QMD honours Student Quality Desk Leadership

In honour of the commitment, involvement, and leadership contributions of the postgraduate and undergraduate Student Quality Desks (SQDs) within the institutional Quality Management Systems (QMS), the Quality Management Directorate (QMD) recently hosted a Leadership Award dinner at the Cape Town Hotel School.

In his opening address, QMD Director, Dr Siyanda Makaula, emphasised the significance of involving students in all aspects of institutional QMS, aligning it with the strategic focus on smart student engagement outlined in focus area 7 of the CPUT Vision 2030. Makaula said QMD employs three key approaches: collaborative, participative and reflexive to engage students holistically in the institutional QMS.

He stated that while the SQDs are distinct from the Student Representative Council (SRC), their leadership roles in promoting quality and transformation within their respective faculties deserve acknowledgment. Makaula emphasised QMD's commitment to "valuing students' voices, creating a foundation for students to be active co-creators of knowledge within the University academic community".

The SQD representatives graciously shared their experiences and journeys, reflecting on how their perception of "quality" has significantly expanded over time. The Dean: Faculty of Applied Science, Prof Joseph Kioko, commended the QMD for involving students in their activities. Kioko offered encouragement to the SQD members, advising them to appreciate their leadership roles as preparation for assuming social leadership responsibilities in the future.

The Dean: Faculty of Informatics and Design, Prof Tembisa Ngqondi, also applauded the SQDs for their leadership, urging them to continue in their commitment to maintaining quality standards.

Also present was Faculty Quality Forum chairpersons, Prof Desiree Scholtz from the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, Prof Anna Dippenaar from the Faculty of Education, and Prof Bingwen Yan from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, each sharing insightful remarks, contributing to the overall significance of the occasion.

The head of the Business Innovation and Incubation Centre (BIIC), Prof Michael Twum-Darko provided an overview of BIIC and presented innovative opportunities to the SQDs. This collaboration aims to make the entire CPUT student body aware of the business innovations facilitated by BIIC.

In recognition of the leadership capabilities and active participation of SQD members in the 2023 academic year, QMD and Ngqondi presented Leadership Achievement Awards to SQD leaders.