Opening Evening – Lucky Draw Winners Benefit

Opening Evening – Lucky Draw Winners Benefit

The management and leadership field is fast growing requiring a lot of change over time – with that comes the necessity to adapt to new environments and acquire new skills.

At the recent UKZN Extended Learning Unit’s Open Evening, bursary and discount vouchers were won in a lucky draw and the Unit invited winners to discussions as well as helping them enrol in their choice of studies. 

Mr Sabelo Mbatha, founder of IT Solutions, won the Management Development Programme (MDP) full bursary. The MDP is designed to build an individual’s capacity to lead an organisation into the future by challenging views about management, expanding horizons, and enhancing a person’s understanding of the relevance and role of managers today. The programme allows participants to refocus, immerse themselves in the latest thinking about best management practices while providing personal and professional tools to strengthen effectiveness as a manager and leader.

Mbatha said the programme was related to what he does in the IT industry which is constantly evolving, especially with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution which has brought about new technological advancements which he has to adapt to constantly from a tech point of view as well as to assisting his employees learn to adapt to these changes. 

‘Even ways of working have changed post COVID-19 meaning I now have to learn how to manage individuals who work in hybrid mode to make sure that everything is still effective, since I am used to the traditional way of managing employees.’ 

The Unit also engaged with prize winners about the significance of management and leadership in today’s professional world. Clinical psychologist and founder of Khanyisa Holdings Ms Khanyisile Nene, who won the 50% off any three-day programme voucher, has an interest in enrolling on the High Impact: Women In Leadership programme. Nene said women faced so many challenges in the space of entrepreneurship and it had always been her wish to help empower other individuals within her organisation. Nene spoke about the huge impact emotional intelligence has in a working environment. ‘When you are at work, you should be aware that you are dealing with a lot of personalities, some whom may overpower each other and it is essential to be educated about these things and know how to deal with them.’ 

A mechanical engineer at Transnet Ms Zamaswazi Luswazi, who also won a 50% discount voucher, is enrolling in the Effective Board Leadership: Technology, Governance and Strategy course as it aligns with her sector of work. Luswazi discussed how corporate governance affects the productiveness of an organisation and as these laws constantly change, one needs to be well informed about the situation for an organisation to be effective. Luswazi further highlighted the importance of education at large, saying: ‘As individuals we learn until our final day as you can never say you have learned enough or you know enough if you are a person who wants to progress in life. It is important to continuously keep your mind stimulated, and allow space for more growth personally and in many other aspects.’

• The UKZN Extended Learning Unit will host its flagship Management Development Programme on 26 September and encourages all those wanting to upskill and empower themselves to register.

Words: Ayanda Radebe

Photographs: Thembela Ciliwe