If you fail to plan, then plan to fail How to study effectively and efficiently while working. By Michelle Geel
A regularly asked question by people working full-time is: ‘Will I be able to handle both my job and studying online or part-time, simultaneously?’ The answer is a clear ‘yes’. Although studying and keeping your job requires a bigger commitment compared to being a full-time student only, thousands of working men and women over the years have proved this is not only possible but, in fact, quite easy to manage.
1. Pick a learning institution with flexible online degrees The study programme you choose can influence directly how successful you are in both working and getting a degree at the same time. If the structure and schedules of the programme you choose match your own schedule, then you are one step closer to pulling off both studies and work.
You can use the following information when deciding where to study, and what course you want to enrol for. Umalusi (the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training) is the official body that accredits and regulates private education providers to offer professional qualifications that are recognised on the NQF 2. Ensure you study through (National Qualifications Framework). Umalusi a reputable learning accredits private TVET (also institution It is vital that known as FET) colleges, whatever course you do is done through a reputable and independent schools and correctly qualified institution. private adult education and training providers. You do not want to spend money and time on a course Before you register for any that turns out to be of no use course, there are two things that you have to understand: to you, due to it not having the correct accreditations.
1. The accreditation status of the college that offers the course you are interested in. 2. The status of the study programme or qualification you want to study To ensure that you enrol with a reliable college, you have to: • Check that the college you are interested in, is in fact registered by the Department of Education. • Check that Umalusi or another Quality Council, such as a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA), accredits the college. • www.education.gov.za
• www.umalusi.org.za
time very early on. One of the best ways to enjoy the If you are interested in flexibility of online studies is studying a National to work more on your Qualification, make sure that assignments and classes on the course is in fact registered weekends. and accredited. To confirm the status of the qualification, It is vitally important that visit the South African you also plan your time to Qualifications Authority include deadlines for (SAQA) website at submission of all kinds of www.saqa.org.za. They will assignments (essays, final be able to confirm whether papers, research papers, the course is recognised on discussion papers etc.). the NQF. Otherwise, the workload may become rather scary once the number of pending 3. Learn to manage your assignments starts to grow time (and binge studying is rarely Becoming an online or an option if you also work). part-time learner is like buying a ticket to a time 4. Stay on top with a smart management class - only this study plan In order to thrive time experience will be your at both studying and work, coach. As an online student, you need to become an you should consider coming excellent planner as it will home from work as quickly help you feel in control of the as possible, so you have time situation, track your progress to study, and prioritising and even act as a reminder to study over social time. stick to your study goals. Developing proper time Begin by planning and management skills will highly printing out your study increase your chances of programme for each succeeding to combine work semester, with details of with studies. Don’t assume courses, topics, and that distance learning is very deadlines for submission of different from full-time assignments. Then create studies and perhaps even your study plan based key easier to handle. Studying for programme dates. Also, take an online is going to be into account that you will almost as demanding as if need to be ready and fresh for you were a full-time student work each and every day, so and you should allow, a don’t cram to much late night reasonable amount of hours a study time during the week. week to study. Hence, it’s important to organise your
5. Take regular breaks Give yourself a break during your daily studying every hour or so at least, in order to keep your mind fresh. Also, allow yourself some flexibility with your study schedule to have a full days break if you need it. A break when you simply relax and log off from your daily routine will inevitably have a positive effect on your overall energy once you get back to your job or studies. To sum everything up, from the moment you make the decision that you want to become a distance learning or part time student, you will appreciate a whole new meaning of the word ‘time’. Time will firmly settle in your mind for the entire duration of studies and it will become your partner whether you like it or not. How you manage your time, your work, and yourself however will have a direct impact on the outcome of your studies. Studying further to improve yourself and your knowledge, while working, isn’t easy. It takes resilience, and a lot of sacrifice. But it can benefit your career and working conditions greatly, which is a worthwhile payoff.
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How South African SMEs can rally for a strong 2021 BY: BORIS DZHINGAROV, ISSUED BY: MONETARY LIBRARY HTTPS://WWW.BIZCOMMUNITY.COM/ARTICLE/196/841/209616.HTML
Life has never been easy for small business owners. Even in a ‘normal’ year, keeping your own company afloat is rife with challenges, but 2020 upped the ante significantly. Globally, 25% of small businesses closed just in the first quarter of 2020. Entrepreneurs and teams who had counted on in-person interactions with customers to do business quickly found themselves on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdowns shuttered offices and storefronts. Volatile levels of disposable income led consumers to zip up their pockets, leading companies to slash their budgets and freeze departments. Now we’re facing an extended
international economic downturn. All in all, the South African small businesses that have managed to survive 2020 are unlikely to see smooth sailing in the near future – from the perspective of cash flow and other parameters as well. The economy has been contracting for some years, so many were short on operating capital to begin with. It’s estimated that 98% of South African businesses are SMEs, and 40% of them were forced to reduce capacity and lay off staff as long ago as April. By September, a ull 90% of small businesses in South Africa were in crisis. But despite all the challenges,
Covid-19 doesn’t need to bring your business down. Just the fact that you’ve made it this far is reason enough to be optimistic. With the right tools and mindset, which you’ve undoubtedly already been refining in recent months, you can survive the impact of the pandemic in 2020, and position yourself well for thriving success in 2021. Secure more funding Cash flow is often the biggest challenge for SMEs. Your business proposition is good and customers love your company, but there’s not a lot of cash coming in right now and your expenses never take a vacation, even as you cut costs wherever possible.
regained their confidence in That’s why it’s crucial to make shopping. But those that sure you have enough contracted their marketing liquid to carry you through saw their market share the immediate crisis. Even at dwindle when overall sales the best of times, South began to rise. Africa has few funding sources for SMEs. The Consumers still want to hear government’s Covid-19 from you, as long as you relief fund was flooded with reach out to them with over 35,000 applications and sensitivity and empathy. ended up helping just 1,500 They are loyal to the brands applicants, but there are other that show they care during possibilities. difficult times, whether you ask how they are doing (and Check out organisations like mean it), donate time or the NEF, IDC and SEFA, as money to Covid-19 causes, well as alternative lenders or create a funny marketing which are more willing to video that provides a little help out small business light-hearted fun and owners. Scoring funding distraction for a couple of now will see your business minutes. through the hardest times “By using technology to and help you set yourself up create alternative avenues of for success when markets communication and improve. engagement,” Payflex’s Derek Cikes recently told the press, Keep in touch with your “businesses can enhance their customers service offering while accommodating lockdown Marketing budget is among regulations to support the first things that get customers’ goals of staying slashed in a crisis, but that’s safely at home”. almost always a bad, if necessary, move. Marketing Digitally transform your drives sales, so when you cut business your marketing you’re also going to hurt your revenue at Nobody saw Covid-19 a time when you need every coming, but businesses that rand. were already digital-first were much better situated to make During the 2008-9 global it through. recession, brands that maintained or increased their Tech helps SMEs to punch marketing saw a growth in above their weight. sales later, when consumers Automating tasks like
marketing, accounting, and payroll frees up employees to other value-generating tasks. During the coronavirus, digitally transforming your business is even more important so you can support remote work; keep in touch with customers from a distance; and make sales and accept payments online when offline doors are closed. “The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the digital divide that was already present in the small business market, and it is forcing companies to accelerate their digitalization,” said Daniel-Zoe Jimenez, AVP at IDC. “Small businesses are realisng that digitalisation is no longer an option, but a matter of survival,” he added. That’s why Helplink Africa recently announced a partnership with business management software platform vcita to help more small businesses to access vital tech that makes marketing, sales and customer communications more efficient. “This is a time when technology must work to ensure that the professional services who employ up to 39% of the working population are equipped with the tools necessary to assist in maintaining financial growth, meeting customer experience
expectations, and establishing and maintaining easy and lucrative processes,” Nokuthula Monaheng, interim CEO of Helplink Africa, said in a statement. Reassess your business strategy Many of the businesses that have failed due to the Covid-19 crisis weren’t viable in the long run anyway. The pandemic simply sped up the process. Take a long, hard look at your business model and value proposition, and verify that they are still realistic. If not, consider whether you can pivot your products or services to be more relevant, or if it’s best to cut your losses and move on to a new business concept sooner rather than later. Many small business owners
are so busy dealing with the daily flood of business tasks that they haven’t stopped to think about strategy or big-picture structure for a long time. Check if all your roles and responsibilities are clear, and whether your employees know what they need to do and how to achieve it. Now is the time to refresh your KPIs, optimise decision-making protocols, and build stronger operating models that make your business more efficient. Leverage data Advanced data analysis and business intelligence platforms can gather and analyse data from many different sources, like Google Analytics, your CMS, and your email marketing platform, so you can access deeper insights. Data visualisations make it faster
and easier to spot patterns and trends, helping you identify new markets that you could penetrate. Tapping into customer data helps you to understand their preferences and pain points, allowing you to adjust your product, services, pricing and promotions. Use these insights to create personalised emails and social media ads that are targeted to the desires and concerns of each segment of your customer base. You can also use data to model worst-case scenarios that could affect your business, and prepare now for ways that you’ll make it through. Knowing that you’re prepared for the worst gives you the confidence to keep on going today. South African SMEs should plan for success As 2020 draws to a close, it’s important not to let yourself feel beaten by 2020. Take steps to harness technology, data, and funding from different sources to keep your business going; maintain your market presence; and reassess your business structure in order to survive the coronavirus and prepare for a successful business year in 2021.
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Here’s what you can do to lessen the effects of uncertainty:
Full of tools and skills to buffer the adverse effects of stress and enhance functionality and health, The Stress Code is a response to the global call for stress management solutions. “Whenever we feel that things are chaotic and there is uncertainty, it puts our stress axis in overdrive and crashes our immune system. With the Coronavirus creating so much uncertainty, it is accompanied by unprecedented levels of stress - no one is exempt. What can we do to lessen the effects of uncertainty? According to researchers we need to reinforce control, authority and structure within our own lives.”
Massage therapy • Is an effective stress management/ resilience tool. Not only does massage therapy increase vagus nerve activity and raise oxytocin, but it also significantly lowers cortisol. Moreover, massage promotes an increase in serotonin and dopamine, which positively influence cognition and behaviour. Controlled breathing • Controlled breathing exercises may be effective in managing high blood pressure and related health issues. • Research shows controlled breathing exercises to be effective in managing depression and anxiety disorders. • Deep diaphragmatic breathing can create improved engagement of numerous regions of the brain, including those responsible for memory and emotional processes.
Cold water (10°C/50°F) or pack (1–2°C/34°–36°F) W • Facial immersion for a period of 30 seconds to 3 minutes triggers vagus nerve activity through its relationship with the trigeminal nerve. This nerve has been used as a reliable measure of vagus nerve functionality and provides a quick and easy solution to managing stressful situations. Meditation is a form of mental training that aims to improve an individual’s attention and emotional self-regulation. Meditation has beneficial effects in a number of important cognitive domains, including attention, memory, verbal fluency, executive function, processing speed, overall cognitive flexibility and conflict monitoring, and can even enhance creativity. • Can lower cortisol and reduce stress responses. • Helps to dramatically improve connectivity and functionality within the brain. • Meditation training enhances the structural properties of the brain in no less than eight specific regions and protects the brain against ageing.
nature and nurture to • It positively affects our unearth genuine resilience, • Listening to Mozart has DNA in such a way that it recovery and adaptability. been shown to increase reduces inflammation and Richard has been a growth hormone levels. improves immune regulation. post-graduate lecturer in the • Listening to music during areas of pain management, • Meditation practice in health and athlete aerobic exercise increases younger individuals increases performance and time to development for almost two brain size and volume. decades at leading South exhaustion. African and international • Each form of meditation RICHARD SUTTON is an universities. He is the brings with it its own unique adviser on stress author of the bestseller, The benefits, which can be management and adaptability Stress Code, a ‘surviving to tailored to your needs. thriving’ guide to stress and to industry leaders, top Stressproof, forthcoming in athletes and Olympic teams. Music is a powerful tool in 2021. He is widely regarded as an promoting stress resilience. expert in the field of Listening to calming music: Find out more at genetics and their role in • can promote deep https://www.suttonhealth. resilience, using a relaxation by altering brain combination of hard data and co.za/ wave states in favour of DNA to map a ‘stress alpha, and possibly even footprint’ based on both theta, waves • increases levels of Immunoglobulin A (IgA), a powerful antibody that provides increased protection against pathogens • reduces inflammation, specifically the pro-inflammatory molecule known as IL-6 • before bed improves all aspects of sleep and is highly effective in managing insomnia. • Listening to classical music reduces allergic reactions to food.
Artisans could Save South Africa from Recession It’s a double recession, they say. It sounds bad… and it is. Essentially a double recession means that while we were already in recession (maybe recovering, maybe stagnant) we’ve hit another snag and even our recession is in recession. Unemployment in South Africa is at its highest level in 15 years and, despite Covid-19 hitting
global economies hard, we’re still one of the worst. The buzz phrase has been “critical skills shortage”. When we hear it we think of nurses and doctors and medical staff, but what it really means is that we don’t have enough artisans. To meet the demand for scarce skills, South Africa would
need 60% of school leavers to enter artisan training. The artisanal trades are in demand both locally and internationally. Gone are the days when you needed a university education to move up in the world - the artisan is making a comeback in a big way. What is an artisan, you ask? Artisans are highly skilled and qualified people who primarily work with their hands – they are people who are in vocationally focused trades and occupations . That is, an artisan works in a technical field, doing skilled manual labour. Artisan skills currently needed to grow the South African economy include bricklaying, plumbing, boilermaking, carpentry, welding, and mechanical engineering. South African culture has developed to prize university education over skilled labour. This view, however lofty, is
neither realistic nor constructive considering our high unemployment rate and the massive demand for skilled labour. The missing link in the chain is the desire to train in the artisan trades, and, of course having access to such training. An investment in artisanal training could increase a person’s access to a higher income and make them very attractive to international markets. Being skilled in a trade also opens up opportunities for entrepreneurship in the future. While we wish we could rely on public funding to fill this gap, the onus is on the private sector to invest in training and apprenticeships, and work on the retention of skilled labour. Training Force offers a variety of courses geared towards the development of artisanal trades for both individuals and companies alike. Talk to us about upskilling in the artisanal trades.
IT’S A HACK Who knew that 2020 was going to be the year of the hacker? With everyone scurrying to hide behind their screens, the cyber criminals got typing en masse. Along with the steady incline in Covid-19 cases, we also witnessed the steady rise of cyber attacks. Taking care of your IT security has never been more important or more of a challenge. Working from home has afforded new opportunities for social engineering attacks on you or your workforce. These include; phishing, spear phishing, identity theft, baiting and tailgating attacks. If any of these terms were new to you, it’s time to refresh your cyber security skills. Perhaps the best (and we mean this is the most negative way) hack of 2020 so far has been on Twitter. The tech company had 130
high profile Twitter accounts hacked at the same time including those of Barak Obama, Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian. The scammer raised about R180 000 worth of Bitcoin through false donations before Twitter deleted the scam tweets. They had to block every blue tick user from tweeting until the security breach was found. How did they do it? Social engineering. While the headlines would have you believe that the Twitter scam was some sophisticated hack, it was simply a phone call to admin staff at the cyber giant’s HQ. The hacker managed to get the admin’s privilege account credentials and, in turn, got access to the backend of the Twitter system. The pandemic has definitely shifted our priorities and
expectations more than we could ever anticipate. One of the biggest shifts in thinking has been in the importance of cyber security infrastructure. Microsoft recently released new statistics showing high levels of security concerns and plans to add a significant budget to cyber security. The tech sphere is constantly changing, and as such, cyber security does too. The onus on organisations is to keep up with constantly evolving technology. Cyber Academy offers specialised courses designed from the perspective of the hacker. Our course changes as often
as the digital climate does, but we also understand that the biggest threat to your digital security is you. The individual is, despite sophisticated anti virus and cyber security software, your organization’s biggest threat. Understanding social engineering can help you to avoid becoming a statistic. We understand that your operational resilience relies on your cyber security. Contact us for more information.
The Cyber Academy educates everyone, of all IT skills levels, on how to protect themselves and the business from criminals.
www.thecyberacademy.co.za | info@thecyberacademy.co.za
Go for the Golden Years AGEING DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN TO ‘SOMEONE ELSE’ While we dream of living a long and healthy life, getting old and frail doesn’t usually fit into that dream. The reality is that unless something unexpected happens, that is what is waiting for us (to varying degrees) in our golden years. Another harsh reality is that only about 6% of South Africans have the means, both financially and physically speaking, to live out their golden years
unassisted. While the good news is that our elderly populations are growing, which means our life expectancy in South Africa is improving, the bad news is that we are under equipped to cater for the increasing number of aged persons. Frail care and elderly care is possibly one of the most under-estimated fields of the caring profession. While it poses many challenges to the
carer - both emotionally and professionally - it is one of the most rewarding fields of work in which a carer can practice. The role of a true carer is to continue to empower their elderly ward. The majority of older persons experience the sense of dis-empowerment, feeling isolated, discarded, and not useful to society. Through excellent care and engagement, a patient’s quality of life can improve dramatically. In the response to Covid-19, assisted living and frail care institutions have been obliged to put costly prevention measures in place across the board despite a chronic lack of funding. Persons above the age of 60 have been most affected by the pandemic and higher mortality rates have been reported globally. Large portions of the senior population are poor and in need of state support and
their pensions are often shared within households to supplement other social grant and wage income . The Older Person’s Act of 2006 exists to maintain and promote the rights, status, wellbeing, safety and security of older persons, however, the act and its regulations are poorly implemented. Frail care and old age home workers can make or break the experience of the elderly in assisted living and frail care institutions. Vulnerable elderly people can face insurmountable challenges such as failing health, memory loss, financial hardship, neglect and even abuse. A carer can act to prevent and report problems as they arise, thereby providing more than just physical assistance to the elderly. Providing carers with the appropriate skills and coping mechanisms could help evolve South Africa’s old age and frail care institutions and improve the experience of the carer. To transform your carers into elderly care specialists, contact us on info@allmedtraining.co.za
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POSSIBILITIES
Why Mathematics really does matter By: Karen Jacobsen Ask a group of your friends, and you’ll get a lot of negative So if you’re struggling with the decision between taking answers and hatred for mathematics or taking math mathematics. literacy listen up. Today we’re sharing… In fact, even if you talk to a few adults, I bet at least one of them will tell you 10 reasons why something like “I don’t know mathematics matters why I learnt Trigonometry at school; I’ve never had to use 1. mathematics helps develop it”. essential But here’s the thing you need to realize about mathematics. It really DOES matter. Why? Because not only does it teach you critical skills you’ll need to survive in the world but NOT doing pure mathematics can also put serious brakes on your earning potential once you enter the world of work.
We live in a mathematicallydriven world. Mathematics is all around you and knowing mathematics can help you understand the world better. Don’t believe me... Just look around you. You can’t go anywhere without running into some related to mathematics. Bees, for example, are masters of geometry. You only need to look at their beehives to see problem-solving skills: that. Or how about the fact Because you’re constantly dealing with tricky topics and that the Fibonacci sequence problems, mathematics helps (look it up if you’re not sure you develop better reasoning what this is) lies at the very heart of the designs of abilities than just about any other school subject you take. seashells, pinecones, Having good reasoning skills flowers, trees and more; while means you have the ability to Pi is found in the very fabric of life… From the way an think logically about a situembryo’s cells divide to a ation – something the busiZebra’s stripes, these ness world really values. seemingly random things are encoded by the constant of 2. You can’t go anywhere Pi. without running into mathematics
3. It’s the one language everyone speaks Have you ever gone somewhere and not been able to understand what the people are saying? Or worse, not been able to read the road signs because not only are they written in another language, but they actually use a different alphabet as well? Confusing right? Well, this doesn’t happen with mathematics. Yes, even though its mostly numbers, equations and Greek letters, people understand mathematics the same way all over the world. This means that it doesn’t require anyone to translate it. That’s pretty cool. And it’s one of the things that make mathematics such a powerful tool and essential life skill. 4. mathematics makes you more interesting Love music? Great at sport? Want to be the next winner of MasterChef? Good news – mathematics can make you better at all of the things you love to do. Geometry and trigonometry, for example, can help you work out the best way to hit a ball, make the back of the net or run around the track; fractions and algebra, on the other hand, can help you bake and play a musical instrument better. 5. Every career needs mathematics It goes without says that mathematicians,
scientists, engineers, IT experts and chartered accountants rely on mathematical principles to do the most basic aspects of their work. But they’re not the only people who need mathematics to do their job. From sales assistants who operate the cash register to people who work in a factory and even those who write for a living, all of us need must be able to do mathematics to keep track to keep track of things, solve problems and do their day-to-day work. Need more convincing? Think about this… 6. Studies show that it’s better for you to get 40% in mathematics than it is to get 100% in math literacy. Why? Because it’s harder to get into university if you take math lit. In fact, you’ll need an A or level 7 pass to enter most university programmes if pass Matric with math literacy. 7. Jobs in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields
are growing much faster than other careers. This means are more jobs available in STEM fields than in any other. 8. People who work in STEMs field such as engineering, accounting, medicine and others earn significantly more money (on average about 26% more) than people in other job types – regardless of your education level. 9. As a STEM university graduate, you’ll earn a higher first salary than a university graduate who isn’t in this field. 10. STEM fields have significantly lower unemployment rates. That means you’re more likely to keep your job if the economy is in trouble and companies are forced to make job cuts. So there you have it. Yes, mathematics is hard. But it’s well worth it for all the benefit it’ll give you when you’re out of school.
FUEL YOUR FUTURE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE Just as the rhythm of 2020 settled in, life as we know it was paused. The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated a national lockdown in South Africa since the end of March 2020. The abnormal became the new normal. This has left many Grade 12 learners with high levels of stress and anxiety as school programmes were disrupted, casting a shadow of uncertainty over preparations for post-school life. It is as if the work of the past eleven years suddenly means nothing, because the final school year has been disrupted beyond imagination. Who could have thought that 2020 would be the year of a national lockdown? So where does the University of the Free State (UFS) feature in all of this? We know that high school learners are faced with many questions regarding their
future; questions such as which subjects to choose, which career path to follow, and whether to apply for a post-school qualification. The University of the Free State (UFS) offers a variety of services to help learners kick-start their ‘I-wantto-be’. The UFS is an important source of knowledge and expertise geared towards assisting and supporting high school learners to choose subjects in Grade 9 and career options in Grades 11 and 12 that will best suit their individual values, passions, dreams, and talents.
for Universal Access and Disability Support.
One such platform is the Department of Student Recruitment Services. Among the services offered by the department, are the marketing team visiting schools across South Africa as well as selected international schools to recruit the best talent for undergraduate studies. In addition, the department also attends numerous career exhibitions to create awareness of the different programmes and services offered by the UFS. The department not only Future Kovsie2Bs can access assists Grade 11 and 12 learners in choosing a any of the UFS platforms for information about programme and to apply for the undergraduate programmes studies, but also guides and advises Grade 9 learners on offered, admission requirements, application and choosing the right subjects. closing dates, residence placements, fees, bursaries, and The purpose of Grade 9 subject-choice guidance other services such as academic advice and the Center sessions is to enable
learners to make the right subject choices in order to make their career dreams come true. The importance of the UFS open days, shadow-week opportunities, research on career choices, and psychometric assessments cannot be underestimated. The UFS provides helpful tools to Grade 9 learners, such as how to make good choices in life, how to keep your academics on track, and how to calculate your Admission Point (AP). The UFS also emphasises and appreciates the role that teachers and parents play during this crucial stage in the lives of learners. Faculties of Academic Excellence The UFS has three campuses, i.e. the Bloemfontein Campus, the South Campus in Bloemfontein, and the Qwaqwa Campus in the picturesque Eastern Free State. On the Bloemfontein Campus and the Qwaqwa Campus, the UFS has respectively seven and four faculties of academic excellence to choose from. The South Campus in Bloemfontein offers alternative access to tertiary studies through the University Preparation Programme to assist those students who were not admitted to a tertiary institution. Our online and distance-learning platforms are also managed from the South Campus. Prospective students can choose from undergraduate certificates, diplomas, and degrees. The faculties include Economic and Management Sciences, where
the brightest young minds learn to understand the economics of change. The faculty offers three fields of training, i.e. Private Sector, Public Sector, and Accountancy. The Faculty of Health Sciences only offers selection programmes in the Schools of Clinical Medicine, Pathology, Biomedical Sciences, Allied Health Professions, and Nursing. The faculty is very excited about the latest addition – a bachelor’s degree in Sport Coaching – a first for South Africa. Thirdly, the Faculty of the Humanities, where students learn to connect through languages, arts and social sciences, human sciences, and cultural sciences. Today’s ever-changing world requires various skills that the faculty can equip you with, including language proficiency, communication skills, creativity, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and especially critical thinking. The fourth faculty is that of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, which offers a wide selection of programmes in Natural Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Building Sciences. To keep pace with the raging speed of technological advancement in the world, the faculty introduced a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology majoring in Data Science. Then there is the Faculty of Law, which is regarded as one of the best in the country. Its location in the judicial capital of South Africa exposes law students to theoretical teaching and the
practice of law in both the lower and higher divisions of the courts. The UFS is also a popular choice for the training of future teachers in Foundation Phase, Intermediate Phase, Senior Phase, and Further Education and Training Phase teaching through the Faculty of Education. The Faculty of Theology and Religion, the only institution in Central South Africa that offers fully-fledged, all-inclusive theological education, completes the list of faculties. The university offers an interdisciplinary fusion of qualifications such as sports and business, humanities and science, and economics combined with digital science. As the UFS is committed to producing all-round graduates, a variety of extramural activities are offered that will not only entertain students but also refre sh their minds. Student success and well-being are of the utmost importance to the UFS. The university encourages its current and prospective students to make use of advice and services provided by qualified academic advisers, which help learners make the right decision in selecting the curriculum that best fits their chosen path towards earning their degree in any of the seven faculties. The advice that learners receive is seen as academic support and a success lifeline while studying at the UFS. These advisers will stay by the side of
students throughout their university career until they walk across the graduation stage. Ms Nomonde Mbadi, Director of Student Recruitment Services, says “If you want to shape the world and provide solutions to global challenges, start your journey at the UFS and combine subject knowledge with your unique set of soft skills. This combination will help you prepare for the future world of work where technology and the human interface will be very prominent.” She invites learners – especially Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 learners – to visit the website, book a campus tour, and apply to Kovsies so that they too can experience the vibrant social and academic life on all three UFS campuses. She highlights that high school learners should be aware of the different achievement levels of compulsory subjects, National Benchmark Tests, and application closing dates for selection and non-selection programmes. How to apply for undergraduate studies at the UFS To become a student at the University of the Free State, you need to • check out the 2021 UFS Prospectus at www.ufs.ac.za/prospective; • take note of when applications for especially selection programmes close. Applications for non-selection programmes close on 30 September 2020; • apply online for two study options. Visit
htps://apply.ufs.ac.za. Keep your mobile phone and an active email address ready, as you require both to access and complete the online application form. Application to study at the UFS is free. There is no application fee. The online application is quick and easy – no hassle, no fuss! It has an easy and modern design and is mobile- and tablet-friendly. You can apply using any device. You can expect a quicker response time if you apply online. If you need assistance with your application, call +27 51 401 9666. Our friendly call centre staff is ready to assist you. According to Ms Mbadi, the UFS also offers various programmes for bright sparks to reach for their dreams. She explained that the UFS is hosting the Star of Stars Competition, aimed at Quintile 1, 2 and 3 schools and including all five districts in the Free State. This competition is for all the bright sparks excelling in academics and leadership, and who are involved in community projects. Another competition is the atriculant of the Year Competition. This prestigious national competition will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Top achievers in academy, leadership, culture, and sports from Quintile 1-5 schools can enter the competition. The aim of both competitions is to reward top-achieving students in the Free State and South
Africa, but most importantly, to support them in overcoming difficult circumstances, thereby opening up greater opportunities in their student life and future careers. Entries for both competitions are already open and entry forms can be downloaded at https:// www.ufs.ac.za/prospective/ prospective-students/topachievers/ competitions-forbright-sparks. The 2021 UFS Prospectus provides valuable and detailed information on every aspect that a first-year student must be aware of in order to be fully prepared for life after school. Adapting to the demands and challenges of university life can be very daunting and intimidating. Therefore, Ms Mbadi encourages all prospective students and parents to equip themselves with as much information as possible from as early as Grade 9. “At the UFS, we look forward to welcoming you to Kovsies and we cannot wait for you to experience the ‘Kovsie feeling’.” Prospective students and parents can follow the UFS at Kovsie2B on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay informed or contact +27 51 401 300, send an email to info@ufs. ac.za or visit https://www.ufs. ac.za/prospective for valuable information. The University of the Free State. Inspiring excellence. Transforming lives.
In an ever changing world, having a skill set that makes one employable is critical. With a large portion of South Africa’s youth from lower income households, basic skills that will make a person employable, not only here but worldwide, is vital. While the concept of Employability as a commodity is closely linked to government policy in which graduates represent a valuable resource in the increasingly knowledge based economy, it is also about the ability of graduates to be able to respond to the changing needs of a rapidly developing labour market is seen as vital for economic growth. This is where ICT is a perfect fit. The South African scarce skills list is divided into 12
broad categories. Each category is related to specific sectors of the South African economy. The ICT industry of South Africa is one of these sectors. Scarce and Critical skills are defined as “an absolute or relative demand: current or in future; for skilled; qualified and experienced people to fill particular roles / professions, occupations or specialisations in the labour market.
South Africa’s local workforce lacks the qualifications or skills to meet the demands of our ICT industry. Currently, the South African government have to recruit from abroad to fill the skills gaps. There is also a distinction between absolute and relative scarcity of skills. Absolute scarcity refers to suitably skilled people who are not available in the labour market and may include new or emerging occupation, lack of suitably qualified people or insufficient numbers of people enrolled in programmes to meet the new demands.
Critical skills refers to particular capabilities needed within an occupation, for example, general management skills, communication and customer handling skills, teamwork skills, and Relative scarcity refers to communication technology skills. What this means is that suitably skilled people
available in the labour market but who may not necessarily have a high level of work experience, may not be located within a specific geographical location and equity considerations.
As for the ‘tangible’ factor – with the correct skills in place: • South Africa can continue to be the leader in Africa in this field. • South Africa can continue to attract world leaders in ICT is a key economic sector ICT to our shores. IBM, Microsoft and Dell are just three ICT is evolving almost on a major companies daily basis, such is the speed • already running subsidiarof new technology. In a ies in the country. simplified fashion, ICT is • South Africa can develop anything that will transmit or new systems, technologies receive information in a and software. These could digital form, store and add even more to the GDP. retrieve data via personal computers, email, your Specific opportunities within digital television or smart ICT phone, using software and The occupations within each satellite systems. ICT isn’t all sector on the South African about computers, but how we critical skills list are also conuse technology. sidered carefully. It is again those that will benefit the The logic behind the critical South African economy most skills list is not quite as that comes out tops. simple as ‘we have a skills shortage, we must fill the In the ICT sector, the skills shortage’. The following positions are industries and sectors on the listed: list are chosen carefully. They must benefit South Africa in • Cisco solution specialist a tangible way and drive our • Cisco engineer economy forward. ICT meets • Solutions Architects in Telboth these criteria. ecommunications and ICT • Integrated developers (PHP, Way back in 2013, the South Perl, Java) African ICT sector • Network Analyst contributed approximately • IT Security Specialist 8.2% to South Africa’s GDP. • System Integration SpecialThe total rand value was ist R468.4 billion. That is more • Enterprise Architecture than what agriculture added • Data Centre Operations to the GDP in the same year. • Network Specialist (secu-
rity) • Database Specialists • Microsoft System Engineers • Network Controllers • AV Specialists (anti-virus) ICT jobs are among the critical and scarce skills that South Africa needs to fulfil its development objectives. The 2018 National List of Occupations in High Demand highlights the jobs showing strong employment growth or those experiencing, or about to experience, labour market shortages. While 335 jobs are deemed to be high demand, a raft of ICT skills are among the approximately 100 ranked as being in highest demand. These are chief information officer (CIO), ICT project manager, data management manager, application development manager, information systems manager, IT manager, computer quality assurance specialist and ICT communications assistant. Higher- and high-demand occupations in the ICT sphere include ICT systems analyst, software developer, ICT risk specialist, programmer analyst, developer programmer, applications programmer, data quality officer, decision support analyst, computer network technician,
geographic information system specialists and technicians, multimedia designer and web designer, web developer, database designer and administrator, computer network and systems engineer, network analyst and ICT security specialist. Academies like Supreme ICT, do training needs analysis, curriculum design, pre and post assesment. They offer customised short courses, structured industry certification and SAQA accredited courses. They have MICT accreditation on the 3 qualifications listed below and are recognised CompTIA
Delivery Partner. The Supreme ICT Academy Online Institute is an on-line development and learning portal. When it comes to meeting any sustainable development goal, digital technologies play a huge role. It is therefore, both appropriate and encouraging that the communities of practice around ICTs for agriculture, education, livelihoods, water and sanitation, etc. are thriving. The world we live in is in a constant state of change. What might be there one day is never there the next. Look
at what has happened globally with Covid-19! Going forward, it appears there will always be a need for quality ICT studies through reputable institutions. ICT has become part of, and has transformed many aspects of our lives to the extent that we live in an environment that is dominated by technology which itself is consumer-driven. No matter how we perceive its presence, there is no denying that it is an important part of our lives and that it is here to stay.
REALISE THE FULL VALUE OF YOUR TRAINING INVESTMENT • National Certificate Telecommunication Network Operations NQF 4 • National Certificate Technical Support NQF 4 • National Certificate End User Computing NQF 4 • Optic Fibre Splicing ant testing 16 Credits NQF 5 • CompTIA N+ / A+ / Cloud Essentials/ Security+ • Internships/Learnership Training
Tel: 012 003 3293 / 082 772 2281 / 0861 516 3803 Email: info@supremeictacademy.co.za
www.supremeictacademy.co.za
BECOME LIMITLESS IN FITNESS WITH the HFPA FITNESS ACADEMY So you’re passionate about health and fitness! It’s something you’d love to pursue as a career; but you’re not sure what career options are available to you or where you should start.
stood the test of time. We were one of the first organisations in the World to offer specialised training for the fitness industry. Since 1979, HFPA has led the way offering comprehensive, innovative The health and fitness and accredited learning prosector is an incredibly grammes. HFPA graduates dynamic industry. New are employed internationally information is constantly in health clubs, in sporting coming to light regarding and recreation how the body works and how environments, on luxury we can apply what we already cruise liners and in holiday know in new and clubs. Graduates carve their innovative ways to improve own niche in the industry by fitness, boost athletic starting their own businesses performance, achieve that offer their own brand of wellness goals and re-shape expertise and service. There physiques. is a trend towards “holistic” wellness. This means This opens up a wealth of achieving health and career opportunities for the wellness goals through health and fitness enthusiast exercise, healthy eating wanting to build a career out and a good mental of their passion. If you want approach. to help others achieve their health and fitness goals or work in sports performance or recreational environments, the health and fitness industry offers a wide variety of career choices. The first important step is to earn a recognised qualification from a registered and reputable educational institution. HFPA is a brand that has
At HFPA we offer qualifications in Fitness, Sport, Lifestyle and Nutrition. We also offer many continuing education and specialisation programmes which enable the fitness professional
to steer their career in the direction of their particular interest, grow their scope of practice and earn CPD points. The fitness industry continues to be one of the fastest growing industries internationally. As technology advances and we become more isolated and deskbound in our working environment, it has become more important that we have a structured and balanced approach to keeping healthy. One of the most important roles of a health and fitness professional is to provide motivation to their
clients to adhere to their programmes to achieve their short and long term goals. At HFPA we are committed to delivering graduates of a high calibre who enter the workplace with the confidence to make a success of their career as a health and fitness professional.
risk clients). This qualification provides the foundation on which to build a highly successful career in the fitness industry.
Successfully completing the Higher Certificate gives you access to the Advanced Certificate in Exercise Science; NQF6. The Advanced Certificate will qualify you as an Exercise Specialist and Strength and HFPA is a registered Higher Conditioning Coach. Work Education institution. in a variety of Sport Specific, Internationally, Higher Fitness, Recreation and Education qualifications are Rehabilitation environments. recognised and understood With a focus on special to be of a high standard and population groups, you can delivered by a competent work amid a referral team provider with the necessary of doctors, physiotherapists, administrative and student biokineticists, dieticians and support structures in place. sport scientists, with clients With a higher education qualification there is an easier who have particular physical needs and goals. These transition into higher include people with education university degree cardiovascular, programmes, should you wish to further your studies. musculoskeletal, immunological, neurological and metabolic We offer 2 higher education conditions, as well as qualifications. The Higher pregnancy, the youth and the Certificate in Exercise elderly. Advanced training in Science (NQF5) is a sports one year qualificaconditioning, will enable you tion that covers to apply personal trainadvanced programme design ing and sports and conditioning conditioning methods in the as well as an introduction fields of strength conditioning and high performance to special training to prepare athletes populations to compete at the top of their (young, sport. elderly and certain high
If you would prefer to offer Lifestyle and Wellness services to your clients, we have a variety of Nutrition Courses. HFPA have partnered with Plaskett International College to offer their Courses which are internationally accredited with IICT (International Institute of Complimentary Therapists). Graduates may register with the IICT on successful completion of the Advanced Diploma in Nutritional Therapy. We also offer National Certifications (SETA accredited) in Fitness and Sports Management. These are the National Certificate in Fitness – Personal Trainer (NQF5) and the National Diploma in Fitness – Advanced Personal Trainer (NQF5). The National Certificate in Sport Management is a popular course which will provide you with access to the sports industry and give you a good base from which to grow your career. Couple the management qualification with some of our other courses and further improve your chances of success in the sports environment. If working abroad is your aim, we have you covered! Through REPSSA, HFPA is registered with the (IC REPS)
International Register of Exercise Professionals, an international association for fitness professionals. This means that our qualifications are recognised internationally and that our students can gain employment with their qualification in Europe, the UK, the USA, the U.A.E, the Middle East and North Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South and sub-Saharan Africa. As the Leaders in the fitness industry, we at HFPA are fully committed to ensuring, not only that you have a wide range of qualifications to choose from, but also that we
have study modes to suit your needs. We offer Full Time, Part Time, Distance Learning and Online study modes. The Full Time study programmes are offered from our campuses on weekdays and are ideal for school leavers coming from a school environment, where contact with teachers, and interaction with peers, is a constant. The Full Time study mode provides a very similar environment where learning is more hands-on. Studying full time means the full experience of student-life and peer interaction, as well as personal, consistent support from our highly qualified tutors.
If you work during the week, our Part-Time programmes are offered on Saturday mornings from our Campuses. Our campuses boast multimedia lecture facilities, resource centres where students have access to Wi-Fi and computers, as well as a library of resources. Our campuses also feature stateof-the-art gym facilities to meet all of our students’ fitness education requirements. We have a full complement of professional and friendly, service-oriented staff committed to making your experience at HFPA smooth and efficient. Our courses are also offered in the Distance Learning mode. Online study is
videos, audio recordings, virtual lessons, a library, animated slide shows, webinars, tips, chat rooms, forums, questionnaires, links, tutorials and more. All students have access to the HFPA OLP which provides a wealth of additional study aids for all modes of study. We look forward to welcoming you as a student. Our HFPA Online Learning We endeavour to provide a fun and constructive Platform (OLP) was developed to bring the class- learning experience. Our room to our distance learn- student advisors are on hand ing students. The OLP uses a to assist with any enquiries wealth of resources to make you may have. learning more Contact them via our website interactive and structured. or call our national help line These resources deliver 0861 777 010 theoretical, as well as practical content via multi-media lectures, supported by workshops (optional attendance) which are offered throughout the year from all HFPA Campuses and Support Centers. Students are able to register at any time of year and study from anywhere. Students are allocated to online tutors who will assist you throughout your course.
Saving money could save your business By Viresh Harduth, Vice President, Small Business, Sage Africa & Middle East https://bizmag.co.za/saving-money-could-save-your-business/
If this year has proved anything, it’s that saving money can save your business. While financial pitfalls, risks and challenges are part of doing business and can often be predictable, there are times when you’ll encounter them unexpectedly. They can happen swiftly, and they can be ruthless, such as 2020 has certainly shown us. Taking a disciplined approach to your savings protocol from the outset, can be the make-or-break factor in keeping your small business afloat. Here are four common mistakes that small businesses and start-ups make in their savings processes, and how
Here’s a quick calculation: First, add up your average 1. Not having cash in reserve monthly expenses. Next, decide how many months’ Many entrepreneurs don’t worth of expenses you want fully realise the importance in reserve. Some experts of having a cash reserve. Or, they put off starting one until advise three months, others they feel they can afford to do six. Once you’ve settled on so. A cash reserve is essential your numbers, start for your business. It helps you transferring the money into a pay employees and suppliers separate bank account. Keep during tough times. It acts as building until you reach your amount, and don’t touch it a buffer if clients pay slowly. And it can get your business unless you absolutely need to. There is a growth cost to this through a downturn. You – the money you save want as much financial cannot be used to bring in cushioning as possible. new clients or fund your Savings tip: Even start-ups business. But it will ensure should create a cash reserve safety during challenging immediately. Figuring out a times. number for your cash cushion depends on what is 2. A lack of recordkeeping, comfortable and achievable forecasting, and budgeting for you. you can avoid them.
Many small business owners take a casual approach to accounting, keeping their actual invoices and receipts in a dedicated drawer and monitoring their finances on a spreadsheet or through their bank statements. This informal approach makes it difficult to track your financial performance, so that you’re fully prepared for anything that threatens to derail your business.
record every transaction in your business. It’ll give you the financial insights you need to manage cash flow (ensuring that you have more money coming into your business than going out). This gives an accurate idea of how much you can put into your reserve account every month.
Without proper, real-time accounting information, you have no clear picture of your cash flow position, and you won’t have a sound savings plan.
3. Underestimating costs Office space costs money – rent, electricity, phone and internet charges, refreshments, stationery, insurance, maintenance. All of this burns through profits and will hinder your ability to save.
Savings tip: Invest in a modern, cloud-based accounting solution that enables you to accurately
Savings tip: The introduction of remote working this year has saved businesses a lot of money.
Try and work remotely for as long as you can. If you’re concerned about team morale and communications, have a daily video catch-up call. Or rent a shared office space for a few hours a week, so you can get together face-to-face. 4. Making financial commitments to things you don’t need Every business pays for little things that can add up to big savings. Leaving lights on. Keeping machinery running when not in use. Printing. These eat into your profits, making it harder for you to put cash into reserve every month, but they’re easy to change. Savings tip: Go green. By
switching off lights at night, putting your printer into sleep mode (or going paperless), and turning off all computers, you’ll reduce your electricity bill. Focus on the essentials rather than the nice-to-haves. For example, you need reliable Wi-Fi, but do you need an expensive coffee machine that needs a refill every week? The aim is to reduce costs and cut overheads, without sacrificing sales. Mistakes happen All small business owners make financial mistakes, which impacts their ability to save. The key to smart saving is to calculate the value in all the tools you use, and cut or replace those that aren’t giving you a good return on investment. Planning your budget, tracking your income and expenses, and consulting with an accountant can help you to put together a sound savings plan, and keep your business on a steady footing when the road ahead gets bumpy.
The Importance of Partnering with a Career Coach By Candice Black
are running away with us and that we don’t have time to put our ideas into action. When your work is not in alignment with your strengths or you’re in a toxic environment, this is not sustainable in the long-run and can have a significant impact on your mental and physical health.
achievement, and doing work It can be extremely that reflects one’s personal overwhelming to figure out values. your next step on your own, which is why working with a Once you know that you Career Coach can be so need to make a change, it is beneficial. The Career difficult not to become Coaching process enables restless. Many of us at some you to explore your unique point in our working lives gifts and potential and apply may feel as if we are in this to your career path in the “robot mode” or on a “hamster wheel,” trapped into future. an endless cycle of routine. The first and most important We may even experience Many adults are now looking feelings of panic that our lives step towards making any career change is to learn beyond the financial, status about yourself. Research and stability factors related to consistently demonstrates full-time corporate that the single greatest employment and placing predictor of success is more emphasis on their self-awareness. Self-awarepersonal needs such as ness creates a greater level of career satisfaction, work-life confidence because you’re no balance, a sense of personal longer second-guessing Careers are a lot less simple and predictable than they were in the past. The fast pace of economic and technological change means that staying at one company from entry-level to retirement is a thing of the past. Furthermore, with the COVID-19 Pandemic, many people are re-thinking the way they work and how they spend their time.
yourself and you feel energised into action. Often Psychometric Assessments are used to enable you to understand yourself in-depth. Assessments usually help you to understand your personality, uncover your interests and identify your core values. Throughout the coaching process, self-awareness is gained through exploratory conversations about your work history, feedback on your assessments, and discussions about your dreams and goals. The next step of the process involves overcoming fears. The role of the Coach is to
assist you to replace limiting beliefs and fears with empowering thought patterns. Uncertainty can be terrifying, and the idea of letting go of a stable income and benefits may feel frightening. However, a Coach can help you to identify and overcome your fears so that you can take the leap into a career you love. The role of the Coach is also to support you and encourage you; being removed from your life, they are able to be your sounding board and to offer objective insights, helping you to see things from a different perspective.
Through a coaching partnership, you will be able to gain clarity regarding your next career steps. There is a common misconception that a Coach will tell you what to do, however, this is untrue; they are there to guide you towards your own conclusions and empower you to take ownership of your own career journey. Their goal is to help you find out what you’re good at and what you love, delving into your ideas and passions in order to help move you closer towards determining your own purpose. Once you have been through a process of self-reflection,
the next steps are to find out what the world needs and what you can get paid for (i.e. what jobs / career opportunities are out there). The Coach will usually assist you with goal setting and action planning, helping you to navigate job opportunities and consider various options, while acting as your accountability partner. Many Career Coaches may also help you to optimise your CV and LinkedIn profile and coach you on interview skills. It is important to remember that a career is developed rather than chosen. As we gain work experience, self-awareness and knowledge of opportunities, we are able to direct our careers and find work that is meaningful to us.
Candice Black
Registered Psychometrist and Career Coach HUMANESSENCE www.humanessence.co.za candice@humanessence.co.za 083 225 3735
“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” Anne Sweeney, former Co-chair of Disney Media
African women are born on a continent that marches to the beat of its own drum, and it shows. Women in business in Africa may speak many different languages, dress so differently according to culture, have different colour skin… but what they all have in common is a will and drive to succeed above and beyond what is laid out for them. In our Pride of Africa series of pieces, we celebrate African women who are lighting the way forward for others to dream and succeed.
Hilma Ndinelago Moses Hilma Ndinelago Moses works for the African Union Commission (AUC) as a Human Rights Associate in the Department of Political Affairs’ Human Rights and Transitional Justice Cluster in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. She is a One Young World (OYW) Ambassador and the former Vice President of the University of Namibia Student Representative Council. Hilma’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Honors degree from the University of Namibia and a post graduate Diploma in Disarmament,
Non-proliferation, and Development from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace (UPEACE)
mediation, environmental issues, good governance, and the fight against poverty and hunger.
Hilma’s future plans include completing her PhD Hilma is the founder of a and becoming Dr. Moses. social impact This young lady wants to be initiative called Namibian known as a selfless advocate Opportunities, this online for youth and opportunities platform provides access to for young life-changing opportunipeople, as well as a selfless ties taking place around the world and within Namibia. leader who goes out of their way to create a path for othIt provides developmental support for young Namibians ers. who venture in advocacy and activism work and tackles issues such as human rights, peace and security, conflict resolution and
Ntsiki Biyela Ntsiki Biyela is the first female black winemaker in South Africa. She is a B Sc. Oenology graduate from Stellenbosch University and was an SAA bursar after excelling at science in high school in Zululand.
1998 by South African Airways, who were providing a number of wine making scholarships. She was able to attend university on a full scholarship
was also able to get a parttime job at local winery Delheim. In 2009 Biyela was named as South Africa’s Woman Winemaker of the Year. After 13 years of being a winemaker and ambassador of Stellekaya wines, Ntsiki Biyela has continued her journey of inspiration by starting her own brand, Aslina Wines, named after her grandmother.
Biyela had never tasted wine prior to starting her studies, but soon came to love what Biyela grew up in she describes as “the Mahlabathini in Zululand. Having made a number of ever-changing content of wine.” Her lectures were unsuccessful grant primarily delivered in applications to study at university, she was offered the Afrikaans, which she did not opportunity to study speak, so Biyela learnt the Ntsiki is a board member of majority of the winemaking the Pinotage Youth Developviticulture and oenology at Stellenbosch University in content via English notes. She ment Academy (PYDA)
Judy Goddard “Young African entrepreneurs...must create the environment we want to operate in”
the Business Events industry across Africa.
Judy obtained an honours degree in Hospitality Born in Zimbabwe but Management in Switzerland, where she was living and working in South Africa, don’t let Judy’s broad awarded Outstanding smile lure you into believing Student of the Graduating that she is anything less than Class of 2007 and the Swiss a passionate and determined Hospitality Touch for African Entrepreneur. Leadership in the Graduating Class of 2008. She’s worked and travelled across the globe Johannesburg based, she is including Australia, United the founder and director of Kingdom, the United States Masiwela Events, co-owner, and director of Masiwela & Europe mastering a vast Hospitality and the most knowledge of different expertise in Human Resource recently launched Masiwela Staffing. The vision is to build Management, Sales, a turn key service offering for Marketing and Project
Management. With ten years of management experience, Judy has enjoyed a successful career. She has worked with world class establishments internationally and locally namely Marriott, Hyatt and the African Sun Hotel Group as well as the Multichoice Group. Judy’s mantra is that there are no problems, only solutions and that the destination is the journey – we are always on our way somewhere and so long as we’re doing meaningful work, one’s passion and purpose are aligned.
Take control of your
CA(reer) path By Karin Jacobsen
‘Boring, conservative men in grey suits who are obsessed with numbers and have a fancy car parked in the garage…’ If this is what you think being a chartered accountant (CA[SA]) is all about, think again. CAs(SA) are so much more than bean-counting, number crunchers. Companies rely on a CA(SA)’s disciplined, insightful approach to business, and strong analytical skills, to make business decisions that help their companies grow. In fact, 74% of the JSE’s Top 200 company chief financial officers (CFOs) and almost a
third of the JSE’s top 40 CEOs But being a CA(SA) isn’t are CAs(SA)! about money and status. The CA(SA) designation gives you control of your future!
Here are some compelling reasons to consider this career path:
Statistics show that 35% of all 1st year varsity students view the CA(SA) designation as the most attractive career option – this is more than double those wanting to be doctors and lawyers.
• Because a CA(SA) is the person responsible for analysing and reporting on financial information, CAs(SA) frequently end up as the head and heart of a business;
Small wonder that CAs(SA) are highly sought-after professionals who quickly rise to the top of their fields. And yes, chartered accountants – even at the most junior levels – are among the top five highest earners in South Africa.
• Being a CA(SA) is challenging and exciting. It serves as a base for establishing a highly promising and varied career; • A CA(SA) plays many roles in business and doesn’t solely focus on numbers;
• Because of their value in business, CAs(SA) are able to work internationally at ease;
a number of different ways! and • CAs(SA) are able to start their own companies and be their own boss.
• Those studying toward a CA(SA) designation usually land up in careers that value a balanced lifestyle promoting So how do you become one? work flexibility and the ability to earn a good living; The minimum requirements for university admission to a • Because finance is the fuel CA-stream BCom degree are that powers the economy and a Level 5 pass in because CAs(SA) are Mathematics, together with financial experts, multiple a National Senior Certificate career opportunities present with matriculation themselves to a CA(SA); exemption. You need to take pure Mathematics (not • The CA(SA) designation Mathematical Literacy) as a creates the mobility to work subject and you need to pass in any industry of choice – in it well. That means achieving all fields of business and 60% or more. You also need finance and, more a good grounding in English, specifically, in auditing/ as it will help you to assurance, tax, financial understand the concepts you management, information will study. Many learners technology, management believe that having accounting, forensic accounting as a school accounting and insolvency; subject is compulsory to study towards your CA(SA). • Holding the CA(SA) While it can help you in your designation provides many studies towards your degree, opportunities for furthering it isn’t necessary. your ability to continue to learn new skills and Now let’s talk universities… knowledge; If you want to be a CA(SA), you need to ensure that the • CAs(SA) hold prestigious university you’re applying to positions in the private and offer a BCom qualification / public sector and in programme that is accredited academia; by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants • The skills you develop also (SAICA). A full list of the position you to contribute to universities that offer making South Africa a better SAICA-accredited BCom place through giving back in Accountancy programmes
can be found here: www.saica.co.za/becomeamember. Once you’ve completed the three-year degree, you’ll need to obtain a Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA or honours equivalent). This is a post-graduate course – your fourth year at university – and focuses on Accounting, Auditing, Taxation and Financial Management. It takes a minimum of one year to complete and must be completed at a SAICAaccredited university. Once you have your BCom, it’s time to get real-world working experience Once you’ve obtained your CTA, you’ll enter into a three-year training contract with a SAICA registered training office. During you training, you must pass two Qualifying Examinations: the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) and the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). If you pass everything first time, the entire qualification process takes about seven years from the time you enter university. Now that may sound like a long time, but it’s worth it. What career paths can you follow once you qualify as a CA(SA) Many CAs(SA) don’t do traditional accounting work because studying to become a CA(SA) opens up a LOT of doors here in SA and
internationally. In accounting firms, CAs(SA) generally audit financial statements and provide tax or financial planning advice. They also offer consulting and advisory services in a variety of fields such as corporate finance, management accounting, information technology and general financial and business management. You can also go into government and the public sector where CAs(SA) hold top notch positions (like the Auditor-General or Head of National Treasury) and are widely recognised for effective financial management, leadership and providing
services to their country.
entrepreneurial route and become your own boss! The bottom line is if you choose well and work smart, you’ll be recognised as a business leader because you’re CA(SA)!
In business, CAs(SA) can specialise in management accounting, financial management, taxation, corporate governance, internal audit and many other fields. Many lead major For more information visit: companies as Chief Executive www.saica.co.za/becomeamember. Officers, Chief Financial Officers and Managing Directors. You can also go into academia to become a lecturer and develop the next generation of CAs(SA) by lecturing at universities and providing training through professional programmes. Or you can follow the
THREE DESIGNATIONS. ONE SOLID PROFESSIONAL
ORGANISATION
At SAICA, we don’t believe that one size fits all. As the foremost recognised institute for business leaders, we now offer three different accountancy and business designations to set you off on a path to success: CA(SA), AGA(SA, and AT(SA). All three designations are underpinned by SAICA’s solid ethical foundation, equipping you with the tools to uphold the highest level of professionalism, discipline and performance at the relevant business level. CA(SA) is our premium business designation. It is a top-tier accountancy designation that enables professional accountants to lead at the highest level in organisations. CAs(SA) create and protect business value while informing and shaping the strategic direction in business and the broader economy.
AGAs(SA) is our mid-tier accountancy designation, equipping professional accountants with multidisciplinary skills to measure and enhance organisational value. AGAs(SA) accelerate performance by bridging operational and strategic management functions within organisations.
AT(SA) is our practical, work ready foundational designation. This entrylevel accountancy qualification and professional membership offers a solid foundation in accounting, finance and business practice. AT(SA) is accessible to aspirant accountants who function at foundational business levels.
With our proud reputation for instilling and maintaining high levels of professional integrity, you can be assured of the quality and thereby credibility of a SAICA designation at any appropriate level.
Professional body membership:
a progressive way to propel your career to new heights Around the world, professional bodies exist with the mandate of representing, promoting and enhancing their respective profession. As the voice for South Africa’s chartered accountants [CAs(SA)], it is the role of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) to play this part as it constantly strives to maintain and strengthen the overall status of the accountancy profession and ensure that its members continue to be highly regarded by society at large. Yet here is the thing most accountants (and aspiring accountants) do not realise. SAICA membership is not reserved for CAs(SA) only. As the leading accountancy body in the country and one of the most prominent institutes in the global accounting space, SAICA offers three reputable professional accounting and business designations that range from a foundational level to a strategic level of accounting and business competence level. These designations are the
Accounting Technician [AT(SA)], Associate General Accountant [AGA(SA)] and CA(SA) – all of which are underpinned by SAICA’s Code of Professional Competence and continuous professional learning (CPL) requirements which ensures that SAICA members and associates demonstrate the highest level of professionalism, discipline and performance. And this means that from, both a business and personal level, there are many benefits that you enjoy by joining a professional body or hiring an individual who belongs to one.
The value of belonging to a professional body
Regulation: SAICA’s Code of Professional Competence conforms to the Institute International Federation of Accountants’ International Ethics Standards Board. This Code serves to guide the professional credibility and business conduct of all members and associates to ensure that they act with independence, sound judgement, integrity, ethics and maintain high
professional standards at all times. Because of this Code, members can also be held to account (and disciplined accordingly) if they are shown to have contravened the Code in any way. Recognition: If you are a SAICA member or associate, it means that you have qualified through a trusted, well-regulated, rigorous education and assessment process. This means that recruiters and HR managers often feel more confident about your professional qualifications and are more likely to short-list you for an interview. As a recruiter, the benefits of this to your company cannot be overstated. A commitment to lifelong learning and professional development: Because professional bodies pride themselves on the quality of
its members, SAICA helps its members and associates maintain their professional excellence, relevance and skills by giving them access to quality research and training of both a technical and pervasive nature. This ensures members are current and relevant in competencies and skills.
Career mobility and recognition: Professional bodies open doors for employment and put their members in a privileged position to pursue the most diverse and rewarding career opportunities. SAICA, for example, currently has mutual recognition agreements in place with 14 Leadership development: As countries (including the US, UK, Australia, Zambia and a member of a professional body like SAICA, you can more). These agreements mean that volunteer towards projects that assist the organisation members’ CA(SA) achieve its strategic priorities. designation can be recognised as equivalent to This includes sitting on the local designation in that working committees, country if they meet certain sub-committees, task teams qualifying criteria. and even the board (if you qualify). This gives you a Networking: Professional unique chance to develop bodies give members team work and leadership skills which are vital for your countless opportunities to network with people within professional development their profession. This is a one and greatly enrich your CV, of the easiest ways to quickly especially early into your career. and greatly expand the reach of your networking – just imagine what could happen in your career if you attend a conference and just happen to sit next the CEO of a major listed company. So, if you are an accountant looking for a professional home, visit www.saica.co.za to see if you qualify to join as a member or associate to enjoy these and other benefits.
50 Signs You Might Be an Entrepreneur https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232451
Entrepreneurs are a unique group of people. Not only do they think differently; they act differently. They draw on personality traits, habits and mind-sets to come up with ideas that straddle the line between insanity and genius. But just because you’re an original thinker and came up with an idea to replace gasoline in cars doesn’t mean you’re cut out to be an entrepreneur. If you ever wondered if you were an entrepreneur, check out the following list. You may not have all these traits or skills, yet if you have some, this is a pretty good indicator that you have what it takes. 1. You come from a family of individuals who just couldn’t work for someone else. Your parents worked for themselves. Though this isn’t true for every entrepreneur (myself included), many have a family history with one or both parents having been self-employed. 2. You hate the status quo. You’re a person who is always questioning why people do the things they do. You strive to make things better and are willing to take action on it. 3. You’re self-confident. Have you ever met an entrepreneur who was pessimistic or self-loathing? After all, if you don’t have
confidence, how can others believe in you? Most entrepreneurs are very optimistic about everything around them.
11. You’ve always resisted authority; that’s why you’ve had a problem holding down a job.
12. You believe that there is 4. You’re passionate. There more than one definition of will be times when you spend job security: You realize that an excessive amount of time your job is safe as long as you and do not make a dollar. It’s are in control as opposed to your passion that will keep relying on a boss who could you going. ruin your career after one swift mistake. 5. You don’t take no for an answer. An entrepreneur 13. Most of your wardrobe never gives up -- ever. consists of T-shirts; some you probably got at SXSW. Others 6. You have the ability to display your company’s name create unlikely partnerships or logo. from out of nowhere because of your ability to connect the 14. You have a competitive dots. People tend to gravitate nature and are willing to lose. toward you because you are You always know that you likable. Many times this is can do something better. because of your passion. 15. You check GitHub when 7. You spend more time with you wake up in the morning. your co-founder than your spouse or significant other. 16. You ask to be paid in 8. You dropped out of college game tickets, shoes or like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and whatever else you love. There Mark Zuckerberg. are just some things that are better than money, right? 9. The daily commute to your office is from the bedroom to 17. Your idea of a holiday the living room. is a working day without anything interfering with the 10. You were always a lousy tasks you really need to get employee and probably have done. been fired a lot. Don’t worry; you’re not alone. I personally 18. You’re unemployable, and have been fired several times there’s nothing wrong with in my life. Don’t take it as a that. Life skills are more sign that you’re a bad person. valuable than the office poliSometimes it’s in your DNA. tics commonly found at 9-to5 gigs.
19. You work more than 60 hours a week; yet you earned more money at an hourly job when you were in high school.
up with a result calling you a “reformer type,” someone purposeful, self-controlled and perfectionist.
communicating with people. 28. You regularly quote Steve Jobs mainly to keep yourself from falling to pieces.
24. You recognize that the 20. You want to be in control best seats at your favorite cof- 29. You sold stuff as a kid like and in command of your own fee shops are those closest to at a lemonade stand. Heck, when there were class sales, power outlets. company. You typically like you were probably one of the overseeing most things that top sellers. 25. You’re a logical thinker go on at your company. with ideas about how to correct problems and the overall 30. You get more SMS alerts 21. You see opportunities from people you follow on situation. everywhere. For example, Twitter than from actual you walk into a building and friends listed in your address are curious about its worth or 26. Speaking of problem solving, have you checked to book. the companies inside. see if there’s an app for that? Perhaps you’ve already begun 31. You’re a self-starter, 22. The word “pitch” no meaning you don’t give up on to create a business model longer has an association and the software architecture a project until it’s completed. with baseball. to see if it’s feasible. 32. No matter what you do 23. Your take a personality on a daily basis, you always 27. You’re a people person. test, like one offered by the think of it in terms of Enneagram Institute, and end You have no problem
delivering a return on investment. 33. Your dress code is shabby chic and your suit is just collecting dust. You prefer T-shirts and jeans over a suit any day. 34. You’re unrealistic. As an inventor or innovator, you kind of have to be this way. 35. You think outside of the box. If not, what will change? 36. You’re a charming and charismatic person.
group but don’t relish much being alone. You probably get most energetic when working with groups of more than four people. 42. You’re determined. You have to make the impossible possible. 43. You have the support of your friends and family. These are the people who get you. And they’ll be there to support you along the way.
44. It’s normal for you to take a nap under your desk to catch up on sleep. After all, 37. Rules don’t apply to you. getting eight hours of sleep We’re not talking about sometime between 10 p.m. breaking the law. Instead, you and 6 a.m. is antiquated. believe in efficiency and will bend rules to make things 45. You’ve done the market run smoothly. research. You know that just because you have an 38. You realize that you can’t incredible idea doesn’t mean do everything alone. You that it’s profitable. But you’ve have an idea and can already looked into whether promote it but also know that customers will make the you’re not skilled at every purchase. task of running a business. 46. You surround yourself 39. You’re very opinionated. That’s another reason you got fired a lot. 40. You’re unpredictable. As an entrepreneur, you know how quickly things can change. Thankfully, you’re ready and willing to make adjustments. 41. You enjoy being with a
with quality people -- not leeches who will bring you down. 47. You’re a bit out there. Having the ability to create something out of nothing takes a mad-genius type of person. Remember, people thought Albert Einstein was insane before he proved the theory of relativity. 48. Did you ever ask your family, friends or significant other to send you a calendar invite so that you could talk for all of five minutes? 49. You believe that your time is worth more than money. 50. During your most recent rant about growth hacking, your spouse or boyfriend (or girlfriend) totally understood what you were saying. Even if you don’t have all the above traits right now, you’ll probably develop more of them over time. After all, being an entrepreneur is a lifestyle, not a job or hobby.
There’s no place like home. We have our place. They have theirs. Visit nspca.co.za for more about the hazards of capturing and breeding exotic animals. BlastBC 126829