Fundani Staff Profiles
Fundani Management
Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Education [University of the Western Cape] ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7343-2467 Biography: Dr Xena Cupido holds the position of Director at the Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development, at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Her scholarly pursuits centre around the critical domain of student engagement and success, with a specific focus on participatory learning, holistic student engagement, and designing for social justice. Dr Cupido has also demonstrated a growing interest in the integration of digital technologies as an instrumental pedagogical tool to optimize the process of learning and teaching. Xena has actively engaged in projects focused on learning and teaching, student academic development, and the fundamental pursuit of social justice within the realm of higher education. Her focus extends to co-creating curriculum frameworks, implementing participatory student engagement practices, promoting access, and effectively addressing youth needs to enhance overall success. On a national level Dr Cupido has established collaborations through involvement with the Siyaphumelela Network and the TAU Fellowship which advances teaching at the university. These associations are centred on bolstering institutional capacities to provide holistic support for students.
Dr Xena Cupido
Position: Director
Fundani Administrative Support
Position: Secretary Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Position: Grants Coordinator Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: BTech Business Administration Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: ND in Cost and Management Accounting Office: 236, 2nd floor library building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: N6 & ND in Visual Communication Design [CPUT]
Ms Dudu Mdakane
Ms Denise February
Ms Wardah Peck
Position: UCDP Administrator
Mr Jonathan Van Der Merwe
Position: Financial administrator [ECP]
Ms Thandiwe Sidzumo
Position: Graphic Designer
Academic Staff Development Unit
Office: 4.51, Engineering Building, Cape Town Campus Email: Qualifications: PhD, M.Ed, PGCE, BEd (Hons), BSc Research focus area: Higher Education ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3881-2771 Biography Dr Waghid is currently at the forefront of educational innovation as the Head of the Unit for Academic Staff Development. In this critical role, he is spearheading initiatives aimed at nurturing the professional growth and development of academic staff, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation at CPUT. His research trajectory is deeply entrenched in participatory action research, a collaborative approach that aims to enhance teaching and learning practices. Recently, his focus has expanded to encompass the role of educational technology during times of crisis and change, investigating how technological advancements can facilitate adaptability and resilience in educational environments. Dr Waghid is also delving into the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, exploring its potential to revolutionize teaching methodologies and create personalized learning experiences. Throughout his career, he has been privileged to contribute to the field of educational research through several significant publications. Among these is the co-authored book, “Educational Technology and Pedagogic Encounters: Democratic Education in Potentiality” (Sense, 2016), a critical exploration of the potentialities of democratic education in the contemporary era. This was followed by “Rupturing African Philosophy on Teaching and Learning: Ubuntu Justice and Education” (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2018), a groundbreaking work that challenges and expands upon traditional African philosophies on education. Another notable contribution is “Cosmopolitan Education and Inclusion: Human Engagement and the Self” (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2020), which explores the nuances of cosmopolitan education, offering fresh perspectives on inclusion and human engagement in educational contexts. Dr Waghid is honoured to be recognised as a promising young researcher by the National Research Foundation (NRF), a testament to his dedication to advancing the field of higher education through innovative research and collaborative initiatives. As he forges ahead in this role, he remains committed to cultivating a culture of excellence and innovation at CPUT, envisioning a future where education is not only inclusive but also transformative and technologically advanced. Position: Academic Staff Development Lecturer Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Science Education Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: BE.d, BE.d Honours, ME.d Research focus area: Inclusive education in higher education. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1219-6473 Biography Mr. Zandisile Mawethu Sitoyi is an Ngap Lecturer in Academic Staff Development currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology. He actively contributes to teacher development programme at Fundani and engages in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Formerly, he taught undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education at CPUT. Office: 236 2nd Floor Library building, Bellville Campus Email: Qualifications: MTech Degree, BTech, National Diploma
Dr Faiq Waghid
Position: Head of the unit
Dr Veronica Masuku
Mr Zandisile Sitoyi
Position: Academic Staff Development Lecturer
Ms Chantel Devos
Position: Assistant Administrator
Unit for Language and Academic Literacies
Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Applied Linguistics [University of the Free State] Research focus area: Language Assessment, Academic Literacies, Language planning and management. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4879-1211 Biography Dr Sebolai is the Institutional Language coordinator and head of the Language Unit at Fundani, CPUT. He is the former coordinator of the Academic Literacy Programme at the Central University of Technology in Bloemfontein, Research Lead for Academic Literacy Testing in the Centre for Educational Assessment at the University of Cape Town, and Deputy Director of the Language Centre at Stellenbosch University. He is a Fulbright graduate in MA TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) from Northern Arizona University in the USA and holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of the Free State. Dr Sebolai has published numerous articles in accredited journals on academic literacy curriculum design, instruction and testing and contributed several book chapters in international volumes. He is the current chairperson of NExLA (Network of Expertise in Language Assessment) and Editor-in-Chief of the DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training) accredited Journal for Language Teaching. Office: 1st floor, e-Learning building, Cape Town Campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Linguistics and Literary Theory [North-West University] Research focus area: Systemic Functional Linguistics, Semantics, Rhetoric, Political Linguistics, Onomastics, and semiotics. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8320-4556 Biography Dr Nendauni provides academic literacy support across faculties, and he is also a co-coordinator for the SOTL (Scholarship of Teaching and Learning) programme. Before joining CPUT, Dr Nendauni taught and examined journalism, media, and language-related subjects in various institutions over the years. He has supervised postgraduate students’ research to completion and continues to do so at CPUT. His research work appears in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, with two of his research collaboration projects featured consecutively in the University World News in 2022 and 2023. He has been invited several times to share commentary on language and media-related issues on media platforms such as Cape Talk, Radio 702, Sunday Times, and others. In 2016, his research on the representation of language and culture in South African Soap Operas served as a point of reference for the South African National Film and Video Foundation in their project on culture and language representation in SA TV. In 2022, he was invited to reflect on one of his published articles as a keynote speaker in the Global Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences in Malaga, Spain. Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Educational Psychology [University of the Western Cape] Research focus area: First-year experience ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4573-5302 Biography Dr Mntuyedwa is an Academic literacy lecturer at CPUT, and she was nominated as a Mentee for the British Academy Mentorship. She holds a master’s degree from Stellenbosch University and was a visiting scholar at the California State University of Fullerton during her PhD studies. She graduated with a PhD at UWC in 2020 titled “First-Year Students’ Experiences of Peer Groups and Peer Pressure in the Residences of a South African University”. She held a variety of responsibilities while working in the student affairs office, where she worked with first-year students transitioning from high school. In addition, she worked as a Coordinator for National Student Development. Mntuyedwa created a multilingual pamphlet to help first-year students struggling with academic writing and published a book chapter. She is currently working on her publications from the PhD thesis to boost her academic profile as an emerging scholar as her interest is in first-year experience. Mntuyedwa is passionate about writing about the first-year experience as it is a challenging time at the university. She is flexible for collaborations as she is working with local and international scholars for publications. Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: BA, HDE (Postgraduate) BED, MA language Technology [University of the Freestate], MPhil in Higher Education [Stellenbosch University] Research focus area: Student writing in higher education, second language writing, academic development of students and leadership in higher education. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4019-9275 Biography Mrs Puleng Sefalane-Nkohla works at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) as an Academic Literacy Lecturer in the Writing Centre with vast experience in leading and coordinating the Writing Centre at CPUT. Her research interests are in student writing in higher education, second language writing, academic development of students and leadership in higher education. Puleng serves on various local committees such as South African Association for Academic Literacy Practitioners (SAAALP) and international committee: International Consortium of Academic Language and Learning Developers (ICALLD). Office: 1st floor, e-Learning building, Cape Town Campus Email: Qualifications: Masters degree [University of the Western Cape] Research focus area: Academic Literacies, student reading and writing development, translanguaging, decoloniality, Ubuntu and Euclidean Geometry. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1032-3252 Biography Thembinkosi Mtonjeni brings extensive experience to his role. With a background as a writing consultant, learning facilitator, and academic literacy lecturer, he offers invaluable support to students. Thembinkosi provides personalised guidance on writing, effective study techniques, and the cultivation of critical consciousness, recognising these as crucial elements for academic achievement. His dedication to student academic literacy development, curriculum decolonisation, and the promotion of dialectical and dialogical thinking is evident. Thembinkosi’s contributions extend beyond the classroom; he has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters advocating for transformative approaches within university writing centres. His research interests span diverse topics including student writing, academic literacies, translanguaging methodologies, Euclidean Geometry, decoloniality, African Philosophy of Ubuntu, and decolonial linguistics. In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Thembinkosi is actively engaged in community outreach and leadership initiatives. Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: ND in Office Management
Dr Kabelo Sebolai
Position: Institutional Language Coordinator & Head of the unit
Dr Lutendo Nendauni
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Dr Vuyokazi Mntuyedwa
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Mrs Puleng Sefalane-Nkohla
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Mr Thembinkosi Mtonjeni
Position: Academic Literacy Lecturer
Mrs Jean Collins
Position: Administrator
Curriculum Development Unit
Office: 2nd floor, Library building, Bellville Campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Education [Stellenbosch University] Research focus area: Academic Development, Higher Education, Curriculum Development ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8286-8089 Biography Dr Najwa Norodien-Fataar, with a PhD in Education from Stellenbosch University, serves as the HOD of the Curriculum Development Unit and Research Coordinator at Fundani CHED. She has held several pivotal positions in Fundani CHED, including Coordinator of Student Feedback on Teaching and Courses, Head of the Student Learning Unit, and Trainer for Tutors and Mentors, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to enhancing academic development in higher education. Her research spans curriculum development, academic staff development, student engagement, access, support, and information communication technologies in higher education. Dr Norodien-Fataar’s research has been published in national and international journals, reflecting her dedication to enhancing academic practices and support systems for students and staff. Office: 405, 4th floor, Engineering building, Cape Town Campus Email: Qualifications: Dip & B. Tech in Tourism Management [CPUT], PgDip in Tertiary Education [Unisa], M.ED. Adult Education [Unisa] Research focus area: ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4220-7686 Biography Lauren Davids is an academic developer in the Curriculum Development Unit of the Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development. Having worked in higher education since 2009 her portfolios have included work-integrated learning, extended curriculum/foundation programmes and recently curriculum development. Lauren is pursuing a PhD in Education Policy Studies at Stellenbosch University and is also a HELTASA doctoral student. Lauren’s doctoral research foregrounds the complex educational journeys and precarious navigational practices of commuter students from an apartheid-era racialised enclave. Office: 2nd Floor, Library building, Bellville Campus Email: Qualifications: BA and BA (Honours) (Political Science) [RAU], MSc: Development Planning [Wits], PG Dip in Adult Education [Wits], MEd [CPUT]. Research focus area: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Curriculum Development and Assessment, Academic development. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.com/0000-0002-1259-4665 Biography Frederika works as the RPL Lecturer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), part of the Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), since 2005. She coordinates the implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) within CPUT and has been instrumental in the development of the RPL policies of the Institution. She places emphasis on capacity building and knowledge management around RPL within CPUT for both academic and administrative staff. To this end she lecturers on the RPL module part of the PGD in HE (T&L) and runs workshops on RPL as a practice. She supports the academic staff members with the planning of RPL processes and assessments. Working very closely with Registry she and the RPL administrative staff oversee the administration of RPL. Her research work focuses on the comparison of knowledge from the workplace to the interpretation of knowledge within a University of Technology. She is currently a PhD Candidate, registered at the University of Cape Town. She is also involved in the Short Courses offerings at CPUT and is specifically interested in the linkage between short courses and RPL. Office: 2nd Floor, Library building, Bellville Campus Email: Qualifications: MPhil in Stats and Population Studies Research focus area: First-Year-Experience in higher Education ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9590-0519 Biography Yanelisa Portia Bija is employed as a student feedback coordinator at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Fundani CHED where she is responsible for student evaluations across the faculties. She is a PhD candidate at the University of the Western Cape, with a masters degree in BSc population studies and demography. Her PhD research study is titled as Investigating Sources of Stress of First-Year Students Transitioning to University through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Route: A South African University Case Study. Her research experience includes working as a research assistant at Community Engagement unit of the University of the Western Cape where she was involved in community engagement projects such as Mandela Day and other community work.
Dr Najwa Norodien-Fataar
Position: Head of the unit
Mrs Lauren Davids
Position: Curriculum Development Lecturer
Ms Frederika de Graaff
Position: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) lecturer
Ms Yanelisa Portia Bija
Position: Student Feedback Coordinator
Student Transition, Access, Retention and Success (STARS) Unit
Office: 405, 4th floor, Engineering building, Cape Town campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Education [UWC], MEd [UCT], BEd [UCT], BTech: Business Administration (Cape Technikon), BA (UNISA), Secondary Teachers Diploma (STD) [LL Sebe College of Education] Research focus area: Organization development, Student access, retention, transitions support, Student and development, Peer Support, First-Year Experience and learning and teaching styles. ORCiD ID: http://orcid.org//0000-0001-7076-0564 Biography Dr Nosisana Mkonto is the Head of the Student Transition, Access, Retention, and Success (STARS) Unit, leveraging her extensive experience in student support and development at CPUT. Dr Mkonto played a pivotal role in conceptualizing, designing, and executing the First Year Experience (FYE) project at the university and has since 2014 served as its institutional coordinator. Her research interests encompass student access, retention, support, and development, along with learning styles, organizational development, first-year experience, and peer support. In addition to her leadership role, Dr Mkonto chairs several key committees including the Fundani Ethics Committee, Institutional First Year Experience Committee, and the STARS committee. She is also actively engaged as a member of various other committees such as the Senate Teaching and Learning Committee, Senate Ethics Committee, Faculty First-Year Experience Committees, Fundani Executive Committee, Institutional Transformation Forum, and University Employment Equity Forum. Previously, Dr Mkonto served as Deputy Chair for the IsiXhosa Lexicography Unit Board (XNLU PanSALB) from 2010 to 2019, and as Coordinator for the XNLU Technical Committee in 2012. She has presented papers at national and international conferences and has authored and co-authored conference proceedings, book chapters, and journal articles. Dr Mkonto has also served as a visiting scholar at the University of Hull, United Kingdom (2013), and the Manchester Metropolitan University, UK (2019). Furthermore, she has contributed significantly to academia by examining PhD theses, masters dissertations, PgDip portfolios, and reviewing journal articles and conference abstracts. Dr Mkonto also supervises masters and PhD students, fostering the next generation of scholars. Her collaborative efforts extend to partnerships with the Siyaphumelela regional network, Siyaphumelela FYE workstream, and the Council on Higher Education (CHE) Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) on the development of Higher Education Practice Standards (HEPS) in Transitions through Higher Education. Office: 3.12, IT centre, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: PhD Mathematics Education [University of the Western Cape] Research focus area: Student success and Mathematics education. ORCiD ID: http://orcid.org//0000-0002-7632-6213 Biography Nwabisa Mbeki channels her expertise towards nurturing and empowering both students and academics to foster student success. With a profound commitment to educational advancement, she holds a PhD in Mathematics Education, with a particular focus on teaching and learning mathematics within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) settings. Her academic background and hands-on experience have contributed significantly to the field of Mathematics Education. Her proficiency extends to mathematics teaching, mathematics education pedagogy, and educational technology teaching. Through her role as an academic development lecturer, she passionately dedicates herself to the training and development of students, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in their academic pursuits. Office: 3.12, IT centre, Bellville campus Email: Qualifications: PhD in Education [University of the Western Cape] Research focus area: ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1596-8028 Office: 4.21, Engineering building, Cape Town campus Email: Qualifications: M.Ed in Education Leadership and Policy Studies [Wits], B.Ed Honours in Teaching and Learning [UCT]; B.Ed in Intermediate Phase Teaching and Senior Phase [CPUT] Research focus area: Peer support and student engagement. ORCiD ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1293-1893 Biography Mawande Tshozi is an Academic Development Lecturer, he is responsible to lead, enhance, grow peer support and student engagement initiatives through facilitation of tutor and teaching assistant workshops. His work involves developing tutors and teaching assistants to support lecturers across various disciplines. He also assists lecturers in the designing and developing of peer academic support, pedagogical and educational practices for student success. Office: 4.51/ 4.54 - 4th floor, Engineering building, District 6 Campus Email: Qualifications: MTech in Business Administration [CPUT] Research focus area: Safety in mining (offshore) Biography Zweli’s work revolves around student transition, support, and retention. His approach to achieving these goals involves implementing mentoring and retention officer programs, which enlist senior students trained to offer academic and psycho-social assistance to first-year students. In addition to overseeing these programmes, he personally engages with first-year students through one-on-one consultations and institution-wide workshops covering various academic and non-academic topics. Furthermore, he has contributed as an assistant researcher within the unit, gathering data on the demographics of the first-year population to inform policy decisions and develop targeted solutions to address the needs of incoming students. Recently, he has taken on a new role as a researcher, representing CPUT in the collaborative DSJ project. Throughout his tenure at Fundani, he has undertaken a diverse array of responsibilities including assistant researcher, workshop facilitator/presenter, training facilitator/presenter, mentor coordinator/supervisor, junior lecturer, and most recently, researcher. Position: Academic Advisor Office: 3.13, IT Building, Bellville campus Email: Office: 4.51/ 4.54 - 4th floor, Engineering building, District 6 Campus Email: Qualifications: Office management [CPUT] Position: FYE Administrator Office: 1st floor, e-Learning building, Cape Town campus Email: Qualifications: Advanced Diploma in Operations Management [CPUT]
Dr Nosisana Mkonto
Position: Head of the unit
Dr Nwabisa Mbeki
Position: Academic Development Lecturer
Dr Frikkie George
Position: Lecturer
Mr Mawande Tshozi
Position: Academic Development Lecturer
Mr Zwelibanzi Ngculu
Position: Academic Facilitator
Mr Xolani Vanda
Ms Siphokazi Mboxela
Position: STARS Administrator
Ms Siphokazi Matsolo
Centre for Innovative Educational Technology (CIET) Staff
Position: Director Email: Contact Number: +27 21 959 6018 Office: 3.11, Room 6, IT Centre, Bellville Campus Position: Educational Technologist Email: Contact Number: +27 21 464 7256 Office: 2.04, e-Learning Centre, District Six Campus Position: Instructional Designer Email: Contact Number: +27 21 464 7246 Office: 3.11, Room 5, IT Centre, Bellville Campus Position: Instructional Designer Email: Contact Number: +27 21 953 8612 Office: 3.11, Room 4, IT Centre, Bellville Campus Position: Educational Technology Facilitator Email: Contact Number: +27 21 464 7200 Office: 2.06, Room 3, IT Centre, Bellville Campus Position: Technical Assistant Email: Contact Number: +27 21 959 6671 Office: 3.11, Room 7, IT Centre, Bellville Campus Position: Courseware Developer Email: Contact Number: +27 21 959 6295 Office: 3.11, Room 2, IT Centre, Bellville Campus Position: Departmental Secretary Email: Contact Number: +27 21 464 7242 Office: 2.02, e-Learning Centre, District Six Campus
A/Prof Eunice Ivala
Mr Gavin Van Niekerk
Mrs Jody Boltney
Mr Mvuyisi Mavela
Mr Sonwabo Jongile
Mr Gavin Kallis
Ms Linda Manashe
Ms Bukeka Time-Xakekile