Page 6 - CAO Annual Report 2023-24

CENTRAL APPLICATIONS OFFICE
DR GOPALKRISHNA CHETTY (GOPS)
Chairperson - Central Applications Office
The Chairperson’s Report
The CAO has become a significant role player in the Higher Education Landscape of KwaZulu-Natal. It is not simply a cog but has become a vital part of the machinery in a student’s desire to study at one of the higher education institutions in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. It remains the starting point of any student wishing to enroll at any one of the higher education institutions in the province. Its overall reason for existence is the provision of a one stop application administrative service to students who wish to pursue higher education studies in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal. To this end the CAO remains a vibrant lean and agile organization that continues to fulfill its mission and objectives, having done so over the last 26 years.
It remains important to continuously remind our wider community that the CAO operates in terms of being a Non-Profit Company (RF) NPC. Its continuous success is based on good governance, continuous operational excellence, and sound business practices. The success of any lean and agile organization must be credited to its Executive Management and staff in general. Many staff members have long service with some tracing their
careers from the inception of the organization. Equally it should be noted that throughout its history the CAO has had stable Executive leadership with Mr. George van der Ross in the seat since 2012. The CEO through solid leadership and administrative nous, has steered the organization from difficult waters to much calmer waters today. The Board equally through the history of the organization provided the necessary governance, leadership, and support to ensure that the organization continues to fulfill its mission and vision and realize its objectives. The Board has four meetings per year together with subcommittees in the areas of Finance, Human Resources, and ICT. Board members well attend these meetings, all of whom are resolute and want to contribute to the development of young people.
The year under review ending February 2024, once again was a successful year with the organization continuing to lift itself out of the remnants of the Covid period. This is particularly noticeable through the growing number of applications per institution per year up to this review period ending February 2024.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2023/2024