EDUCATING THE NATION
Elangeni TVET College is a Technical and Vocational Education and Training institute. Situated in and around Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the College provides higher education learning supported by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Elangeni TVET College offers full-time, part-time and long distance learning with a range of programmes at eight campuses and provides bursary programmes, including the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and other financial support services.
The College’s Rector TJ Aryetey speaks about the importance of collaboration, a clean administration and mentorship:
WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AS RECTOR OF ELANGENI TVET COLLEGE?
As Rector of the College, on my list of responsibilities is managing the academic mission and vision of the College. I ensure that the College meets its goals to educate students, striving to improve its academic offerings to meet the changing trends and requirements of the TVET sector. This also includes being directly involved in the College’s strategic planning, budgeting and allocation of funds, implementation strategies for the teaching and learning environment. I also serve as the chief public figure of Elangeni TVET College, representing its progress, successes and struggles.
HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE WORK/LIFE BALANCE?
The first step is to set your priorities.
I must admit that balancing the demands of a busy lifestyle is not an easy thing to do, but it is best managed when I regularly review and assess my priorities. I usually start by setting up a to-do list of priorities for my day and delegating the task or eliminating anything that is not priority. I am confident at multitasking, however when it comes to work-related issues, I prefer to devote my full attention to the task at hand.
There is a phrase that helps me achieve work/ life balance and that is, “When you are working, work. When you are spending time with your family, focus solely on them”.
I also try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by setting aside a little time to indulge in some exercise, a weekly game of tennis that I have been playing since I was 12 years old.
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE CLEAN AUDIT. TO WHAT DO YOU ASCRIBE THIS SUCCESS?
As the Rector, I am passionate about leading a clean administration as it’s the mission and the vision of the College to uphold values of integrity, honesty and transparency. It took a lot of hard work, determination and dedication to sustain a clean audit since 2018. I was fortunate enough to be supported by a dynamic, competent management team who shared the same vision as me. Elangeni TVET College’s CFO, Bonginkosi Xolo is one such team member with the right qualifications and commitment to assist the College in achieving a clean audit outcome. I am also grateful for the oversight of practicing good ethics from Council. Achieving a clean audit enables us not only to maximise our mandate but to guarantee that the College delivers efficient services to its students.
HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR YOUR STUDENTS?
I believe in the term: collaboration. It results in promoting a culture of learning at the College and is essential to teaching. Lecturers at Elangeni TVET College share information, plan, share teaching resources and lesson plans at departmental meetings that have proven to be successful, and they seek insight from one another on lesson plans that were less effective. Having a background in education, I believe it plays a significant role in designing one’s future as a successful person in life and as a useful citizen in society. It is with this in mind, that I ensure that lecturers know the importance of educating our students.
RECOGNITION OF WOMEN IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE. HOW DO YOU ENSURE THIS HAPPENS AT ELANGENI TVET COLLEGE?
My aim at the College is to initiate and undertake a number of steps, over the long- and short-term, to ensure an equal environment that fosters a healthy work-life balance for our women workforce. As the Rector, it gives me pride and pleasure in mentoring and training. This includes letting women within the Institution know how their work benefits the College they work for, appreciating their achievements and helping create a challenging, creative and flexible atmosphere at work. Through the Department of Higher Education and Training, there are perks for female staff that help overcome domestic barricades such as paid maternity leave of up to four months.
I believe to achieve high productivity levels from employees, you need to recognise and celebrate their performance in the workplace. This belief was the brainchild behind the Elangeni TVET College Staff Awards that I launched in 2018. The College identifies employees who demonstrate performance excellence through their daily commitment to Elangeni TVET College. After all, it is the hard work and dedication of these staff members that makes Elangeni TVET College’s success possible.
WHO ARE YOUR ROLE MODELS?
Growing up my role model was my mum as she has always remained my support system throughout my life. It is through her guidance, wisdom and well wishes, that I stand here today, a self-made woman of grace and determination. A person who has had an impact on my professional life, and whom I hope to have the pleasure of meeting someday, is Thuli Madonsela. I find it easy to identify with Madonsela as women often have to try on different roles to determine which fits best for their life and family but she has defied both age and gender stereotypes to achieve success in her professional and personal life. Her ability to speak publicly with dignity and grace has captivated the speaker in me.
WHAT EXCITING PLANS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE FUTURE?
As a College, we have many things to look forward to. For many years, the College’s KwaMashu Campus shared a site with a high school and as a result various problems were encountered. Under my leadership, the building of a new site for the campus is on the cards.
Skills and development-based workshops will be built in the next five years, at various campuses - needs dependent of course.
Sport has always been close to my heart and it is for this reason that I plan on introducing various sporting codes at the College. Sporting facilities will either be upgraded or rebuilt to promote sports at the Institution.
And lastly, the formation of operational student societies and clubs will be established. The intention of this is to endorse extra mural activities and create an understanding of teamwork and accountability amongst students. This would impact on them upon graduation, when they enter the corporate world, confident with the necessary skills and experience that is required from them to lead, report and be accountable in all aspects of their job.