'Fully online education can be as successful as contact programmes,’ says the recent UP master’s graduate and UPOnline Learning Designer.

As a Learning Designer working in the office responsible for the UPOnline offering, Donald Tive is familiar with the challenges working individuals face while pursuing higher education. Tive, who works in the University of Pretoria (UP) Comprehensive Online Education Services office, himself had to juggle work, family, and social commitments to obtain his master’s qualification at UP’s Spring 2023 graduation ceremony.

Walking across a graduation stage for the fourth time, Tive received his MEd degree in Computer-Integrated Education cum laude. Fondly known as “The Don” to those he works closely with, Tive says his postgraduate studies were very challenging, but enjoyable – and he became somewhat addicted to the pressure.   

Balancing work, family, and social responsibilities with a student’s academic responsibilities was not an easy feat. “Finding a balance was somewhat elusive. However, I strived to give attention to most spheres of my life. This required a lot of planning and prioritisation of activities, and sometimes sacrificing activities that ranked lower on my priority list. But, all in all, I ensured that I remained physically active and maintained positive social relationships, as these were often the victims of my prioritisation.”

His master’s research study focused on a crucial aspect of student success in higher education –student retention in fully online postgraduate programmes. Some of the interesting findings from his research were that student retention rates and successful completion of the fully online UP Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health programmes were on par with the same contact programme the University previously offered, and also in the same range as those reported for traditional contact programmes in South Africa.

“This is evidence that fully online education can be as successful as contact programmes, and it is a significant finding given that most universities in South Africa have reached their capacity to enrol more students in contact programmes, while demand for higher education continues to grow.”

Tive attributes his success to the support he received from his academic supervisors, Prof Linda van Ryneveld, Director: Comprehensive Online Education Services; and Dr Kimera Moodley, Senior Manager: Accreditation at the Council on Higher Education and Postgraduate Supervisor at UP. He also thanked Prof Marien Graham, Specialist in Assessment and Quality Assurance in the Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education at UP, and says his advisors and mentors played a significant role in his academic journey.

With his master’s degree in hand, Tive’s aspirations now turn toward completing his doctoral qualification and establishing himself as a scholar and learning design practitioner.

His advice to others who want to complete a similar feat: “Never forget how wildly capable you are! You definitely can do this.”