Fostering Academic Citizenship: A Coaching Approach in a University of Technology Context in South Africa

This chapter explores how coaching builds academic citizenship, graduate qualities and entrepreneurial abilities at a university of technology (UoT). The research shows how coaching may shape academic citizens, graduates and entrepreneurs using Kolb’s experiential learning theory (Kolb, Experiential learning: Experience as a source of learning and development, Prentice Hall, 1984). Coaching’s influence on staff, students and graduates is maximised by connecting UoTs’ criteria with Kolb’s experiential learning phases (Kolb, Experiential learning, Bauer, 1984). Coaching’s vital role in promoting academic citizenship and graduate qualities via the experiential learning lens is highlighted in the chapter. This focus clarifies the university’s responsibility in shaping responsible and inventive citizens. Bringing theory and practice together in this UoT setting advances higher education, academic progress and experiential learning.