits addresses the issues by identifying talented learners from a broader range of under-resourced schools and providing them with a three-year pre-university programme of additional tuition in an enrichment curriculum calculated to prepare learners to access and succeed in SET programmes at any university in the country.

The selection process into the programme is designed rigorously to identify exceptional learners. Part of the programme includes an annual two-week on-campus residential curriculum. The programme was launched successfully in 2007 with a cohort of 270 Grade 10 learners and their teachers from 42 schools across 3 provinces (i.e. Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga).

The Targeting Talent programme has four key objectives aimed at achieving its goal:

• OBJECTIVE ONE:

The first objective of the programme has been to work with provincial governments in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga and the selected schools in order to identify 334 academically excellent/high potential and economically disadvantaged black Grade 9 learners from under-resourced schools.

• OBJECTIVE TWO:

The second objective of the Targeting Talent programme has been to design and implement an enrichment curriculum which will broaden learners’ experiences and build their competencies in the following subject areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Molecular Literacy, Computer Science, Forensic Science, Information, Technology / Research, Life skills, Art and Sport. Objective 2’s activities, outcomes and strategies that will be implemented by the two week curriculum residential programme. During the course of a two-week intensive curriculum residential programme on the Wits campus in June/July 2008, both learners and teachers were engaged in a ten-field learning programme. The curriculum residential programme team consisted of lecturers, peer tutors and peer volunteers.

ESTEQ sponsored all the 3D-CAD software that were used during the two-week curriculum programme in 2008 & 2009. 

Johan van der Merwe at ESTEQ, will act as a lecturer. He will train and assist the teachers in the use of Solid Edge 3D (Computer Aided Design) software. The Solid Edge 3D design software is used in the Engineering Sector Globally. The early contact with the software will assist and prepare the students for the future to have more confidence when enrolling for an Engineering Degree or moving into the Engineering sector.

• OBJECTIVE THREE:

The third objective of the Targeting Talent programme is to facilitate success through skills development (i.e. social support systems, conducting psycho-social transition workshops, assessment of attitude, community projects etc).

• OBJECTIVE FOUR:

The fourth objective of the programme is to design and implement teacher support activities in Mathematics and Science that will enable educators / teachers to understand the nature of the transition to higher education thereby enabling them to teach and assess in ways that facilitate access.

To find out more about Solid Edge with Synchronous Technology, contact Johan van der Merwe.