Academics from SMTE

Mr Niekie Blom, a lecturer in the Department of Science, Mathematics and Techology Education (SMTE) and his PhD supervisor, Dr Grietjie Haupt, were recently invited to visit the internationally acclaimed Goldsmith’s University of London.

Apart from discussing his PhD proposal with acclaimed academics in the field, Prof Richard Kimbell and Prof Kay Stables, Mr Blom and Dr Haupt had the opportunity to participate in meetings with Design and Technology Education academics debating appropriate ways of researching design cognition in general, and the usage of intellectual tools by learners when solving design problems.

They were also invited to deliver presentations on the progress of Technology Education in South Africa. In addition, they were invited to review student design exhibitions presented at Goldsmith’s and Ravensbourne Design School. This provided Mr Blom and Dr Haupt with an insight into the generic nature of the design process as methodology, and the nature of the thinking behind it across countries, confirming the relevance of the theoretical framework they are using for their research and its sustainability in a 21st Century context. Their participation also highlighted the relevance of the University of Pretoria’s postgraduate research in the field of Design and Technology Education among international peers.