Professor Thabile Ntombela
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Drawing a parallel between academia and elite sports, Professor Ntombela stressed that top performance is never an accident. "I have not heard of someone successful who just stumbled on a success path," Professor Ntombela stated. "When you think of sports people like the Springboks or Bafana Bafana, a lot of hours, routine, and sacrifice go into who they become. It is the same in academia. Those who put in the time create systems and routines that assist them to become more professional and visible."
Professor Ntombela cautioned delegates against settling into roles solely as teachers. Higher education demands critical engagement and the generation of new solutions for real-world issues. "In higher education, you can’t just teach material and end there," she noted. "The material you use to teach comes from people like you. In order for your work to be read and taught elsewhere, you have to advance beyond being just a teacher."
Professor Ntombela cautioned delegates against settling into roles solely as teachers. Higher education demands critical engagement and the generation of new solutions for real-world issues. "In higher education, you can’t just teach material and end there," she noted. "The material you use to teach comes from people like you. In order for your work to be read and taught elsewhere, you have to advance beyond being just a teacher."
