Respect is key to a professional success
Respect is key to a professional success
By Puleng Maphisa – 18 August 2021
Dr Limpho Lekaota obtained her PhD in Tourism management which led to her ambitions of becoming a senior lecturer. She currently holds a position of senior lecture in Ecotourism and she is also a Programme Co-ordinator and WIL Co-ordinator within her faculty at Vaal University of Technology. Before she joined VUT she started as a Tourism lecturer at North West University: Mafiekng Campus, and joined VUT in January 2013.
Dr Lekaota, born at Matelile Mafeteng in Lesotho, she said that during her childhood development she wished to be an accountant but through the passion of loving educational sector, she outgrew the dream and followed her ambition of being a lecturer. She said that the education sector is where she wants to be as she described herself as a very remarkable, focused, honest and problem-solving person.
“Hard work and patience are important in my career; I love contributing in changing people’s lives as much as I love environmental conversation and sustainable tourism. I always push my students to work hard so that they graduate in time. I also work hard to achieve a high throughput put and success rate for ecotourism programme. I publish articles and usually receive research output incentives. The most important things which I always emphasis to students is to work hard and learn as much as they can, thus expand their knowledge to meet the requirements needed by the ecotourism/tourism industry. I always encourage student to further their studies and inspire them to leave the institution having atleast a Master’s degree in order for them to learn how to conduct research” said Dr Lekaota
In 2011, she received Teaching Excellence award at the North West University; VUT Faculty Research Award in 2015 at VUT; VUT Teaching Excellence award in 2017 and VUT Research Excellence Award of 2019 at VUT. Her wish is to be an associate Professor in Tourism, which drives her in helping her department to grow in terms of research and community engagement.
In her words she said that one of the key aspects to success is to do what you are passionate about it and do it with love, above all never forget that respect is key to a professional success, and always put in mind that every person is knowledgeable in his/her own field, thus learn to respect other peoples’ specialisations and you will succeed in life.