Our teaching philosophy follows
the observation of William Butler Yeats: “Teaching is not the
filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire”. The general
aims of the Conservation Biology MSc programme are to produce
graduates with a broad understanding of conservation issues and
to provide them with the scientific background and tools to be
able to analyse and solve practical, conservation-related
problems. A synthetic, holistic approach is encouraged to
problem solving through exposure to a variety of disciplines.
Emphasis is also placed on developing oral and written
communication skills. We have found that this broad approach to
postgraduate education produces graduates who compete
successfully in the job market and go on to make a difference in
the field. Although emphasis is given to solving conservation
challenges in an African context, students are provided with a
broad-based education that will stand them in good stead
throughout the world. In 2007, in a study published in
Conservation Biology, the University of Cape Town was ranked
equivalent with the fourth highest North American institution in
terms of the impact of its conservation-related research
publications.
