The Future of Education

Dr Subethra Pather is currently the Teaching & Learning specialist in the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic at the University of the Western Cape. Included in her portfolio is the coordination of the Institution-Wide Tutor Programme and First-Year Experience at UWC. She is currently the convenor for the Tutoring & Mentoring Special Interest Group (SIG) in the Higher Education Learning & Teaching Association in Southern Africa (HELTASA) which is a professional association for educators and other significant role-players in the tertiary sector. Dr Pather, who holds a Doctorate of Education, was awarded a Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) scholarship from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal, Centre for Critical Research on Race & Identity (UKZN - CCRRI: 2013-2015), to support her PhD study. Her research study was located in the CCRRI’s nation-wide project titled: Education and Emancipation: A critical, intervention-oriented investigation of obstacles and opportunities within higher education and training in South Africa. Dr Pather’s research interests are located within the higher education field with particular focus on: first-year student experience, first-generation and students from disadvantaged backgrounds, student learning support, and student access, transition, retention and success. Her academic publications and presentations are located in this field. She is also involved in several national and international networks in first-year experience to advance her research agenda.