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DUT appointed David Mohale as Director: Special Projects

DUT appointed David Mohale as Director: Special Projects

The newly appointed  Director: Special Projects in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr David Mohale is unapologetically committed to student-centredness and serving the DUT Community.

Asked what his position entails, the Director: Special Projects in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor explained that his role is simple: to assist the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor TZ Mthembu, to focus on the strategic outlook of the University in order to ensure that DUT is transformed; it is able to upscale its products and outputs; and finally that it is developmental.

Mr Mohale referred to the Vice-Chancellor’s inaugural speech. He cited the emphasis on robust engagement that the Vice-Chancellor spoke to, emanating from the DUT DNA. Accordingly, he understands that he has a responsibility to make the Office of the Vice-Chancellor accessible in keeping with the commitment of the introduction, maintenance and upscaling the culture on robust internal engagement between and among DUT stakeholders.

In responding to the question about what kind of special projects he will be bringing to the University, he replied that the Vice-Chancellor will soon communicate with the entire DUT community to clarify his role in the next issue of Iminingo. However, he pointed out that projects will not be moved where they are currently located. If anything, he is likely to work on high-level projects that the Vice-Chancellor will wish to be driven from his Office. Be that as it may, he foresees a close cooperation with the DVC: Research, Innovation and Engagement.

Focusing on one of the main DNA strands which is “Student Centredness” Mr Mohale was appointed on the basis of not only being young but as someone who might relate and have a better understanding of the DUT student and their challenges within the University in order to make sure that they have an improved and better experience during their stay at the Institution. His (Mohale) experience as a former student leader is seen as a strength, which might help the University’s executive management team to have a fresh and youthful perspective in their engagements with students.

“My role is to ensure that the Vice-Chancellor is not bogged down with operational matters but focus more on strategical issues so that the University is able to bring the targets determined in the revised Strategic Plan from now until 2019”. Existing projects must come to their logical conclusions. While the previous incumbent in the office of the Vice-Chancellor had line management functions, this position is now meant to give support to the Vice-Chancellor. He (Mohale) thinks the combination of his experience in previous similar responsibilities and his youthfulness influenced his appointment. Mohale hopes to use this position to influence colleagues to understand that we all draw our salaries from students. For Mohale, this alone makes the student-centredness strand non-negotiable.

“We will and must serve students. We can debate many other things but that is beyond debate” said Mohale.
The lover of life said he was delighted to be appointed to his current position because it contributed immensely to his sense of responsibility as a human being. “We are very lucky to have reached the age that we are and that brings a sense of responsibility to love life and regardless of what one needs to do; we need to contribute to the betterment of humanity. Contributing to the betterment of humanity must start with you as a person in order to produce positivity onto those you engage with,” he said.

Furthermore, Mohale believes that all higher education institutions in South Africa were created to ensure that everyone must have human dignity aligned with the current constitution. Mohale further reiterated that one of his primary goals in his tenure as Director of Special Projects at the Office of the Vice-Chancellor was to make sure that DUT becomes a boundaryless organisation.

“Everybody at DUT needs to do their work and add value to the University. We must all make a conscious effort to solve student issues. Let us do our work with an end in mind and build a culture of cooperative advantage and never forget that we are here because of these students. Therefore we must work with an end in mind. In other words, I do know that I will be leaving after five years. Now, what is it that I would want to be remembered for? If by the time I leave, we will have all consciously strived for an accommodating environment that benefits students in all aspects of their development; that our DUT community will have a sense that the office of the Vice-Chancellor has served them beyond expectation; I will exit DUT a proud man”, said Mohale.

Mohale joined the DUT family at the beginning of this month (2 May 2017) and will be with the University till 2022.

Some facts about Mr Mohale
• He was born in Kroonstad but grew up in Theunissen in the Free State.
• He has a daughter.
• For his Junior Degree, he majored in Political Science and English (African Literature).
• He is currently doing his Doctorate in Public Policy, with the focus on the topical issue of the developmental state.
• He is an activist at heart who loves life.

Pictured: Meet Mr David Mohale, Director: Special Projects in the Office of the Vice Chancellor.

Noxolo Memela

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