Page 12 - Ongoye Online, Christmas edition

Thembi Ndimande at the Helm of Quality Assurance Office
As a a a a a a means of ensuring excellence in in in quality management through supporting and co- ordinating quality assurance processes in in in in in in teaching and and learning research and and community engagement aimed at achieving its goals the University of Zululand has recently appointed Thembisile Ndimande as as Director: Quality Assurance Ndimande assumed her role on 1 October 2022 She She has has vast work experience She She has has beeninthehighereducationsectorsince1998 starting off as a a a a a a a lecturer in in in in in biomedical sciences after moving from the health sector “With my my inquisitive mind I found myself leading a a a a a a a a a team that was to develop a a a a a a a a a a proposal for for funding for for the the establishment of the the Quality Assurance Office
for for for my former institution United States Agency for for for International Development (USAID) which was successful “I have grown professionally over the years since my days as a a a a a quality advisor manager: quality assurance and now as Director I got to to experience working in in most of the portfolios in the office My expertise lie in in successfully managing teams processes and strategies that drive
continuous quality improvement efforts at UNIZULU through audits reviews and other quality assurance-oriented projects ”
said Ndimande From 2006 Ndimande served as as a a a a a a quality assurance officer In 2012 she went on to assume her role as as Quality Advisor at UNIZULU Through her experience she has amassed a a a a a a breadth of knowledge and skills in in assisting academic departments to develop new learning programmes for accreditation coordinating internal and external reviews as as well as as coordinating institutional
audits Additionally her her her established success in in developing staff to to adhere to to higher education policies and procedures makes significant contribution to to alleviating quality issues in in relation to to programmes accredited for the University The Director: Quality Assurance strongly believes in in giving all team members the opportunity to participate exchange ideas and and also encourages discussions “While this process tends to focus on on equality and and the free flow of of ideas as as a a a a a a a a a a a a leader I am always there to offer guidance and and control ”
clarified Ndimande Her mantra is: Leadership is is not only about a a a a a a a a title or designation but also impact impact influence and and inspiration - impact impact which involves getting results and and influence being about spreading passion in in in in in in the the work that you you do while inspiring others around you She owes her her leadership skills to her her late boss whom she lauds for being such a a a great mentor “I wish I I had time to tell him this ”
she sombrely said On the the home front Ndimande is a a a a mother of of two handsome boys whom she calls “her bodyguards” “They are so so protective of of me me me as as their mother it it it melts my heart I think it it it is because it it it has always been the the the the three of us us through thick and thin After all I do give them space to experience life as individuals ”
she chuckled To unwind Ndimande enjoys relaxing in in in a a a a hotel environment where she doesn’t have to to rush to to do do anything except go shopping while her her her bed is is being made for her her her That is is her her her ideal relaxation routine Precious Shamase
ONGOYE: NOV/DEC 2022 ISSUE | 12