Gugulethu Nkosi
Manager: Academic Operations
Johannesburg
Summary
Seasoned Higher Education Academic Operations Manager and talented leader with 15 years of experience applying exceptional planning and problem-solving abilities toward enhancing business plans and day-to-day activities. Results-driven and resilient in developing teams while improving processes and increasing productivity. Bringing solid understanding of industry trends, excellent communication skills, talent for spotting areas in need of improvement and implementing changes with strategic approach.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
National Deputy Academic Operations Manager
IIE-Varsity College, IIE-Vega School & IIEMSA
06.2023 - Current
- Support the campus operations managers to ensure that national initiatives and interventions are implemented in line with academic policies and procedures through the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operational strategies and processes.
- Support campus operations in their budget planning for operational items such as graduation, target planning, capacity planning, etc.
- Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders within and outside the organisation.
- Drive policy training and implementation with campuses, especially as regards admissions, assessment strategy and graduation policies (student life cycle).
- Monitor and evaluate policy implementation through the development of internal audit strategies related to academic operations.
- Manage and develop all academic administrative processes related to student induction, academic calendars, timetabling, assessment dates, moderation, student support initiatives, admissions and results release.
- Drive change management as it relates to system and processes.
- Work with the Academic Manager/T&L Manager/Academic Support Manager and the broader academic and operations teams to ensure synergy between operational delivery and academic requirements.
- Prepare and manage student communication where required, ensuring that students understand policy and processes, which supports student success.
- Represent the brands on IIE Committees: Senate, Faculty Board, Teaching and Learning to ensure compliance to all IIE regulations on campus.
- Selected as a member of the Institutional Audit Committee
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Facilitated smooth collaboration between departments through clear communication channels.
- Enhanced customer/student satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
National Academic Operations and Student Services Manager
IIE-Vega School
08.2020 - 06.2023
- Managed three direct reports: National Student Services, National Student Records, and National Academic Coordinator
- Supported campuses through the planning of academic operations and student support to ensure a positive and holistic student experience.
- Managed academic administrative processes and planning (admission, registration, student orientation, assessment cycles, results release and graduation.
- Managed escalated campus queries and ensured the resolution is in line with IIE policies and frameworks.
- Managed the national student communication plan.
- Managed the student relationship coordination and supported the campuses in ensuring student satisfaction.
- Tracked and reported on student support initiatives.
- Worked with the Teaching and Learning manager to ensure that operations delivery works in tandem with academic needs and support initiatives.
- Represented the brand in IIE governance committees (Faculty Boards, Senates, Academic Forums etc.) to ensure brand compliance with regulations on campus.
Academic Manager
Boston Media House Sandton
01.2019 - 08.2020
- Recurriculation: development of new course content, sourcing appropriate texts and learning materials in conjunction with the subject matter expert (lecturer).
- Course content development, review and improvement.
- Responsible and accountable for the management of staff, students and curriculum.
- Oversee the preparation of projects, module assignments and reaching materials for all subjects assigned to the portfolio.
- Conduct research on industry needs and actively encourage staff to keep abreast of the latest industry projects and technology.
- Attend conferences and seminars related to academic development and industry trends.
- Quality assurance of all learning materials to ensure that it fall within the scope of the pedagogical approach.
- Develop a moderation schedule and ensure smooth management of the moderation process.
- Conduct moderation and assessment of learning delivery.
- Conduct lecturer evaluations to ensure the quality of teaching and learning delivery.
- Coordinate external moderation of exit-level subjects.
- Selection as a member of the Academic Committee for Boston Media House.
Programme Leader (Journalism & Film and Television)
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology eSwatini
05.2016 - 08.2018
- Lecturing 12 hours a week, which includes preparation of content, assessments and marking.
- Course content development, review and improvement.
- Curriculum development.
- Responsible and accountable for the management of staff, students and curriculum.
- Oversee the preparation of projects, module assignments and reaching materials for all subjects assigned to the portfolio.
- Conduct weekly meeting with staff to review students' performance, progress and any other issues that affect the delivery of the program.
- Conduct research on industry needs and actively encourage staff to keep abreast of the latest industry projects and technology.
- Supervise all staff with each program to ensure effective preparation, delivery and assessment of the program.
- Provide training where necessary on teaching skills or recommend staff for training and/or development.
- Oversee the requisition of books, resources, equipment and other resources necessary for delivery of the program.
- Analyse future staffing needs and make requisitions with ample time for recruitment.
- Organise discipline and working/learning ethics among staff and students to protect and maintain the learning environment.
- Develop a moderation schedule and ensure smooth management of the moderation process.
- Improvement in the delivery of content, planning of semesters and overall presentation and improvement of staff and student performance.
Lecturer (Journalism)
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology eSwatini
08.2015 - 05.2016
- Module content and lecture development.
- Delivering lecture content.
- Creating and marking assessments.
- Providing constructive feedback to students.
- Mentoring students and support for the improvement of results.
- Promoted to Programme Leader
Lecturer (English, Communication Science, Journalism)
Midrand Graduate Institute
01.2012 - 08.2014
- Compiling lecture content and delivering content.
- Creating and marking assessments including examinations.
- Providing constructive feedback to students.
- Chosen as candidate for mentorship on academic assessment development.
Education
Postgraduate Diploma - Management
University of the North West
BA Honours - English Literature
University of the Witwatersrand
01.2012
BA - Journalism
Midrand Graduate Institute
01.2010
Skills
- Courageous Conversations
- MS Office (Proficient User)
- Change management
- Team leadership
- Stakeholder management
- Decision making
- Strategic planning
- Process improvement
- Staff management, motivation and training
- Student relationship management
- Quality Assurance: Course content, assessment development, communication and presentation
Certification
ADvTECH Development: Courageous Conversations
References
- Jennifer, Brown, Academic Operations Manager, jhbrwn@vegaschool.com, IIE-Vega, IIE-Varsity College, IIEMSA
- Janet, Viljoen, Head of Academic Planning and Development, janet@janetviljoen.co.za, Boston Media House
- Nobukhosi, Ndlovu, Principal Lecturer: Faculty of Communication Media and broadcasting, nobundlovu@gmail.com, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology eSwatini
Career Development Goals
- MBA/MBL
- PhD
Timeline
National Deputy Academic Operations Manager
IIE-Varsity College, IIE-Vega School & IIEMSA
06.2023 - Current
National Academic Operations and Student Services Manager
IIE-Vega School
08.2020 - 06.2023
Academic Manager
Boston Media House Sandton
01.2019 - 08.2020
Programme Leader (Journalism & Film and Television)
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology eSwatini
05.2016 - 08.2018
Lecturer (Journalism)
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology eSwatini
08.2015 - 05.2016
Lecturer (English, Communication Science, Journalism)
Midrand Graduate Institute
01.2012 - 08.2014
BA Honours - English Literature
University of the Witwatersrand
BA - Journalism
Midrand Graduate Institute
Postgraduate Diploma - Management
University of the North West