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13 August 2020 | Story Eugene Seegers | Photo Charl Devenish
Gugu believes in empowering students to successfully complete their higher-education journey.

Gugu Wendy Tiroyabone is Head of Advising, Access and Success in the Centre for Teaching and Learning. She says she is on a journey to become a champion womxn, with her advocacy for student access with success in higher education being the vehicle that is propelling her. Gugu says her superpower is “knowing how to win without being loud”.

1. Please tell us about yourself: Who are you and what do you do at the university? 
Self-awareness, simplicity, and service is who I am and what I, Gugu Wendy Tiroyabone (née Khanye), embody. My Zulu name, loosely translated, means ‘precious’, and I firmly believe that the work I do at the UFS Centre for Teaching and Learning — academic advising and RPL — align with my name, serving students in this invaluable experience of being afforded the opportunity to access higher education and ultimately being guided to success.

2. Is there a woman who inspires you and who you would like to celebrate this Women’s Month, and why?
Mmm … tricky to single out only one. There are a few — top of the charts is most certainly my mother, a servant leader — in everything she does; she is there to listen, hear and understand, empathise, heal, build, and is committed to the growth of others. Aunty Basetsana (Bassie) Kumalo is another womxn I celebrate – television personality, businesswomxn, and philanthropist — a brand that inspires me to be the best version of me so that I can reach my dreams.

3. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in your life that have made you a better woman?
I would say one of the biggest challenges I faced in my early 20s would have to be low self-confidence and a low self-esteem. Those who know me would disagree, but unfortunately it gets the best of us and it was my reality. I struggled with acceptance, and when I took some time out to check in with myself, I learned that knowing how to win without making a noise is my superpower; since realising this, I refuse to live below my potential.

4. What advice would you give to a 15-year-old you?
You don’t have to change your dreams to realise them; rather, as you grow, adapt and adopt your approaches to the season/year — these small adaptations will propel you towards fulfilling your dreams. Someone else can make your dreams come true, but only you can realise your dreams.

5. What would you say makes you a champion woman, or a champion woman of the UFS?
I would like to believe that I am still becoming a champion womxn, not there just yet. But my advocacy for student access with success in higher education is what is driving me towards being a champion womxn – without meaningful access, student success is hollow. So, we need to work collectively as a sector and institution to achieve this.

 

 

 

 

News Archive

Popular SABC presenter joins the UFS
2007-03-05

Former Lesedi FM Current Affairs presenter, Mr Mangaleso Radebe, has joined the University of the Free State's (UFS) Strategic Communication Division as from today, Monday 5 March 2007.

Mr Radebe is an experienced journalist having worked for the SABC for almost 11 years. He started with the SABC as an intern in 1995 on the now defunct Good Morning South Africa television breakfast show in Auckland Park, Johannesburg.

He also had stints as a general news reporter, sports reporter, freelance producer for SABC Africa, news writer and presenter for the SABC2's Sesotho news bulletin. He joined Lesedi FM in Bloemfontein four years ago as a presenter/producer for Current Affairs programmes.

In his new job at the UFS he will be responsible for media liaison, together with Ms Lacea Loader, with print and electronic media in Bloemfontein and nationally.

According to the Director: Strategic Communication at the UFS, Mr Anton Fisher, the UFS is proud to welcome Mr Radebe as member of staff and look forward to his contribution during this exciting phase of the UFS’s history.

Media release
Issued by: Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cell: 072 207 8334
5 March 2007
 
 

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