Student counselling and development units in Africa: A scoping review

Kesego D. Mathoothe^1,2,*, Sipho Dlamini¹
1 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Auckland Park Kingsway Campus, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, 2006, South Africa
2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, Gaborone Campus, University of Botswana, Gaborone, UB0022, Botswana
* Corresponding Author: Kesego D. Mathoothe. Email: email

Journal of Psychology in Africa https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.069010

Received 11 June 2025; Accepted 29 October 2025; Published online 04 January 2026

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Abstract

This scoping review aimed to explore the nature and structure of Student Counselling and Development Units (SCDUs) in Africa towards a better understanding of the role they play in African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). A comprehensive literature search of ten years (2015–2025) on five electronic databases was conducted. Titles and abstracts were screened, and full articles examined, resulting in 23 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Using thematic analysis, five main overarching themes were identified: (i) the scope and focus of services in SCDUs, (ii) multidisciplinary teams, (iii) approaches to service provision, (iv) challenges in providing effective support, and (v) adaptability of SCDUs. These themes highlighted that SCDUs offer a multidimensional range of support services and adopt systems-based frameworks. Moreover, they face significant challenges, including limited resources, poor service utilization, and the need for culturally sensitive practices. Conversely, a major strength is their adaptability of implementing online and blended service delivery models.