Student Voice in an Extended Curriculum Programme in the Era of Social Media: A systematic Review of Academic Literature

Abstract

Student voice in this digital age and across higher learning institutions is increasing exponentially with the function of social media. Student voice provides a vibrant communication pathway to extended curriculum programme students in higher education institutions. Social media ensures active participation of extended curriculum programme students in generating views and ideas that define the higher learning environment and experience towards better learning conditions and outcomes. A systematic literature review was used in gathering scientific papers through trusted academic databases. The systematic literature review was conducted between the period of 1 April 2019 and 28 September 2019, by looking into the contents of articles covering the current research objectives. The study’s findings show that social media provides an effective and instant spread of the extended curriculum programme students’ voice across higher education learning institutions. It also allows the students in the extended curriculum programme to engage with each other and the institutional management promptly. Social media promotes extended curriculum programme students’ voice in reaching the right audience at the right time. The results of this study are key for extended curriculum programme students, lecturers, and university management in understanding and applying social media effectively and in bringing transformation to South African higher education institutions and beyond.