The Department of Human Resources and Management (HRM) has appointed an Advisory Board. The Acting Head of the Department, Lwazi Mthimkhulu, said the Human Resources and Management (HRM) Industry Advisory Board is formed in terms of a university policy, whose preamble states that the Board “serves as a vehicle for enhancing currency and quality in Teaching and Learning, while addressing skills development. The Policy on Industry Advisory Boards aims to establish a framework for implementing Industry Advisory Boards at MUT.
Mthimkhulu said the objectives of the Board are to provide input and guidance concerning the curriculum, external needs, vocational profiles, relevance and empower research projects; to ensure that MUT academic and technology development programmes are responsive to the changing demands of industry and the community; to formalise and regulate the functioning of the Industry Advisory Board; and to ensure the adoption and maintenance of best practice in retaining the currency and agility of academic and technology development programmes. The Board will also facilitate partnerships with external providers on the placement of students for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), internships and employment and advise on labour-market requirements specifically about skills and competency requirements leading to employability and job creation.
The Board’s Executive are: Chairperson, Busisiwe Pepu, an Industrial Phycologist from Hlunga Group HR Management; Deputy Chairperson, Sonta Ngcobo, a CEO and Founder of Sikhanda Consulting & Projects; and Secretary, Hlengiwe Hlengwa, a Lecturer in the Department of Human Resource Management at MUT. The other Board members are Dr Kevin Ramsarghey, Dean of the Faculty of Management Science, MUT; Lwazi Mthimkhulu; Edgar Samkange, Co-ordinator Peer Assistant Learning; Thabo Zwane, Department of Co-Operative Education Acting Director; Sibongile Blose, Job Placement Officer, Department of Co-Operative Education; George Makubalo, Curriculum Specialist, Teaching and Learning Development Centre, MUT; Dr Liile Lekena-Bayaga, Acting Senior Director, Directorate of Institutional Planning and Research (DIPR); Bokang Molefe, Chairperson, SABPP, Durban; Zanele Ntombela, Managing Director, Ilitha Management Consultants; Dr Thulile Duma, Lecturer, Department of Human Resources and Management, MUT; Kedebone Tsotsotso, Former Talent and Skills Consultant, Eskom; Thembi Sihiya, Talent Manager, eThekwini Municipality Transformation, Talent & Performance; and Mhlengi Ngubo, SRC President, MUT.
Pepu’s inaugural address to her Board was inspiriting, and to the point. Pepu said: “We are so grateful this afternoon to observe the launch of the executive committee, to steer to influence, to direct and guide the current and the future of the curriculum development within the human resources space. I do believe that amongst the members of the board, the expertise that we are bringing from different spheres, different fields and different sectors of our economy will contribute immensely to the change of the curriculum in a way that it must meet the industry needs.” Pepu said they aimed to ensure that the HR&M curriculum would be globally relevant, enabling graduates to be competitive in the marketplace.