A developmental approach to an acceleration programme: an analysis of students' performance.

Abstract

Acceleration was a course first offered in 2005 through the Vega School of Brand Leadership, a division of The Independent Institute of Education, in South Africa to undergraduate marketing and advertising students who were identified as weak writers or at risk of failing their first year of study. This paper describes the pilot process in Durban of a change in delivery for the Acceleration Programme (AP) in Semester 1, 2010, and compares the results of AP students with those of others in their year. Analysis showed the AP group performed best which prompted further analysis and comparison of marks within the first-year cohort. Qualitative data were collected from students and lecturers to deepen understanding of the AP process and to assist future decisions about the programme.