UKZN Staff Turn Their Studies into Research that Strengthens the University

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) continues to strengthen its reputation as a hub for academic growth and professional development, as two of its staff members Ms Penny Sichela and Ms Delzeen Stone, graduated with their master’s degrees. 

For Sichela, Finance Administrator, the journey to her Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies was motivated by the academic support offered by UKZN and a growing passion for research. She joined the University in 2012 with no degree and now holds three qualifications - determined to pursue a PhD. 

Her dissertation, titled: ‘Analysing Leadership and Management Competencies Required by Management at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’, explored leadership in Higher Education within the context of ongoing institutional transformation.

Her study identified critical gaps in leadership competencies and examined whether academic staff taking on leadership roles in professional disciplines is a sustainable model for institutions facing mounting challenges. Her findings aim to support UKZN leadership in cultivating the necessary skills, training, and strategies to remain competitive nationally and globally. 

“This study will assist leaders in examining which qualities and skills are needed for their roles and how to bridge gaps in managing and leading this changing institution,” she said.

Sichela expressed deep gratitude to her family, supervisors, and colleagues for their support, and especially to her mother - herself a PhD graduate from UKZN - who remains her greatest inspiration. “My mother was the first person in my family to receive a PhD, and I am determined to follow in her footsteps,” she reflected.

For Stone, a Chartered Accountant and currently the Acting Director: Internal Audit within UKZN’s College of Law and Management Studies (CLMS), earning a Master of Accountancy in Taxation marked a return to academia after more than two decades. 

Her dissertation, titled: ‘Compliance Burden of VAT Caused by Exempt Educational Supplies in Higher Education and a Suggested Alternative’, investigated the administrative difficulties universities face when applying multiple VAT rates due to their diverse operations.

Her research offered recommendations to simplify VAT compliance in Higher Education Institutions, reducing the burden on finance managers and administrators.

“I highlighted the difficulties that public Higher Education Institutions, face in administering multiple VAT rates due to their diverse operations, and I recommended an alternative,” she explained.

Stone’s study was rooted in her own professional experiences. “My permanent position is a Finance Manager in CLMS, and I see how challenging VAT administration can be,” she said. “This is the main reason I pursued further studies in this area - to try to simplify and improve administrative processes.”

Both Sichela and Stone represent the strength of staff development at UKZN, where academic pursuits align with institutional needs and professional growth. 

Words: Ayanda Radebe

Photographs: Sethu Dlamini