Hybrid Learning

As a leader in South Africa for embracing and implementing hybrid learning to enhance student success, the University of Pretoria’s hybrid teaching and learning model represents a strategic blend of face-to-face and online education. Adopted institution-wide, this model allows UP to leverage the best of both contact and digital learning, enriching student experiences and outcomes.

Several other advantages and benefits of this hybrid learning model include:

Promoting independent learning
Providing rich data about student engagement
Decreasing the amount of physical space needed, such as lecturing halls and parking spaces
Enabling a more sustainable solution
Saving students travel time and costs

All undergraduate programmes at UP are delivered in the contact mode but with a hybrid methodology. This means every course combines in-person teaching with online components on the university’s learning management platform. This integrated approach proved its value in recent years by ensuring learning continuity and flexibility while maintaining the benefits of campus engagement.

Curricular Community Engagement

Curricular Community Engagement (CCE) refers to structured learning activities where students apply academic knowledge to address genuine needs in the community, and in turn, learn from the experience. A distinguishing aspect of TEACH The UP Way is its deliberate integration of Curricular Community Engagement and Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) into teaching and learning.

UP believes that true learning happens not only through theory and classroom activities but also through real-world application and community involvement. Therefore, many academic programmes embed credit-bearing experiences that connect students with communities and workplaces as part of their formal curriculum.

Hybrid learning assessment

Various technology-enhanced tools and approaches have been developed to assess student learning. These include clickUP assignments, online tests through platforms like Cirrus (QuestUP), and Gradescope, which uses AI to group similar answers and allows instructors to grade each group simultaneously. Proctorio integrates with clickUP (Blackboard) and QuestUP (Cirrus Assessment) and uses machine-learning and facial detection for secure remote exam proctoring.

Hybrid learning support

Extensive tutor training programmes are available to students to ensure that tutors (often senior students who facilitate tutorials or online forums) are well-prepared to support learning. The institutional tutor training covers core themes such as facilitating active learning, supporting diverse students, and managing small-group discussions. Trained tutors are an integral part of many courses, running face-to-face or online tutorial sessions that reinforce lecture content and provide near-peer assistance to students.

Hybrid learning infrastructure

The university integrates technology to enhance its teaching and learning methodologies, which enables scalable, flexible, and active learning environments informed by data. The university uses Blackboard Learn as a learning management system (LMS), called clickUP, and Blackboard Mobile, which serve as vital instruments for enabling hybrid learning.

The University of Pretoria (UP) is transitioning to clickUP Ultra, an updated Learning Management System (LMS) designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

clickUP
Integral to UP’s hybrid learning support is the online learning management system, clickUP. Undergraduate students can receive training on clickUP through the AIM modules while postgraduate students are trained by the Department for Education Innovation.

After receiving a unique Google e-mail address, students gain access to clickUP through the student online portal, which is compatible with any internet-enabled mobile device. Students without access to the latest technology can either buy their own devices at very competitive rates from the university or use any of the 6 000 computers available in computer laboratories across all campuses and within residences for student use, which are connected to Wi-Fi hot spots.

Hybrid learning workshops and courses

The University of Pretoria provides comprehensive workshops and specialised courses to advance hybrid teaching, learning, and assessment practices. These courses are engaging and interactive, emphasising sound educational principles and the effective use of leading technology tailored to each discipline and module.

When students choose to study at the University of Pretoria, they have access to excellent learning and teaching resources, such as:

24 Professional development courses facilitated by the Education Consultancy, designed to address diverse educational needs.
15 Specialised e-learning professional development courses, including training on clickUP Ultra, to empower educators in digital pedagogy.
An online tutor training course that equips tutors with essential skills for engaging and supporting students in online environments.
A new course on curriculum development was designed and delivered, a significant addition to the continuous professional development courses.

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