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Improving academic quality requires feedback from students since they have specific insight in their lived educational experience. Most institutions assess educational experience by evaluating individual modules. Few institutions collectively review evaluation data from multiple modules or explore this data for evidence of curriculum transformation. The University of Pretoria developed four curriculum transformation drivers and the School of Health Systems and Public Health developed and implemented 19 transformation-related statements. We revised the standard endof- module evaluations to explore student experiences regarding the implementation of these drivers. 45 modules were reviewed. The quantitative data were analysed in Excel. Qualitative data were analysed using an inductive approach with open-coding. We generated categories and themes before comparing these to the curriculum transformation drivers. Four major themes emerged from the qualitative data: reflecting the "what", "why", "when", "where", "how" and "who" of the student experience. Categories and subcategories were explored and linked to the quantitative results. The results show that the students valued their educational experience and felt valued as students. The students' voices provided a rich source of data regarding curriculum transformation and included detailed suggestions for quality improvement. Our study presents substantive evidence of authentic educational and philosophical intentions that were realised in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scholarship of nursing depends on the research culture in institutions. Not all higher education institutions globally expect from diploma prepared nurses to be research trained, but it is expected in the South African and African context. Globalisation and the migration of degree and diploma prepared nurses, should sensitize the global nursing community about the challenges faced when nursing colleges or learning centres, offering diploma programmes, become part of the higher education sphere and need to contribute to the scholarship of discovery. This article reports on strategies that could be implemented in higher education institutions, such as colleges, to enhance the research culture. A qualitative research design was used and data gathered through a nominal group technique with 12 students from different institutions as well as reflection reports from five nurse educators involved in research training and supervision. Participants indicated that the most important aspect that needed to be addressed in nursing education was improved research knowledge for students, nurse educators and research supervisors. Institutions where nurse educators do not have master's degrees should implement strategies to support students and educators in enhancing their research capacities and skills in order to improve the institution's research culture. University nursing schools, which have research mentors, should become role models/mentors to support enhancing a research culture in nursing colleges in South Africa and Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]