Teaching Experience

Dr. Alten du Plessis - 34 Years of Educational Innovation (1991-2025)

Teaching Roles & Educational Leadership

Current Teaching Roles 2018-2025

  • Lecturing University Practice 176 (Grow a Gritty HERO's Mindset course) to Extended Degree Curriculum students from the Faculties of Science, AgriSciences and Engineering
  • Conducting the Flourishing Engineers course as part of the first-year module "Intercultural Communication" within the Faculty of Engineering
  • Conducting the "i-Flourish 1: The Science of Wellbeing" course as part of the first year module "Science in Context" within the Faculty of Science
  • Conducting the "i-Flourish 2: The Science of Happiness" course as part of the first year module "Science in Context" within the Faculty of Science

Guest Lecturer Roles 2017-2024

  • Guest lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: Positive Psychology skills for potential optimization to Extended Degree Programme students (2017-2020)
  • Guest lecturer in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: Positive Psychology skills for potential optimization to Extended Degree Programme students and Wellbeing skills to OPTIMUS students (2021-2023)
  • Guest lecturer in the Faculty of Science: Wellbeing skills for potential optimization to first-year students (2019-2024)

Early Teaching Experience 1991-1993

  • Department of Applied Mathematics, Stellenbosch University: Operations Research for 3rd year Industrial Engineering students

Teaching Evolution Timeline

1991-1993: Mathematical Foundation

Operations Research teaching in Applied Mathematics - establishing technical expertise and pedagogical foundation.

2017-2020: Positive Psychology Integration

Guest lectures across faculties introducing positive psychology skills for student optimization.

2018-2025: Comprehensive Wellbeing Courses

Full course development and delivery - HERO's Mindset, Flourishing Engineers, i-Flourish programs across multiple faculties.

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching approach integrates evidence-based positive psychology interventions with practical skill development, focusing on developing students' psychological resources for academic success. Through courses like "Grow a Gritty HERO's Mindset" and the "i-Flourish" series, I help students develop hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism while providing them with scientifically-grounded tools for wellbeing and academic achievement. The evolution from technical mathematics instruction to comprehensive wellbeing education reflects my commitment to addressing the whole student experience.