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WSU's unaccredited medical orthotics and prosthetics degree a blow for students

Nineteen medical orthotics and prosthetics students who enrolled for a degree at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) discovered after six years of study that their course was not accredited with the Council for Higher Education, reports Times Select. This meant the group of students could not graduate. WSU negotiated with other universities to allow the students to graduate through them and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) came to the rescue last month.

WSU vice-chancellor Professor Rob Midgley said: “The greatest learning from this unfortunate experience is that WSU must always make sure it complies with all regulatory requirements and staff should never take shortcuts.”

WSU spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo admitted the course was not accredited when the institution advertised it. According to the report, she blamed executives who had since left the institution. Tukwayo said the institution was negotiating with a funder to cover costs of internships for the 19 students so they could gain experience and to cushion the blow of not being able to seek employment.

[link url="https://select.timeslive.co.za/news/2020-02-12-they-studied-for-six-years-only-to-find-glitch-meant-they-couldnt-graduate/"]Full Times Select report (subscription needed)[/link]

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