Nomandaba Somdakakazi

Director | Mthatha Skills Training College

January 2017 – December 2024
Location: Mthatha, Eastern Cape

As Director of Mthatha Skills Training College, I led the institution with a strong focus on community development, occupational qualifications, and entrepreneurship. The college delivered accredited short skills programs aligned with national priorities and local community needs. My responsibilities included:

• Overseeing daily operations, staff performance, learner support services, and resource allocation.
• Leading community engagement programs, delivering accredited skills development training to unemployed youth and rural communities.
• Establishing partnerships with local municipalities, NGOs, DHET, QCTO, and SETAs to secure program funding and support.
• Coordinating marketing and outreach campaigns through radio, social media, schools, and community platforms.
• Hosting creative business and entrepreneurship meetings, encouraging innovation and youth participation.
• Compiling tender documents and responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for training projects.
• Writing funding proposals to government departments, SETAs, and private sector funders to expand access to education.
• Sourcing bursaries, sponsorships, and donations for underprivileged students.
• Organizing college events, including open days, graduations, workshops, and stakeholder networking functions.
• Managing DHET and SETA accreditation compliance, curriculum design, and facilitator registration.
• Ensuring internal and external moderation processes are completed for certification.
• Facilitating skills gap analysis and aligning training programs with occupational qualifications.
• Overseeing financial administration, budgeting, and the preparation of financial reports.
• Implementing Learner Management Systems (LMS) for student records, attendance tracking, and academic progress.

January 2008 – December 2016
Location: Eastern Cape, South Africa

As Director of Eastern Cape Technical and Commercial College, I was responsible for the academic, operational, and administrative management of the institution. I successfully led and expanded the college’s educational offerings, particularly focusing on Engineering and Business Studies. Key responsibilities included:

• Managing NATED programs (N1 to N6) in Engineering and Business Studies, ensuring compliance with DHET standards.
• Overseeing the Matric Rewrite Programme, improving pass rates through strategic curriculum support.
• Supervising and supporting lecturers, including tracking attendance registers, monitoring syllabus completion, and evaluating classroom performance.
• Conducting strategic planning sessions, staff development workshops, and progress review meetings to ensure academic quality and team alignment.
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements from DHET, Umalusi, and QCTO.
• Managing student registration, academic records, examination administration, and internal moderation processes.
• Overseeing the procurement of teaching materials, learning resources, and equipment for practical subjects.
• Coordinating the implementation of internal quality assurance systems to uphold academic integrity.
• Building and maintaining relationships with examination bodies (e.g. DHET exams office) and monitoring exam readiness.
• Mentoring students and providing career guidance to ensure graduate progression.
• Ensuring the financial sustainability of the college through efficient budgeting and fee management.