Student Counselling

Student Counselling’s BROTHERHOOD program provides a platform for male students to explore current issues directly impacting on their personal and academic lives, including issues around identity, masculinity, gender-based violence (GBV), peer pressure, alcohol & substance abuse, societal demands and expectations, goals and priorities.

Brotherhood programs feature Peer Helpers and guest speakers who share their success stories of overcoming adversity through discipline, hard work, responsible lifestyle choices and habits. The importance of positive role models and networks is also emphasised, with Peer Helpers and guest speakers serving as positive role models whom students can relate to, and be motivated by.

Student Counselling strives to promote social responsibility and civic engagement amongst its staff and students by participating in career guidance community outreach initiatives at local schools throughout the year.

• Co-ordinated by the Student Counselling Unit
• Implemented at the beginning of every semester
• Aim is to promote holistic student adjustment & integration to university life at MUT
• The First Year Orientation program also includes a physical tour, with Peer Helpers accompanying the first years to the different venues, departments and resources on campus

Student counselling strives to promote an inclusive living and learning environment that is mindful of student needs & challenges, including students living with disabilities.  Disability support and assistance are currently offered by the Student Counselling unit, in collaboration with academic and non-academic departments and Student Affairs units.

Services include:

• Registration and orientation for new students with disabilities
• Student advocacy on issues related to disability
• Disability awareness training for students and staff
• Consultative and counselling support for students with disabilities
• Facilitation of NSFAS disability bursary application
• Accessible student residential assistance
• Academic adjustments e.g. test and exam time concession and font size enlargements
• Assistive technology
  
  

Types of Disabilities

• Congenital – hereditary / born with it
• Acquired eg. From an accident
  
  

Visible Disability

• Visible disabilities can be easily identified by physical appearance, mobility difficulties and communication/ speech difficulties. Examples include:
• Using a wheelchair/ crutches
• Limping; limb deformity (hands, legs & spinal cord
  
  

Non-visible Disability
A non-visible disability is not immediately evident or obvious.  Examples include:

• Hearing and visual impairments
• Cognitive limitations
• Speech impairment
  
  

Temporary Disability

• Any condition that affects the daily execution of tasks and which is not diagnosed by the medical practitioner as a permanent disability. This includes limb injury that has a possibility to heal in a long run
  
  

The Peer Helper program consists of senior students who provide support to their peers

Students from 2nd – 4th year are recruited annually to be part of the Peer Helper Program

The PHP uses a model of peer-to-peer learning in which students learn with and from each other and provides opportunities for students to work in different residences & around campus throughout the academic year.

Peer Helpers are trained by the Student Counselling unit to provide a non-judgemental, safe listening space for students on campus and in student residences. This encourages students to explore their concerns and frustrations, in order to arrive at a solution.

The Peer-Help Programme is an integral part of Student Counselling services, designed to promote personal and academic development for all students

Through volunteering as a Peer Helper, students develop leadership skills and social responsibility

Peer-helpers work closely with student counsellors. They refer students to the Student Counselling Unit for professional assistance.

• Confidentiality is always guaranteed.
• Peer-helpers wear T-shirts provided by the Student Counselling Unit for easy recognition by fellow students.

Student Counselling’s Sisterhood program provides a platform for female students to explore current issues directly impacting on their personal and academic lives, including issues around identity, relationships, gender-based violence (GBV), sexual & reproductive health choices, alcohol & substance abuse, peer pressure, and entrepreneurship.

Sisterhood programs feature Peer Helpers as well as guest speakers who share their success stories of overcoming adversity through discipline, hard work, responsible lifestyle choices and habits. The importance of positive role models and networks is also emphasised, with Peer Helpers and guest speakers serving as positive role models whom students can relate to, and be motivated by.