Elangeni TVET College Principal TJ Kula is committed to highlighting the growth, value and positive impact of TVET Colleges for building a sustainable future.
Tell us a bit about your leadership journey. What would you say was key to your development as a leader? As a leader at Elangeni TVET College, I bring a solid educational background in vocational education and training principles. I ensure that institutional governance adheres to legislative frameworks and policies by establishing a clear vision and strategy per the College’s mission and vision. Building academic and institutional integrity and a passion for sports within Elangeni TVET (ETVET) has been a crucial part of my development.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned about leadership?
The importance of effective communication and active listening. Being decisive is crucial in making decisions without fear or emotional bias, ensuring that the institution progresses and develops efficiently. In my role, I’ve realised that hesitation leads to delays and missed opportunities, whereas decisiveness drives timely action and positive outcomes. This approach guarantees that the institution consistently progresses without being held back by indecisiveness.
What was a defining moment in your life that enabled you to become the confident leader you are today?
A defining moment was leading Elangeni TVET College’s transformation, especially in infrastructure development and growing a strong dedication to teaching and learning at ETVET. Despite challenging circumstances, I improved my professionalism and developed a clear distinction between educators and students through their conduct and appearance. This professionalism extended to communication, reflecting the institution’s high standards. My leadership achievements have significantly changed perceptions of ETVET, reinforcing its status as a professional and respected institution and marking a key milestone in my leadership journey.
What important leadership style do women bring to the education sphere, particularly considering education institutions play a critical role in developing future leaders?
Women bring a consultative and constructive approach to leadership and excel in engaging with others and incorporating feedback, creating an environment where constructive criticism is valued. Their leadership style is often democratic, encouraging everyone to contribute and be part of the decision-making process. While decisions ultimately rest with the Accounting Officer at a TVET College, after thorough consultation and constructive feedback, the democratic approach ensures that policies are followed and diverse perspectives are considered. This approach leads to well-rounded and inclusive decision-making in line with institutional policies.
As a woman in leadership, what would you say are the biggest foreseeable challenges for women leaders?
Patriarchy. Women leaders encounter substantial challenges, such as resistance to their decisions, which can provoke personal attacks and authority challenges absent in their male counterparts. These biases undermine their leadership and decisions. Men face less opposition, indicating stronger reactions to women’s leadership, possibly due to perceived disruptions to traditional norms. These biases and stereotypes remain prevalent, adding an extra challenge for women leaders.
What was the impetus for you to move from working in basic education to the higher education sphere?
I am someone who craves innovation and constantly seeks new challenges. The move from basic to higher education was motivated by my desire for something different and my inclination towards innovation. I strive to introduce new ideas at ETVET each year and avoid stagnation. The transition taught me valuable management lessons; managing a basic education institution differs hugely from managing a higher education institution. Higher education involves overseeing multiple units and understanding human resources, marketing, and financial audits, encompassing comprehensive business administration.
How do you see your role as Principal/Rector of Elangeni TVET College impacting progressive change in the lives of youth, communities and SA at large?
As Principal of Elangeni TVET College, I play a pivotal role in driving meaningful change in the lives of youth and communities nationwide. Education is crucial for youth survival, equipping them with essential and technical skills. At ETVET, we adapt our curriculum to meet market demands, such as introducing globally recognised programmes like aircraft mechanics. This ensures our students are employable upon graduation. Collaborating with the industry ensures that our programmes align with current market needs, create significant institutional changes, and benefit the youth, communities, and SA.
What do you think are the biggest misconceptions regarding TVET Colleges?
One misconception about TVET colleges is that they are for those who failed basic education or couldn’t get into university, which we are actively changing. Another misconception is that TVET colleges are only for students struggling academically, despite offering advanced programmes like electrical engineering and IT, which require more than basic entry-level requirements. Knowing that our lecturers are highly educated and trade-certified and our facilities are equipped with industry-standard machines is essential. TVET colleges are vital hubs for skills development and expertise.
How is Elangeni TVET College proactively working to change these perceptions?
We combat these perceptions through strategic marketing and communication strategies, highlighting successful alumni in the College’s official newsletter, Elangeni NEWS, social media, and publications. We showcase student skills at career exhibitions and encourage participation in the World Skills Competitions to highlight achievements. These efforts collectively aim to reshape how the world perceives TVET colleges and emphasise the valuable contributions of our College.
Unemployment is a significant challenge. Tell us how Elangeni TVET College qualifications link to industry needs.
Today, addressing industry needs is crucial due to the challenge of unemployment. ETVET collaborates closely with the industry to update syllabi and introduce new programmes that align with current industry trends. This partnership ensures our curriculum reflects industry demands, preparing students for relevant and in-demand occupations. We also introduce occupational programmes tailored to meet these needs, with plans for further expansion next year. Our staff’s ongoing skills development ensures that ETVET remains responsive to industry requirements.
Under your leadership, what initiatives have you implemented and helped drive that have yielded results in addressing the unemployment issue?
Under my leadership, ETVET has implemented several initiatives to guide students towards informed career choices. We prioritise placing students in relevant programmes based on their academic strengths, discouraging aimless decisions. Additionally, we focus on enhancing interview skills and writing CVs to boost self-confidence and employability. These efforts have significantly supported our students in securing employment opportunities. We continue exploring new strategies through our Research Unit to empower our students and address unemployment effectively.
Regarding stakeholder (i.e. learners, industry and higher education) engagement – what are the gaps, and how would we solve them?
A major TVET sector challenge is the industry’s reluctance to accept students over perceived curriculum shortcomings. Industry views our programmes as insufficient, questioning graduate readiness. To address this, we align the curriculum with industry needs, enhancing student employability. We boost stakeholder engagement by involving industries in curriculum development and offering workshops to better prepare students for work. These efforts aim to bridge gaps between educational offerings and industry expectations, ensuring graduates meet workforce demands effectively.
Elangeni TVET College has eight campuses around KwaZulu Natal. What are some of the most challenging aspects of being at the helm of a large institution?
Dealing with strikes has been a significant challenge over the years, and while we’ve learned to manage them, the real difficulty is seeing our students spending too much time outside the classroom during these disruptions. This affects their education and exam preparation, often resulting in missed assessment requirements. Strikes are usually instigated by a few individuals and create fear among students, impacting their academic progress.
How does your leadership style help overcome these challenges?
My leadership style emphasises immediate action when challenges arise, particularly during strikes. I ensure management is at the forefront of addressing issues promptly to prevent prolonged disruptions. As an Accounting Officer, I engage with students to expedite resolutions and maintain stability in the institution. In cases like NSFAS, where control is limited, I facilitate communication to meet student needs, ensuring ETVET operates smoothly.
Since becoming Principal, what have been the key highlights in terms of growth and success?
- Infrastructure Development Projects: projects are regularly implemented annually to improve college facilities and infrastructure.
- Academic Winter Camp: I recently introduced a winter academic camp at ETVET to boost throughput and pass rates while enhancing student focus and study strategies in a conducive campus learning environment.
- Accredited Residences: established residences that meet accreditation standards, enhancing student living conditions and providing a suitable environment for academic success.
- Online Academic Support: implemented platforms and resources to support student learning online, ensuring accessibility to educational materials and assistance beyond classroom hours.
- Staff Wellness Programmes: implemented conferences specifically designed for male and female employees, addressing their professional and personal obstacles to cultivate a supportive work environment.
These initiatives collectively aim to elevate the quality of education, enhance learning outcomes, and improve overall institutional effectiveness – effective monitoring and proper teaching and learning at Elangeni TVET College.
What legacy would you like to leave at Elangeni TVET College?
I envision leaving a legacy where Elangeni TVET College moves beyond being known as a TVET college and becomes a respected institution of higher learning. In saying this, I have aimed to achieve various goals. I aim to relocate ETVET’s KwaMashu Campus from its current shared space with a school to a new standalone site. This move aligns with my vision of transforming Elangeni TVET College further and expanding our occupational programmes through a fully functional state-of-the-art Artisan and Skills Centre benefitting all communities. Fundraising efforts like the 2nd Annual Fundraising Golf Day will support refurbishing the Inchanga Skills Centre and constructing the new KwaMashu Campus. These upgrades promise top-tier learning environments, advancing vocational education excellence at ETVET and fulfilling my long-held aspirations for the College.
