Dr Octavia Mkhabela is set to play a leading role in moving CPUT from a good to a great institution.
Mkhabela has been appointed as the Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor.
She is no stranger to the higher education sector having held various key positions at Wits, University of Zululand, University of Johannesburg and Howard University.
Mkhabela has conceptualized and implemented a variety of training and awareness strategies within the higher education space, including mentoring programs for young academics and the integration of Student Affairs for the University of Johannesburg. We recently caught up with her:
You have held various posts in the higher education sector over the past few years. What about this sector do you enjoy most?
The sector is the hub of critical thinking and it provides space to shape and mold the future and make a contribution through the brilliant young people that higher education institutions are meant to serve.
What does your role at CPUT entail?
It is a robust role that can be summed up by a phrase “provide support to the Vice-Chancellor on institutional strategic issues.” As you know the concept of support is elastic, however, my role is confined to issues that are important to moving CPUT from good to great.
CPUT is 10 years old and the university has achieved much over the past decade. What would you like the university to achieve over the next decade?
I would like to see this university continue to offer cutting edge academic programmes. To this end, I think issues of sustainability are important from all angles i.e. economic viability of CPUT, increased contribution to environmental sustainability, as well as to build a CPUT community that is responsible, caring and interested in giving back.
You have been at CPUT for several weeks now? Have there been any highlights?
The honor bestowed to the first Vice-Chancellor of CPUT has been a highlight together with the launch of the “Uyindoda” innovation that will go a long way in preventing loss of human lives through innovation.
