The newly-appointed Senior Director: Student Affairs at Stellenbosch University (SU) hopes to make a positive contribution that will offer a transformative student experience to students studying at the University.
Dr Choice Makhetha, who will take over this position from Dr Birgit Schreiber on 1 August this year, feels positive that she would be able to prepare SU students for the work place in the 21st century.
“I am very excited to start work here. I believe that I will be able to build on the wonderful work that has already been done here," she says.
Student affairs and higher education are close to Dr Makhetha's heart and she has been working with students for 20 years. After obtaining her PhD in Political Science, she served as Vice-Dean: Student Affairs at University of the Free State. Here she played a vital role in the UFS's Transformation Plan Task Team, which was tasked to develop a transformation plan for the university in 2005.
From 2011 to 2016 she served as Vice-Rector: Student Affairs and External Relations at UFS and she is currently the Transformation Advisor at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State.
Having served in several leadership positions within the higher education sector, as well as her passion for students, student affairs and interests, made her the ideal candidate to take over the reins at SU's Division for Student Affairs.
“Higher education is an environment where freedom of thought and expression is the order of the day. I enjoy watching young people grow and helping them unlock their true potential. I am a forward thinker and I firmly believe that when you work with students, you should be willing to listen and learn as much as you exercise leadership."
Dr Birgit Schreiber is leaving her post as Senior Director Division Student Affairs in order to take up exciting opportunities in the European Higher Education context, promoting relations with African Higher Education. Dr Schreiber will continue to contribute towards SU's international standing by managing the Secretariat for the International Town and Gown Network and will also continue to serve University South Africa (USAf) network via delivering to the Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) programme.
