Views of industry and higher education on cooperative education in the Gauteng province of South Africa

Limited data on cooperative education is available concerning the views of companies and higher education institutions. The purpose of this research was to compare the views on cooperative education activities and to ascertain the current status of company supervisors and heads of academic departments of higher education institutions. The research involved a literature review and an empirical study. A quantitative approach with regard to the method of research was applied. An ex post facto (non-experimental) research was undertaken by using a questionnaire as research instrument to collect data in three disciplines from a number of company supervisors in industry and the heads of academic departments in six higher education institutions in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Research findings indicated that both supervisors and heads of academic departments from the respective sectors either agreed or strongly agreed on constructs related to the basic principles and nature as well as on best practices in cooperative education. No practical significant difference (d-value) was recorded on the constructs between the two above-mentioned study populations, indicating major agreement. The findings clearly show a majority support from Industry (supervisors of students) and higher education institutions (heads of academic departments) in the province in which this study was conducted. Both supervisors and academics involved in the cooperative education partnerships have confirmed without a doubt how beneficial this strategy of learning is to both industrial and educational environments. Higher education institutions should take note of these findings, since they indicate the importance both industry and academics attach to cooperative education as a teaching methodology.