Mthoko Ntuli

Ruth First Scholar (2004-05)

Mthokozisi Ntuli is from Durban, in the KwaZulu Natal province of the Republic of South Africa. He graduated from Durban Institute of Technology in 1998 with a BTech in Human Resources Management, and works as an administrator for Mangosuthu Technikon (Mangosuthu University of Technology from 2008).

At Durham, Mthoko took an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) at Durham Business School. He wrote the following after his first month on the programme:

The Ruth First Scholarship has offered me a great opportunity to advance my career and plough the benefits back into my country, by enrolling for the Durham MBA. What I hope to get out of the opportunity is to acquire skills and knowledge that will prepare me for more challenging responsibilities in the South Africa labour market. The skills I hope to acquire and develop are such skills as analytical thinking, networking skills, Projects Management, strategic business management, communication, project management skills and knowledge of different cultures, all of which are imperative for global business.

The MBA is a professional, interesting and challenging programme. So far I have found it a mind-opener to the real business world. The teams formed are made up of members from different corners of the world, and that, per se, has an added value in understanding and working with people from different cultures. This brings a long-term benefit, i.e., the current team members or MBA cohort may be future global business partners. The Board Simulations, chaired by external executives, also provide an exposure to the operation of a real Board of Directors. I have also been selected as a student representative for the MBA cohorts.

“Of all the things in the world, there is nothing, except a good mother, so worthy of honour as a good education” (Rudyard Kipling).

Mthoko played a very active role in the University during his year as Ruth First Scholar. He was elected as a student representative for the MBA course, was involved in the Business School’s successful completion of a European accreditation process, played football for the Business School, and participated actively in team projects and boardroom simulations. He proved himself to be a very effective fundraiser for both the University and the Ruth First Trust, and was featured in a local newspaper giving a demonstration of African dance to schoolchildren.

Mthoko returned to his post at Mantec on completion of the course in September 2005. In October 2006, he was promoted to the post of Senior Officer: Bursaries in the Financial Aid Bureau. Update 2013: ‘I have had 3 promotions since I completed my MBA. I am now responsible for managing Student Governance and Leadership Development.’

Update 2020: ‘I am currently Manager: Student Governance, Life and Development at Mantec. I provide leadership at a senior level managing the role of students in university governance issues and learning that takes place outside the lecture hall, as well as the development of student leadership and soft skills programmes to produce holistically developed graduates.
I was awarded a PhD in Higher Education Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year. I review submissions for the International Journal of African Higher Education (IJAE) and I present papers both locally and internationally. Last year we had a Higher Education conference in Ethiopia and Dar Es Salam on the role of HE institutions to achieve UN and African Union sustainable goals. In 2018, I was awarded an Erasmus Mundus scholarship as an exchange doctoral candidate to study at the University of Tampere in Finland.’

Mthoko’s e-mail address is [email protected]

Updated August 2020 Mike Thompson [email protected]

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