Getting to know the new: Director Teaching & Learning

The university of Zululand (UNIZULU) is delighted to announce the appointment of a seasoned academic Professor Mumsi Khuzwayo, who assumed the position of Director: Teaching and learning   on 1 February 2024.

Prof Khuzwayo brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the higher education sector. She holds a Doctoral of Education degree from the University of Zululand. This is homecoming to her. Prior to joining UNIZULU, from 2015 she worked at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Faculty of Education.

Prof Khuzwayo reports directly to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Teaching and Learning. Her role entails coordinating operations pertaining to the development and capacitation academic staff to enhance quality curriculum delivery. Additionally, she must monitor, supervise, and report on activities and initiatives that enable students to improve their performance. To see to draft budget for the projects conducted by key sectors of the division for example, Writing Centre.

Amongst her short-term plans:

First step: create interfaculty forum for the deans and deputy dean (focus, curriculum development issues, quality of learning and teaching material, transformative teaching and learning, utilization of digital tools by lecturers and students, design common template to serve as guidelines for designing teaching and learning activities. / Harmonization of academic delivery/

Second step: subdivision of the unit to outline activities for each term, and to design the evaluation tools to be administered to participants for the purposes of feedback on the impact and efficacy of the staff/ student.

Third step: Meeting with the deans, respectively to introduce myself and to share ideas and approaches in working the faculties and listen to their needs as well.

Clarifying her management style, she said she is a strong believer in an open-door management style as a neo-participatory approach. Firm on time on tasks and accomplishment of set goals and target, however, open to current ideas, innovations, and input form colleagues under my supervision. Meetings, briefings and one-on -one discussions are preferable to allow the flow of communication.

Some of her peculiarity is that she has compassion for students who are really living in destitute while studying. “I have provided philanthropic support to students while I was a lecturer in this institution. I paid their registration fees, accommodating and providing meals to some in my own house at Empangeni until they got their close to the campus. I continued to do this in Cape Town to students who were stranded and coming from other provinces.” Explained Prof Khuzwayo.

To unwind, when the director is out of office and done with the office duties she enjoys gardening, growing organic vegetables and taking care of flowers. “I also enjoy listening to Christian gospel music gives me the spiritual treat. Reading academic books relaxes my mind.”

• Precious Shamase
• Photo by : Samkele Sokhela