On 8 May 2025, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) marked a significant milestone in its journey to become digitally enhanced with the official launch of its state-of-the-art e-Learning Studios. The launch brought together university leadership, academic staff, and various other stakeholders in celebration of future focused learning.
The launch showcased three purpose-built studios designed to support blended learning, visual content creation, podcasting, and research dissemination. The facilities were developed by the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Programme Development (CTLPD) in collaboration with the E-Learning and Curriculum Design team. Two studios are located at the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Building, and one at the Faculty of Education Building.
“The studios are not what we are promoting, the teaching is what we are foregrounding, so we constantly show how teaching can be enhanced” said Ms Nawaal Deane, Head of Online Education and Course Curriculum Design, University of Cape Town (UCT), who delivered the keynote address. She praised the University for embracing technological tools that foster both academic excellence and accessibility. Dr Lebohang Mahlo, Lecturer in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) from the Faculty of Education stated that the importance of the e-Learning Studios for students is the opportunity to access online journals, eBooks, watch archived lectures and download teaching resources.
The three studios each serve unique purposes:
Studio 1: A hybrid lecture and streaming space for live recorded classes.
Studio 2: A lightboard studio ideal for visual explanations in STEM fields
Studio 3: A podcast studio for academic dialogue, research storytelling, and community engagement.
These spaces provide opportunities for lecturers to experiment with flipped classrooms, interactive sessions, and asynchronous learning.
A video presentation on the operational aspects of the facilities was given by Mr Godfrey Rudolph, Manager: E-Learning and Curriculum Design.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Dr Severino Machingambi, Director of the CTLPD, and in his vote of thanks, Dr Machingambi acknowledged the efforts of the e-Learning and Curriculum Design team in bringing the studios to life.
Among the event’s highlights was a message from Mr Benjamin Matshediso, Programme Manager at Radio Teemaneng Stereo (RTS) a local radio station in Kimberley. He expressed enthusiasm about partnering with SPU to expand educational access by broadcasting academic content to even those students in remote areas.
As SPU continues to grow as a digitally empowered institution, the e-Learning Studios will serve as a cornerstone of its strategy to integrate technology meaningfully into higher education to change lives for all through the power of technology.
