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Students experience various challenges during their studies, such as personal problems, academic difficulties and mental health problems. Therefore, student counselling centres/units play a valuable role in providing support systems for students in need. The most frequent problems South African students experience are relationship problems and academic problems, followed by career development issues, anxiety and depression. Most counselling centres/units offer psychotherapeutic services to students, and the main focus areas reported were crisis intervention (reported as a key focus area by all the centres/units), psychotherapy, substance abuse counselling, career counselling, study skills and generic skills workshops. The present study further found that the majority of counselling centres/units had one or more staff members with specialised training in areas such as HIV/AIDS counselling, sexual abuse counselling and multicultural counselling. In 2007, these counselling centres/units saw on average 18 per cent of enrolled students as clients. Studies have shown that the demand for student counselling services has grown; thus it is important to review the standard and scope of the services provided by student counselling centres/units, also with the aid of contemporary benchmarking results. (Contains 7 tables.)

This article conceptually addresses the issue of assessing the impact of student counselling and development services in higher education institutions. It deviates from recent approaches which primarily examine the impact of selected interventions on specific indicators. In this article the question is asked whether the capacity to deliver the services can be justified to the institution. In times when higher education institutions face declining revenues, and when increasing demands are placed on education institutions to demonstrate accountability in the use of public funds, it is not enough to know that past counselling interventions have resulted in positive impacts. The institution needs to know whether the ongoing investment makes financial sense. This article, therefore, focuses on counselling services holistically as a strategic partner of the institution, and argues that their function should mainly be to support the institution in accomplishing its strategic purpose and in satisfying key strategic stakeholders. What is needed is a forward-looking role definition linked to a set of strategic impact and performance indicators as a basis for assessment. Such an approach opens up a way to view benefits not only in traditional accounting terms such as cost savings, but also as the social benefits and value-adding that takes place within the bigger strategic picture. (Contains 1 note.)

Measured thinking styles of first-year South African university students using the Sternberg Mental Self-government Thinking Styles Inventory. Found that the preferred thinking styles were executive, legislative, hierarchic, internal, and conservative. Major and language were differentiating factors in thinking style preferences; gender was not. However, gender was a differentiating factor within majors and the Afrikaans-speaking group. (EV)

A study investigated the design and effectiveness of the faculty development efforts of one University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) faculty member over a two-year period. The experience included use of a professional growth contract to indicate commitment and intention, student feedback from over 500 students in eight courses, structured alumni feedback, peer assessment, classroom observation, workshops, and portfolio development. (MSE)

This pilot study examined changes in soil chemistry and microbial population sizes following the extensive wildfires in 2000 on the Cape Peninsula. The effects of standing alien plants and stacks of mechanically-cleared alien plant material on selected post-fire microbial populations and their recovery were investigated. These were compared to burnt fynbos and the burnt cleared areas surrounding wildfire burnt stacks. Microbial population sizes and chemical changes were also monitored in unburnt fynbos and dense unburnt stands of invasive alien plants. Differences in soil chemistry and microbial population sizes occurred in the samples taken from the various post-fire environments while marked seasonal changes were also apparent. Microbial population sizes were linked to pre-fire vegetation characteristics, fire intensity, the management of alien plants, soil chemical changes and seasonal influences. High volumes of woody alien plant biomass impacted on post wildfire microbial population sizes during summer. During winter, however, microbial population sizes were primarily influenced by soil texture and nutrient composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses student counselling and development services as on indispensable and integral part of higher education institutions. The value of such services is highlighted by drawing on theoretical considerations as well as examples from current research perspectives, both internationally and nationally. Because of its past history and present conditions, South Africa has specific higher education needs, for example dealing with large numbers of students who had inadequate school preparation and who consequently experience numerous barriers to teaming. These needs ore discussed in terms of the way that student counselling contributes towards ensuring that students receive the necessary support to study successfully and to enter the world of work as well-adjusted and well-prepared citizens of the new South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]