Qualifications and Professional Development

Prof Makondo holds a Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (DLitt et Phil) in Applied Linguistics; Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resource Management; Master of Arts in Language for Specific Purposes (Applied Linguistics); Bachelor of Laws (LLB); Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education for Academic Developers (PGDip HE); Graduate Certificate in Education (Grad CE); Bachelor of Arts Special Honours; and Bachelor of Arts General.

His professional qualifications include Design and Development of Outcomes-Based Assessments, Facilitation of Learning Using a Variety of Methodologies, Conducting Outcomes-Based Assessment, and Moderation of Outcomes-Based Assessment. He has also completed the Academic Advising Professional Development Program at the University of the Free State, covering conceptual and informational, relational, technology and professional development components.

Researcher  Profile  (ORCID): 0009-0007-1002-5120

Leadership and Institutional Contributions

Prof Makondo’s DUT leadership experience spans both student academic development and academic staff development. He coordinated the Student Academic Support Development Unit (SASDU) from 2014 to 2020, during which institutional programmes such as the First-Year Student Experience, Residence Educational Programme, Senior Year Student Experience, Technology for Learning and Academic Advising were introduced and developed. He subsequently coordinated staff academic development, overseeing support initiatives for teaching staff and curriculum development across DUT from 2022.

His work encompasses academic and teacher development, student development and success, curriculum design and review, assessment, tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, academic advising, staff induction, academic promotion, mentoring, teaching excellence and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). He contributed to the design, coordination and facilitation of the Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education and secured grant support for its development and mainstream tutoring.

Research and Scholarship

Prof Makondo’s research interests span Applied Linguistics, Onomastics (Names Studies), higher education, academic development, student success and academic freedom. His work in Onomastics explores relationships among names, language, identity, culture and society, while his higher education scholarship engages with teaching and learning, academic development, postgraduate education and student success.

He contributes to DUT’s academic governance through Senate and SENEX and serves as Chairperson of the DUT Academic Freedom Committee.

Leadership Focus at CELT

As Acting Director, Prof Makondo brings together his experience in student development, academic staff development, curriculum and assessment, academic advising, teaching and learning, research and institutional leadership to advance CELT’s mandate.

His focus is on positioning CELT as a strategic institutional hub for teaching excellence, academic development, student success and educational innovation, aligned with DUT ENVISION2030 and the DUT Philosophy of Education. His leadership emphasises collaboration, evidence-informed practice, inclusive and innovative pedagogy, purposeful use of educational technology, and the development of academics and students towards enhanced educational quality and sustainable student success.