It is Women's Month and the Faculty of Education celebrates the remarkable women in our faculty. Nokwanda Siyengo, Acting Director at SUNCEP, is passionate about making the world a better place by sharing knowledge and helping to develop the youth. She shared about her work and life.
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Please tell about your current position and responsibilities in the faculty.
I am the current Acting Director at SUNCEP - the centre services schools, educators and students. My main task is to manage, lead, inspire and motivate staff. I write proposals and reports needed to strengthen our funder reporting lines and nurture and entice more funders to come on board and fund our offerings. I collaborate with all departments within the Faculty of Education whenever an opportunity of synchronization appears.
SUNCEP has different components that offer a variety of services. The Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) deals with in-service of teachers that are already in schools. We offer qualifications and short courses. The Learner Enhancement component deals with enrichment interventions in schools. We offer supplementary classes during Saturdays or school holidays in Mathematics and Physical Science. Our university preparation programme (SciMathUs) gives students an opportunity to improve their NSC results and prepare them for university via university complementary modules. We also have a research component that focuses on practise-based research, we are trying to share our offerings with the world of academia nationally and internationally through conference presentations.
How long have you been in the faculty - please give an overview of your positions before the current one.
I started working at Stellenbosch 肆客足球 in 2008. I was appointed to be a Programme Manager for the SciMathUS programme. The programme started in 2001 and is an effort to grant students who have passed NSC an opportunity to improve their Mathematics, Physical Science and Accounting. With the improved results students can apply to any higher education institution to pursue studies in Science or Accounting related fields of study.
What do you enjoy most of your job?
I see my job as an opportunity to change the trajectory of students who aspired to follow specific fields of study but could not because of the marks they obtained. The marks could have been below the marks needed to qualify for selection in highly selective university programmes.
I am passionate about youth development and sharing knowledge and expertise with an intention to plant a seed that will grow and allow the students to be successful.
What/who inspires and motivates you to grow and excell?
I am inspired by success and positive change. I am passionate about doing good and touching people's lives with the intention of sharing knowledge and making the world a better place. There is a clear transition in generational understanding, interpretation and prowess, but I believe that there are still basic values that can be carried across generations. I am open to learning and willing to try new ideas and get excited when the students unintentionally do what is good.
How do you balance work and personal life?
This is a challenge because of the immense responsibilities that go with the portfolio I am holding. I take my responsibilities very seriously but am now learning to disengage to be able to recharge and be able to perform my duties with the best of my abilities.
I am a member of an Anglican church in Gugulethu and once again involved with youth activities at the church especially educational programmes and life coaching sessions.
Please tell about some hobbies or activities you enjoy outside of work.
Book reading, walks at the sea, travelling to other provinces, spending time with my children.
I love singing along on any tune or music because I have learnt music soothes my soul and rejuvenates my spirit.
What is the best thing that ever happened to you?
I received the Rector's Award for best performance at Stellenbosch 肆客足球. This gesture humbled me because I realised that the institution I am working for acknowledges and appreciates my efforts of expanding the diverse profile of the university and bringing students that exceled in highly selective programmes and watching them achieve their dreams is always the best thing in my career.
Any words of wisdom to share with staff?
Life is a once off opportunity, always be who you are and be the best at what you do. People cross other people's paths for a reason, be a good memory for anyone who crosses your path.
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