
UpLearn is Scalabrini Centre’s higher education initiative and forms part of Southern New Hampshire Global Education Movement (SNHU-GEM) tuition-based academic scholarship programme for people who are refugees, migrants, and South Africans. The achievement of tertiary education and the finding of relevant employment is a major milestone in not only developing future leaders within the refugee and migrant community but also integrating into South African society.
Our Objective
To advance the leadership of people on the move through access to tertiary education.
Programme Overview
Contact meddy@scalabrini.org.za or WhatsApp 073 190 4642
UpLearn provides academic support and resources to students enrolled in SNHU’s Associates and Bachelor’s degree programmes. This competency-based degree is a blending of online and in-person learning. Support includes academic advice and planning, access to a computer lab with on-site tutors, group coaching and teaching sessions. Furthermore, leadership is developed through life skills sessions and holding students responsible and accountable for their own education. Students have access to the range of Integration Pathways services (including Employment Access and the English School) to advance their economic integration.
The Associate of Science (AS) programme is a rigorous two-year academic programme that requires a high level of commitment and academic ability. Students in this programme must complete up to 60 competencies within the two-year programme. Competencies gained from this programme are diverse and include Mathematics, English, Communications, Philosophy, Economics, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Management and Social Sciences.
Students who complete the AS programme in the 2-year scholarship time are eligible to apply for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme. The BA programme allows students to specialise in Business Communications, Logistics and Operations or Healthcare Management. This programme requires a high level of academic ability and self-motivation.
Focus Areas
1. Academic Support
The main aim of the Academic Advisory project is to ensure that students complete the degree requirements in a way that supports their educational aspirations and prepares them for the transition into the employment pathways.
The Academic Advisor provides guidance to students regarding their academic plans, progress, and schedule. Performance is monitored to ensure that students stay on track to graduate within their bursary timeframe. Students are engaged on a regular basis through one-on-one (in-person or virtual) academic advisory sessions where academic progress is reviewed and refined. Additionally, students facing non-academic challenges can be identified and referred for appropriate support.
2. Training
The main aim of the Academic Advisory project is to ensure that students complete the degree requirements in a way that supports their educational aspirations and prepares them for the transition into the employment pathways.
The Academic Advisor provides guidance to students regarding their academic plans, progress, and schedule. Performance is monitored to ensure that students stay on track to graduate within their bursary timeframe. Students are engaged on a regular basis through one-on-one (in-person or virtual) academic advisory sessions where academic progress is reviewed and refined. Additionally, students facing non-academic challenges can be identified and referred for appropriate support.
Teach-outs
These workshops teach the content and core skills of each goal in the Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees. Teach-outs take place every week and students are encouraged to sign up for and attend the sessions that make the most sense in terms of their academic plan.
Group Coaching
Group coaching sessions allow students to come together to learn how to become self-regulated learners. Occasionally peer-led, the focus is on academic management skills (viz. research skills, addressing feedback, time-management, etc.) and soft skills (e.g., Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, self-motivation, etc.).
Continuous Learning Space
UpLearn’s pre-degree bridging course, the Continuous Learning Space (CLS), prepares potential students for the degree programmes. As well as preparing the students for the rigors of a competency-based, online programme, the course focuses on Academic English, Mathematics, and Google Workplace. Those who pass the final assessment of this course are eligible to apply for the SNHU scholarship.
3. Tutoring and PC lab
This platform gives all UpLearn students access to expert tutors who can provide support on the of credits covered by the SNHU Associates and Bachelor degrees.
Tutors are available daily to students accessing the computer lab. Furthermore, students can request one-on-one, in-person, or online project support from the tutors. Tutoring sessions provide an opportunity for students to ask specific questions pertaining to the learning platform, and to address feedback and other content-specific challenges.
The UpLearn Lab is open Monday to Friday, 08h00 till 16h00
4. Wrap Around Services and Employment Support
Scalabrini Centre adopts a holistic approach to all clients, which includes the UpLearn students. Students have full access to a wide range of services provided by the centre, such as Advocacy and Paralegal Services to address documentation-related concerns, as well as the Women’s Platform and Welfare support. The on-site social workers are skilled at counselling students through personal challenges and can also provide referrals for more long-term matters.
Through Employment Access students have to access employment support services including CV creation and review, career advice and employment support, as well as interview preparation for internships and workplace integration. Additional job readiness digital literacy, sponsored skills and business development courses are on offer. The achievement of tertiary education and the finding of relevant employment is a major milestone in not only developing future leaders within the refugee and migrant community but also integrating into South African society.