Unravelling the importance of Leadership qualities in South African Higher Education

12th February 2020

UKZN Extended Learning

– by Nontokozo Mthembu

The Leadership Development Programme (Higher Education), provides an extensive reflection and study of the unique critical elements that formulate the Higher Education sector. UKZN Extended Learning (UEL) recently ran the second module attended by delegates from different departments at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT).

The second block module was facilitated by the following talented academics: Dr Rudi Kimmie, Prof Mogie Subban, Dr Tilly Moodley and Dr Sonny Ako-Nai. Some of the topics that were discussed during the class sessions included: Understanding Leadership, Innovation and Change in Higher Education, The Impact of Technology and Innovation on Higher Education, Information Technology at Public Universities and Global Trends in Information communication technology in Higher Education. The themes unravelled the importance of Leadership qualities that are required in South African Higher Education institutions.

We had the pleasure of speaking directly to one of the programme facilitators, Dr Sonny Ako-Nai. He shared some of the following key insights and learning outcomes that were discussed within the Programme:

“The South African Government play’s a crucial role by implementing policies that will ensure that, Higher Education institutions not only create curricula but one that is worthy and sufficient, therefore: programmes such as  Leadership Development Programme (LDP) is significantly important. The purpose of the leadership training is to teach people the necessary skills needed to make the intelligent decision for Higher Education institutions to run in an effective and efficient manner. Also to have innovative and information communication skills. A practical example is online learning, it is gaining a firm foothold in universities around the world. More than two-thirds of respondents from academia say that their institutions offer online courses.”

The LDP covers three different modules, each running for three days over a 3-month period. Our next start date for the Leadership Development Programme is the 27th May 2020.

If you would like more information please click here, or contact the course coordinator:

Thobeka Malinga

E: MalingaT1@ukzn.ac.za

T: +27 31 260 1728