Dr Suvania Naidoo

“Through Moodle, we can transform the way we deliver our study material and engage deeply and successfully with our students,” says newly appointed College of Human Sciences (CHS) Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support Manager, Dr Suvania Naidoo. 

Born in Durban, Naidoo’s career profile is remarkable. She started as a junior lecturer in the Department of Development Studies at Unisa in 2009, then became a lecturer in 2015. She was seconded to the CHS Academic Quality Assurance and Enhancement Unit as the Quality Assurance Coordinator from January 2021 to February 2022, until filling her new post as Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support Manager.

Dr Naidoo holds Bachelor’s and Honours degrees in Development Studies from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), a Master’s degree from Unisa (thesis titled “Development actors and the issues of acid mine drainage in the Vaal River system”) and a PhD in Development Studies from UJ (thesis titled “Social constructions of water quality in the Blesbokspruit, in the context of acid mine drainage and its treatment”).

She is the author of Acid mine drainage in South Africa: Development actors, policy impacts and broader implications. In 2019, the book won her the Principal’s Prize for Excellence in Research at Unisa, awarded to academics under the age of 35.

Dr Naidoo in her own words

How do you feel about your appointment?

I feel highly honoured to be given the opportunity to serve in this extremely significant post. It is an enormous responsibility that has been entrusted to me. I am excited to begin this new journey, because as we progress in life, we create a vision of how it should be, what we can improve on and how we can do things differently. As a full-time university student, I had inspiring lecturers that paved the way for the kind of lecturer and academic I knew I should be. They were hands on, supportive, gave the most enthusiastic lectures and always made time to assist their students. Adopting the same mindset proved valuable to me. Therefore, I feel honoured to be in a position where I can provide leadership and guidance relating to tuition and student support on a much larger scale.

What are you looking forward to the most in this position?

We are in a massive transitional period at Unisa, moving towards a fully online learning environment. I am looking forward to engaging with colleagues – there is so much innovation and creativity in the CHS. Learning from each other is pivotal to ensuring we make a success of how we approach and use our new Learning Management System (LMS), Moodle, to its full potential. Through Moodle, we can transform the way we deliver our study material and engage deeply and successfully with our students. Further, and very crucial to this transition, is that if we use this new LMS to its full potential we can attract a wider range of students globally, where Unisa becomes their university of choice. There will always be difficulties adapting to a new process, but I have always believed in having a solution-driven mindset. If something does not work, we must adopt new strategies, and this can only be done if we are open to change. With that said, there must be mutual respect, open communication, transparency, and honesty in order for us to adapt to this transition and to ensure its success. I am more than willing to provide the necessary support that will be required during this transition, and it is pivotal that we all play a role and work as a team to make this happen. As Quality Assurance Coordinator in 2021, I had the privilege of interacting closely with the different departments in the CHS, and I look forward to continued interactions with departments within the college and of course the university at large.

What motivates you daily and what philosophies do you live by?

A quote by one of my favourite authors, Robin Sharma, which deeply resonates within me is to "liberate the storehouse of ability and energy that sleeps within you".

I try to muster the courage to do what I think is beyond me, and I do everything that comes my way with all my might. Believe me, I am often apprehensive when I start something new, yet I go for it, because I find it hard to let go of a challenge. I am definitely a planner, but I do leave much room for flexibility – we must be open to switch strategy if the situation demands it. I am a fervent supporter of Liverpool Football Club, but more so I am a fan of football. I cheer on and respect every team, because being a fan of a sport means you love the game, not a team. This is the approach I follow in my life. The manager of Liverpool seldom speaks big. No matter how many wins he tallies, he will still insist there is room for improvement in his team. There is always room to learn, to improve and to experience, and this is what drives me, because if not, what else am I going to fill my days with. Remember, as Frederick Schiller Faust famously said, there is a giant asleep in every one of us. When the giant awakes, miracles happen.

CONGRATULATIONS, Dr Naidoo!

* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences