Page 5 - CAO 25th Ann Coffee Table Book

despite occasional headwinds. Much critical investment has been made on a continuous basis to ensure that the infrastructure to operate this business remains sound and relevant. That the appropriate technology was in place to meet the growing number applications for places at the member Universities.
Equally important attention has been paid to ensuring the sustainability of the organization. Given that the CAO is a registered as a non profit company, strong accent is placed on ensuring continued financial stability. The strength of this organization lies with its dedicated staff and Management. Many members of the staff have long service with the organization and have provided the necessary balance of infusing with newer staff with different skill sets as the organization has grown and developed. Over the 25 years the CAO has seen many key staff, Board members and colleagues from our Institutions pass on and we continue to
remember them fondly, as well as those that have left for greener pastures. The Board has throughout its 25-year history, provided stability in respect of ensuring good governance. The seamless integration of new Board members over the 25 years all sharing a common vision of contributing to the wellbeing of our post schooling system has been a significant contributing factor to the organization’s growth and stability.
When reflecting on the 25 years in business, how do we know what we are doing and set out to do remains relevant and useful to our communities that we serve. CAO’s tagline or slogan is “the one - application form, -application fee and -application office.” This has certainly been accomplished over the 25 years in conjunction with the participation of the Universities in KwaZulu-Natal and in more recent times a few FET colleges. However, with the growing numbers of applications to the various Universities in KwaZulu-Natal
via the CAO, a sizable percentage of applicants remain unsuccessful in obtaining places at these institutions. The growing challenges for a developing country like South Africa, is to find new ways to accommodate these young learners in the post schooling system should we wish to be a thriving economically viable country going into the future. To this end the CAO does have a role to play in assisting not only the State, but also all other role players in the post schooling sector to grapple with this great and growing challenge and find pragmatic solutions for the betterment of our young people.
On behalf of the Board, my congratulations to all stakeholders who have shaped the CAO to have reached this significant milestone of 25 years.
Dr Gopalkrishna (Gops) Chetty
CAO Board Chairperson
The seamless integration of new Board members over the 25 years all sharing a common vision of contributing to the wellbeing of our post schooling system has been a significant contributing factor to the organization’s growth and stability.
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