Heroic Women 2021 | Women in Academia & Education | Dr Smangele Evidence Gumede

Dr Smangele Evidence Gumede

Women in Academia & Education

Nominee's Province:
Kwazulu-natal

Project Name/Description:
University Capacity Development Programme Manager

More info:

By virtue of her position as University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) manager, Dr Smangele Evidence Gumede is at the forefront of championing change and capacity-building at her institution - Durban University of Technology (DUT). Her UCDP unit’s functions fall under the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching. Gumede’s main duties are running student development, staff development programmes and programme development. Occasionally, she lectures or facilitates seminars on skills enterprise development. A lot of responsibility rests on her shoulders. Gumede, who hails from Ensingweni in Gingindlovu, northern KwaZulu-Natal, holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her thesis focussed on how the South African higher education system could instil a culture of entrepreneurship.  Her unit at DUT funnels funding to the institution’s programmes that promote the advancement of women, particularly funding for academic work.  Gumede strongly advises women to do their utmost to get educated. “Education is a lifetime, personalised investment. No one can take it away from you,” she says.  Additionally, she advises women to have a vision of their future. “As a woman you must not only draw your eyelashes but draw business plans.”  Gumede is also a firm believer in excellence. She says: “In the boardroom or virtual meeting, make a mark in such a way that your male counterparts will feel someone has not joined the meeting and would ask that you get located for your contribution.”

Women in Academia & Education

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