The Directorate Programme Accreditation and Registration (DPAR) in the Department of Academic Planning had its first team building and strategic workshop in a post-Covid Unisa on 20 and 21 September 2023.

Amidst the myriad of challenges that the directorate was faced with, exacerbated by the onset of Covid-19 in 2021, DPAR staff members still came out with flying colours in their strategic workshop and team building. Various speakers were invited to address the staff members alongside the portfolio manager, the Executive Director of Academic Planning, Dr Azwinndini Tshivhase.

Standing, from left: Keagile Kwakwa, Linda Dondolo (Quality Assurance Officers Programme Accreditation), Matshidiso Mathiba (Acting Quality Assurance Officer - AIMS), Takalani Tshivhase (Acting Quality Assurance Officer Programme Accreditation and Registration), Bontle Bheza (Academic Information Officer), Catherine Sephapo (Acting Manager: Programme Accreditation), Margaret Mohlala, Fikile Mlambo (Academic Information Officer), Veronica Chokoe (Quality Assurance Officer - AIMS), Tebogo Jiyana (PA to the ED: Academic Planner), Gcina Nkosi and Jackie Tsebe (Academic Information Officer)
Seated, from left: Mluleki Mafuna (Acting Director: DPAR), Dr Azwinndini Tshivhase (ED: Academic Planner), Faneriwa Mahlaule (Acting Manager: Short Learning Programmes) and Bongani Ntuli (Acting Manager: AIMS)
In absentia: Bayanda Malgas (Manager-AIMS), Ms Masello Moekoa (Acting Academic Information Officer) and Khomotjo Shezi (Administrative Officer SLPs)

The directorate had set out to rekindle and re-inculcate the spirit of ubuntu that was diminishing and was almost non-existent amongst team members as a result of the challenges they faced over the past couple of years. The Unisa 2030 Strategic Plan was the compass to the discussions.

As a critical department in Unisa that is responsible for the accreditation and registration of Unisa qualifications and the administration of the academic structure, team members needed to be invigorated and reminded of the greatness (skills, knowledge and competencies) they possessed.

The strategic workshop aimed to do exactly this: reminding colleagues of their important role and function within the broader university community, taking stock of what they have achieved and what is outstanding to complete by assessing the objectives as set out in the departmental operational plan, and building a winning team.

The first day of the workshop was extremely intentional in the building of the team as the strategic workshop started at 9:00 and ended at 18:00. Various speakers took to the podium to address the DPAR delegates on a myriad of topics of concern and interest.

Mluleki Mafuna, the acting DPAR Director, welcomed the team to the strategic workshop, reminding staff of the role DPAR plays within the university and how important it is that they should not drop the ball. He emphasised the spirit of working together, quoting the words of Henry Ford: "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success."

Mafuna emphasised how staff need to always sustain this knowledge in their minds. Every speaker at this event was carefully selected to address and achieve the purpose of this day, which was titled Building a winner’s attitude.

Dr Cebile Tebele, an industrial psychologist from Unisa’s College of Economic and Management Sciences was the first speaker of the day. She spoke on "Building a successful team and channelling a winner’s attitude within a team". She set the tone for the rest of the workshop and contributed to the positive outlook of the entire day’s session. A very motivational and awe-inspiring presentation by Tebele forced delegates to self-introspect and acknowledge the good and bad they bring to the team.

Amisha Benode, Programmes and Projects Officer: Professional Research Committee (PRC),  was the second speaker to address delegates. She spoke on the vast opportunities available to Unisa’s administrative staff as far as professional research is concerned. More often than not administrative staff are not aware of the available opportunities and processes to access funds provided by the PRC.

The last speaker of the day was Kereeditse Modisane, who is a manager in the Human Resource Development Section. She also focused on personal development opportunities for colleagues. She took colleagues through the various stages and processes of applying for formal and informal learning opportunities at Unisa.

The rest of the day was dedicated to thoroughly going through the 2023 departmental operational plan (DOP), with the sole intention of assessing progress, identifying gaps and planning for 2024. This was the most robustly engaged session of the day as colleagues were divided into teams to deliberate on the DOP. The outcome was a consolidated plan of action on how to realise the remaining objectives for 2023 and how to compile, execute and better monitor objectives for the 2024 DOP.

Day one ended on a very positive note as delegates had dinner together and indulged in board games and cards after dinner as a team.

Day two on 21 September was all about team building. The day started very early as colleagues had breakfast together at 07:00 and then headed over to the tennis courts for a team building exercise. The delegates were divided into three teams and took part in a variety of games and challenges like Survivor and the Replication Game.

The challenges were designed to enhance communication and foster trust and reliance on and within a team setting. Unfortunately, there had to be one team that was declared as winners, and The Green Mambas were the winners of the day. However, DPAR won that day as colleagues were able to find each other, understand the critical role that each plays as a member of a team, and acknowledge the different roles they each play in the success of the team and by extension DPAR.

As a reward, the day ended with colleagues doing either quad-biking or enjoying a spa treatment.

The lesson of the day was, “We should strive to succeed as a team, not as individuals!”. These were the resounding sentiments of the delegates as they dispersed after reflections and closing comments by Executive Director Tshivhase on the last day.

* By Bongani Ntuli, Acting Manager, Directorate Programme Accreditation and Registration