VUT hosts very successful Human Resource Universities Forum
VUT hosts very successful Human Resource Universities Forum
Best student: Frank Wilkinson, University of Pretoria (R15 000, trophy, certificate, tablet and book vouchers)
Staff Reporter
On 27 and 28 September 2018, 70 delegates from 19 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) who offer HR qualifications descended on Quest Conference Estate for the annual meeting of the HR Universities Forum (HRUF). Dr Pierre Joubert, Chair of the HRUF and acting HOD: HRM, facilitated the proceedings after Prof Gordon Zide, Vice Chancellor and Principal welcomed the delegates. The keynote address was delivered by Ms Rhandu Ngubane, a VUT alumni and current Vice-President: HR Operations at Natref. The forum deliberated on matters of HR qualifications, articulation, standards, accreditation, research, professionalisation and quality. Academics from the HEIs presented their current and future HR qualifications ranging from HR diplomas, to degrees, to honours degrees, to master’s degrees and eventually doctoral degrees. This ensures that there is a full suite of HR academic programmes from entry level qualifications to advance as well as post-graduate qualifications. Not only did the academics agree to integrate the national HR standards into their curriculum, teaching and research, but also to continuously innovate in providing the best possible academic programmes for their students. Agreement was also reached to facilitate the articulation of students between institutions by recognizing the SABPP accreditation status of institutions.
The HRUF also provides an opportunity for HR students to showcase their talents when they compete for the National HR Excellence Award of the SA Board for People Practice (SABPP). This year, five HEIs nominated their best students based on their academic performance, leadership, community engagement, presentation skills and appreciation of the HR profession. The finalists had to prepare and present an impromptu presentation on the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on HR where after they were interviewed by a panel of judges consisting of the CEO of the SABPP, an HR Director, an academic and an industry representative.
Second best student: Charnte Marthinus, Vaal University of Technology (Trophy, certificate, R7000 and book vouchers)
Third best student: Khanyisa Sam, Nelson Mandela University (Trophy, certificate, R3000 and book vouchers)
The following winners were announced during the gala dinner which was held on the Spirit of Jen on the Vaal River:
Best student: Frank Wilkinson, University of Pretoria (R15 000, trophy, certificate, tablet and book vouchers)
Second best student: Charnte Marthinus, Vaal University of Technology (Trophy, certificate, R7000 and book vouchers)
Third best student: Khanyisa Sam, Nelson Mandela University (Trophy, certificate, R3000 and book vouchers)
Dr Joubert and staff of the Department HRM are extremely proud of Charnte and gave credit to the winner who commented as follows: “I feel overwhelmed; it has been fantastic experience. The last two days have been an absolutely extraordinary time that I will never forget; meeting incredible people and learning from some of the top minds has been fun. It took a lot of hard work for me to be here today; I never worked hard in high school and wasn’t accepted at the University as my grades were not good enough. I had to repeat my exams and I learned my lesson, I started to work hard.”
The forum while henceforth be known as the SAHRUF and will be hosted by CPUT in 2019.