Page 15 - Unisa CSET Mid Year Highlights 2025 Digital

Q&A
Prof Corne Van Staden (Position: Head- Quality Assurance and Enhancement, CSET)
A quote or bible verse that you live by:
Proverbs 31:10-31 (shortened), is a chapter in the Bible that I live by: A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman – who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls. The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of honest gain or need of dishonest spoil. She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her... Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure, she rejoices over the future. She opens her mouth in skilful and Godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness giving counsel and instruction. She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat.... Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain it is not lasting, but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Since I was a young girl, I have strived to live up to the standards and characteristics of the woman, mentioned in this chapter. To provide for my family, be a leader, serve humankind and seeking guidance from the Lord through prayer, is what I live by.
Reflect on your upbringing and how you ended up in the sciences?
I was born and raised in the Vaal triangle and stayed there for 30 years before moving to Pretoria.
As a family of four, we travelled as much as we could, to see our beautiful country. My father taught me how to read maps, plan trips and study the different kinds of fauna and flora in our country. On these trips, my interest in photography started.
I was raised in a household where caring, giving and supporting others, was the norm and value based on Christian principles. In addition to our household of four, I am a member of a huge family, each with his / her own personality, teaching me how to interact with different kinds of people, preparing me to use those skills as a leader, working with a variety of personalities.
My mother was a loving, kind and hospitable person. In addition to being a teacher, spouse and mother, she was also the best cook in the family. She set the example of hard work and taught me the science of baking to perfection. I used that skill to pay for my studies,
as we would bake 100kg of cookies and 60 dozen koeksisters a week and sell it. My mother also taught me how to make curtains and clothes. I started making curtains and sold it as an extra income. I also made my own wedding dress. My mother was my first and foremost “Proverbs 31 woman” example.
My father’s dedication toward the medical field inspired me to also pursue a career in sciences. He was a chemist for 47 years, but more than that he was a leader in our church. My father made sure that his little girl became an independent woman. He taught me how to tile a floor, change a tyre and even how to overall my varsity car engine! He was my role model in so many ways.
When I had to choose subjects in school, my mother suggested that I should study home economics, but as she has taught me so many skills already, I decided to choose Biology, Mathematics, Natural Science and Accounting.
It was because of my parents and their examples, encouragement and support that I managed to persevere and keep on studying. Currently, my biggest supporters to continue studying and publishing, are my husband and son.
Reflect on your journey to becoming a Head of portfolio at Unisa
I attended DF Malherbe primary school and High school Transvalia, before graduating from Northwest University, where I completed my BCom Informatics, BSc Hons in Computers Science.
At the Northwest University, I served on the SRC for two years, first as newspaper editor and then as financial manager. I believe these appointments as a student leader, prepared me for the future, especially because budgeting is such a vital role in all leadership positions. During that period, I was also a deacon at our church.
In 1993, I started at Vaal University of Technology as a lecturer and completed my MTech in Information Technology. During my employ at VUT, I was requested to start a Kempton Park campus as manager of the IT department.
I got married December 1996, and our son was born, October of 1998. At the end of 1999 we moved to Pretoria, to further pursue my career at Midrand Graduate Institute, now known as Eduvos, from January 2000.
Define tomorrow.
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