International Journal of
Information and Education Technology

Abstract

In the academic landscape, the dissertation of knowledge is of great importance to research-active academics. Yet the majority of students do not possess the necessary skills to effectively convey ideas in written format. Besides the lack of academic writing skills, plagiarism is another problem rife in academia and is rarely acknowledged. This problem is worsening with the increasing availability of technology. Apart from these two major problems, students often find that mastering mathematical problem-solving skills is arduous and leaves them without the confidence to complete math-intensive courses in their institution. Solid academic skills build a strong foundation for students’ futures. Hence, a rigorous official preparation programme is needed to boost the educational attainment levels of disadvantaged groups of students. This paper charts the development of such a programme, entitled the Certificate in Academic Skills. A systematic approach, based on the backward design model, was utilized to develop this new programme, and resulted in the development of a programme capable of being delivered to all stakeholders. The CIPP model was used to evaluate this new curriculum. Based on this evaluation, we are confident that this vocational certificate will meet its intended goals and stand up well to further examination and scrutiny.