Lelonathemba Ndaleni presenting at the conference (image supplied by SAIDE)
Mandela University is part of the national Siyaphumelela (“We Succeed”) initiative, funded by the Kresge Foundation, based in Detroit, USA, and overseen by the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE). This initiative supports student success in tertiary education, focusing on data analytics and evidence-based practices to address equity gaps.
Delegates and several Deputy Vice-Chancellors and senior staff from all 20 participating South African Higher Education institutions, SAIDE, and the managing director for The Kresge Foundation’s Education Program, William (Bill) F. L. Moses, attended the conference.
Funding is allocated in three-year cycles, and Mandela University has been part of this initiative since its inception, starting with five partners to the current 20, that will run from 2024 to 2026.
At Mandela University, Dr Charles Sheppard, Director of Strategic Intelligence and Data Analysis in Institutional Strategy and Liesl Smith, Senior Learning Developer in Learning Development co-lead the institutional project, under the guidance of Dr Phumeza Kota-Nyati, the Dean of Learning and Teaching and Dr Muki Moeng, the DVC Learning and Teaching.
Lelonathemba’s contribution has a significant impacted on the audience as she reminded them that as students, “everyone has a story to tell”. As a woman in a previously male-dominated work environment, she knew the challenges that she would face in her chosen profession.
Although she was an excellent student, she admits to struggling and feeling overwhelmed at times. She therefore decided to make intelligent choices by using all available support programmes, such as Residence Mentoring, Student Success Coaching, Emthonjeni Student Wellness, Academic Literacies and Writing Support, Peer Helpers, and Supplemental Instruction (SI), and attributes her success to these initiatives supporting her.
Lelonathemba reminded the audience to ensure a strong safety net of support to assist any student seeking guidance. Her student participation in SI sessions encouraged her to become an SI Leader.
Her love for Forestry and her lecturer (also a past SI Leader), Dr Tatenda Mapeto inspired her and renewed a passion for her academic field, resulting in a new career path in academia.
This was not without any challenges, as her new career, studying for three years, did not align with her family’s expectations. But “what keeps me going is knowing my background and wanting to change it for the better. Knowing my sisters look up to me”, she said.
“I also consulted my mentor, who asked if I would be happy with my choices if I look back five years from now. That is why I am here.”
Her confidence, willingness to be vulnerable and admit her challenges, perseverance, conviction to do what is right for her family, and her warm personality won over the delegation. She was a true ambassador for the University and reminded us that every student’s story matters, Liesl said.