Student Counselling and Student Counselling and Career Development Career Development (SCCD) Services in (SCCD) Services in

Southern AfricaSouthern Africa

Presentation: 23 May 2007Presentation: 23 May 2007

Development of SCCD in South AfricaDevelopment of SCCD in South Africa

SCCD started in South Africa in the late SCCD started in South Africa in the late sixties/early seventiessixties/early seventies

Developed from purely counselling orientation to Developed from purely counselling orientation to a multidisciplinary professiona multidisciplinary profession

Currently represented at all universities and other Currently represented at all universities and other higher education institutionshigher education institutions

Mergers have brought about changes in the Mergers have brought about changes in the nature of SCCD.nature of SCCD.

SSCSA – professional society representing all SSCSA – professional society representing all South African and African members. South African and African members.

Situating Student Counselling and Situating Student Counselling and Career Development Services (SCCD) Career Development Services (SCCD)

in the Academy. in the Academy.

SCCD is regarded as a primary support SCCD is regarded as a primary support service collaboratively engaged in efforts service collaboratively engaged in efforts to increase student retention and to increase student retention and throughput. throughput.

Academic performance is dependent onAcademic performance is dependent on• goal direction = career developmentgoal direction = career development• academic skills = thinking and study skillsacademic skills = thinking and study skills• Wellness = orientation and personal/life skills Wellness = orientation and personal/life skills

developmentdevelopment

Situating SCCD in the Institutional Situating SCCD in the Institutional DomainDomain

The situation of SCCD units in the organisational The situation of SCCD units in the organisational structures vary from one institution to another i.e. structures vary from one institution to another i.e. some are independent units reporting to Chief some are independent units reporting to Chief Directors or Vice PrincipalsDirectors or Vice Principals

Other are situated in student affairs divisions and Other are situated in student affairs divisions and report to Deans of Studentsreport to Deans of Students

Model favoured by directors of units is one of Model favoured by directors of units is one of functional independence with direct links to the functional independence with direct links to the academy.academy.

SCCD is always cognisant of the need to work SCCD is always cognisant of the need to work collaboratively with all sectors of higher collaboratively with all sectors of higher education.education.

StaffingStaffing Staffing differs according to the range of services Staffing differs according to the range of services

offered by the units. offered by the units. Staff may be representative of professionals from Staff may be representative of professionals from

the following disciplines:the following disciplines:• Registered PsychologistsRegistered Psychologists• EducationalistsEducationalists• Social workersSocial workers• Health professionals eg nursesHealth professionals eg nurses• Librarians or resource managersLibrarians or resource managers• Researchers Researchers • Career counsellorsCareer counsellors• Counsellors for students with special needsCounsellors for students with special needs• RPL advisorsRPL advisors

Core competencies of SCCD staffCore competencies of SCCD staff

Counselling and therapyCounselling and therapy Career development Career development Student developmentStudent development Academic and learning skillsAcademic and learning skills Advocacy and consultationAdvocacy and consultation ResearchResearch TrainingTraining AssessmentAssessment Community outreachCommunity outreach Knowledge of students and student culturesKnowledge of students and student cultures Programme developmentProgramme development Leadership and managementLeadership and management