Research in Higher Education Journal Academic development, Page 1 Academic development practices at Fort Hare University: an

Research on best practices in higher education aimed at empowering the disadvantaged learner is scanty. The Learning Advancement Unit of the University of Fort Hare under the Teaching and Learning centre has been established to support learning among students from diverse backgrounds. A unique feature is that this Unit trains and uses an array of local and international scholars to facilitate higher learning with a view of impacting positively on student academic performance. This paper reports on how learning programmes at the rural-based tri-campus University have been structured, run and integrated using best practices for the benefit of local and international students. Using secondary statistical data, captured from various activities in the programmes on offer, the paper generally reveals how such innovative programmes have impacted positively on academic access and performance, socio-cultural and technological integration. Furthermore, the paper highlights a regrettable trend of underutilisation by students, of the services offered, particularly by international students, and an apparent reluctance by locals and females to take up academic support roles in the Unit. The positive impact of the initiatives make a strong case for investment in marketing and championing these programmes amongst students; at the same time it is clearly important to consider ways of improving staff attraction and retention to ensure continuity within the programmes