Doctoral graduate succeeds amidst great loss

She experienced devastating loss and grief on her road to graduation, but quitting was never an option for doctoral graduate Faeda Mohsam.

Mohsam, a lecturer in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, suffered two bereavements during her academic journey, necessitating a break in her studies.

First, she lost her father in 2018. Then, in 2021, she lost her beloved daughter during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Today she was awarded a DTech in Informatics during the Summer Graduation ceremony and was one of two doctoral graduates in the Faculty of Informatics and Design.

“I was awake at 1am this morning. I couldn’t sleep. I’m just so delighted to be here and to have finished my degree. I didn’t think I would see the day,” she said before this morning’s ceremony.

Mohsam said it was important to her that her grandson, her belated daughter’s son, has a role model “to look up to and know that everything is possible if he works hard and perseveres.”

She is grateful that she was able to complete the journey.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Almighty for enabling me to accomplish this significant milestone. It has taken me some time, and there have been numerous challenges. Still, I persisted.

“I have learnt to be persistent and resilient in the face of adversity. Quitting was never an option. In the words of our beloved Madiba: ‘Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again’,” she said.

Balancing the demands of a doctoral study was no easy feat. “Full-time lecturing responsibilities, and my personal life was challenging and made maintaining a work-life balance difficult.”

Mohsam said peer support played a pivotal role during her studies and she believes this contributed greatly to the successful completion of her degree and her overall well-being. “Peers understand the challenges, setbacks and triumphs that come with doctoral studies, and this shared understanding fosters empathy and provides a sense of camaraderie, ultimately making the journey less isolating. I had the honour of receiving peer assistance from two amazing ladies I now consider my "research sisters."

Mohsam, who grew up in Mitchell’s Plain, initially joined CPUT in 2004, first working in an administrative capacity, then took up a role as an academic in 2009.

She holds a BTech in Office Management and Technology and an MTech in Business Information Systems, both from CPUT.

Her research title is: The level of alignment between the use of implemented Health Information Technologies (HITs) and the clinical work activities of nurses in the public hospitals of Cape Town.

She expressed her appreciation to her supervisor, Prof Retha de la Harpe.

“Your belief in my capabilities, even during moments of self-doubt, and mentorship enhanced my academic skills and contributed significantly to my personal and professional growth. Thank you for being a source of inspiration, sharing your knowledge generously, and fostering an environment that promotes learning and intellectual curiosity.”

De la Harpe said supervising Mohsam had been a pleasure because of her excellent work ethic. “She applied her mind to her studies with the same dedication. During the duration of her study she had to deal with a few serious family crises and suffered the biggest loss during the pandemic. Although she was devastated it never derailed her and I know that achieving her doctorate is not only for her but for all who are dear to her.”

Graduating with Mohsam was Monica Nehemia who was awarded a PhD in Informatics.

Nehemia, who hails from Namibia, said she felt “very elated and proud of having achieved my dream, and it being an inspiration to many people in my life”.

“It has been a challenge being a student, a mother and a full-time employee. The conundrum of being the best and successful in each one of them simultaneously is a story to tell. The highlight is the appreciation of how the studies have impacted one's thought process. The relationships forged and friendships established during the research forums is one of the highs that will last with me forever.”

Her thesis is titled: A metric model for measuring the value of enterprise architecture in developing countries.

She said it was an honour to be supervised by Prof Tiko Iyamu.

“Thank you for your guidance, trust and believing in me. Thank you for the patience, allowing me to learn and grow, and for teaching me the value of amassing knowledge, sharing knowledge, and imparting knowledge.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za