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ADAPT IT EDUCATIONVictor KgomoeswanaThe Backbone of the Instuon: Empowering Operaonal Staff for Sustainable Service Delivery – A Markeng PerspecveThapelo MokoleFrom Automaon to Autonomy: The Rise of Agenc AI in EdTechAndries RamakgwakgwaSoluon-Driven Leadership: The Andries Ramakgwakgwa WayPhumzile WilliardPhumzile Williard: Human Capital with HeartNon-Academic Staff: The Operaonal Engine Behind Higher EducaonATEC 2025: Adapt IT Champions Innovaon in Vocaonal EducaonVaal University of Technology Marks a Milestone with ITS Infinity: First Postgraduate Applicaons Successfully SubmiedProduct Enhancements That Drive Efficiency and EmpowermentAt the Heart of It All – The Top OfficesLuxolo RubusheTen Years, One Legacy: The Measured Power of Luxolo RubusheGroup Managing Director - Adapt IT EducaonJune 2025 Edion 10 Years Message

Editor’s WelcomeMD’s CornerEdTech ZintoOpinion PieceFeatured ArcleIndustry News and UpdatesEvent HighlightsCustomer Success StoryProduct AnnouncementsDiversity, Equity, Inclusivity and BelongingSA Diversity CalenderCoffee SessionUp Close & PersonalTeam Profile 33 02 03 07 11 35 14 17 19 23 26 27 28 31

Dear Readers,Welcome to the June 2025 edion of the Adapt IT Educaon Magazine, a reflecon of purpose, progress, and the people shaping educaon’s future.This issue is filled with stories of innovaon, inclusion, and quiet excellence. We shine a light on the support staff who form the operaonal backbone of our instuons and explore the technologies redefining how we teach, learn, and lead.In this edion:• 10 Years of Leadership: We celebrate Luxolo Rubushe, Group Managing Director of Adapt IT Educaon, whose inspiring journey speaks to legacy, growth, and purposeful leadership.• Adapt IT Academy: Discover our bold new iniave driving digital skills development and creang real career pathways for African youth.Support Staff in the Spotlight:• Victor Kgomoeswana of the University of Limpopo reflects on empowering non-academic teams to ensure sustainable service delivery.• Andries Ramakgwakgwa, Assistant Registrar at UL, shares insights on digising administraon and leading with innovaon and student focus.• TechZinto Feature – Agenc AI: From automaon to autonomy, explore how AI systems that reason and act independently are transforming classrooms and curriculum design.Event Highlights:• ATEC 2025: Adapt IT led key conversaons on AI in vocaonal educaon, accessibility, and readiness.• VUT’s Infinity Milestone: Celebrang the digisaon of the student applicaon process.• Product Enhancements: Our Payroll & HR systems connue to evolve, with updates to the TGP module, Disciplinary & Grievance subsystem, and Skills Development plaorm.• Up Close with Phumzile Williard: A moving profile on our Human Capital Business Partner, whose leadership is defined by empathy, trust, and a commitment to growth.We hope these stories inspire you as much as they energise us. Here’s to building stronger futures, together.Warm regards,Bridget NkunaWelcome to the June 2025 Edion - Celebrang Legacy, Innovaon & the People Who Power ProgressEditor’s Welcome

3“Behind the best strategies is oen a story far older than the strategy itself.” - Luxulo RubusheLuxolo Rubushe MD’s CornerGroup Managing Director - Adapt IT Educaon

4Ten Years, One Legacy: The Measured Power of Luxolo RubusheBy Princess Andries He is the kind of leader who does not announce himself when he enters a room, but you feel the shi anyway. His leadership is quiet, but deliberate. And his presence is measured, but unmistakably powerful.Luxolo Rubushe, Group Managing Director of Adapt IT Educaon, does not just speak about legacy he is building one, daily, with the kind of intent that makes you sit up and listen.He is a man of vision, yes. But more than that, he is a man of values. And they are not just borrowed from books or theories; they are stched deep into the fabric of his story.Where the roots run deep“I didn’t start out with a plan to lead an organisaon like this,” he says candidly.“It started in a small home, with two parents who believed in the power of educaon with everything they had and everything they didn’t.”His mother, Nosizwe Rubushe, was a gied student whose academic journey was cut short not by failure, but by circumstance. Missionaries saw her promise. They pleaded with her family to let her connue schooling. It did not happen. But she made a vow: her children would not be denied what she was. His father, Mabali Rubushe, matched that promise with acon, sacrificing rest, me, and comfort as a blue-collar worker to help fund the dreams of his children. Not once. But every day. For years. “We watched him work seven days a week. No holidays. No ‘later.’ Just purpose. That does something to a child. You never forget that kind of love.”Between Luxolo and his siblings, the family now carries over thirty graduate qualificaons not as trophies, but as proof of what legacy can look like when belief meets consistency.And there is more. His grandfather, Manunu Rubushe, a visionary in his own right, believed in educang not just his children but others across the extended family, ulmately shaping future lawyers, teachers, leaders.It is clear: educaon is not just part of Luxolo’s story. It is the storyRubushe’s formal journey in educaon began as COO of NSFAS, a posion that gave him rare insight into the post-school system in South Africa.“NSFAS gave me the lens, and I could see where the cracks were… the gaps between historically advantaged and disadvantaged instuons, the burden on students, and the inefficiencies no one wanted to talk about.”But beyond operaons and funding models, it was at NSFAS where Luxolo began shaping what would become his true leadership edge: a deep understanding of how systems and people could work together, if bridged properly. The relaonships built in that space sll echo in his work today. Now, as the MD of Adapt IT Educaon, he is at the intersecon of technology, educaon, and impact, steering soluons that enable instuons to serve their students beer, faster, and more equitably. But he is not stopping there.His newest pursuit, the Adapt IT Academy, is where his heart and mind truly converge. A bold, future-forward iniave focused on closing the digital divide and opening youth employment pathways across Africa, it is not just about skills. It is about shiing systems.“We have the infrastructure. We have the youth. What we need is intent. The kind that does not wait for perfect condions to start moving.”For Rubushe, educaon must serve more than access to it, it must deliver outcomes. And that means challenging the status quo, invesng in scalable plaorms, and empowering students not just to graduate, but to thrive.Luxolo Rubushe does not pretend to have all the answers. But he is clear about the quesons:Are we building systems that outlast us? Are we pung people at the centre? Are we brave enough to let legacy lead?For him, leadership is not about power. It is about presence.So, when he talks about student success, about instuonal equity, or about leaving a beer infrastructure for those coming behind him, it is not theory. It is a memory. It is personal. It is a legacy.And if you sll think strategy is all spreadsheets and stakeholder maps, spend five minutes with Luxolo Rubushe. You will quickly learn that behind the best strategies is oen a story far older than the strategy itself – a story of mothers, music, mission… and the long road from intenon to impact.

5As he marks 10 years with Adapt IT, we posed 10 personal quesons to offer a glimpse into the other side of leadership -the side that doesn’t always make it into boardroom agendas or execuve reports.From childhood memories shaped by a household of purpose to personal rituals rooted in resilience, here’s Luxolo Rubushe - unscripted, unfiltered, and unmistakably real:1. If your life were a movie, what would it be called…and who would play you?Winnie – A Woman in LoveIt would be a story representave of the many roles that women are expected to play. A woman in love is the love she has for her husband, her children, her insnct to protect and shield those she loves. The many bales and silent prayers the sacrifices that nobody sees. How she is the centre of a funconing household. The expectaons, the imperfecons, the resilience, the loss, the triumph, the love.Winnie Mandela’s life was laid bare for the world to see and judge. But I know deep down, there is a Winnie in every woman, ready to step forward whenever the moment demands.My role would be that of her driver, present and absent at the same me…2. What is one thing people would never guess you are really good at?Cooking, or Babysing… I love children!3. Which song instantly gets you on the dance floor… even if no one else is dancing?Double Exposure: My Love is Free; Marvin Gaye: My Love is Waing; The O’Jays: You Got Your Hooks in Me4. What is your most irraonal fear or superson?Snakes5. Without telling us your age… what could you buy with a R1 coin back in your day?Cream Bun, Wilson sweets (square shape, black ones & mentholyptus)6. What was your favorite TV show growing up?Sanford and Son, Good Times, The Ropers, LA Law…7. If you were not doing what you do now, what completely random job would you try just for fun? Anthropologist or Restaurant Owner. I love people, places, and culture…8. What is a small thing that brings you ridiculous joy…like popping bubble wrap or the smell of raindrops?Good food, especially Seafood9. What is the weirdest or most unexpected item in your home?My late brother’s blue-velvet jacket that he wore at his wedding in 1984. Whenever I miss him, I just put it on. Probably the most valuable piece of clothing I have, and I would save it ahead of every other possession I have.10. What is one thing on your bucket list that would surprise everyone?Skydiving…I bungee jumped Bloukrans, at 216m, one of the longest bungee jumps on the longest funconing bridges in the world. Ten years in, and we have seen the strategist, the visionary, the builder of systems and futures. But through these quesons, we have also glimpsed the quiet threads that run beneath it all: family, values, purpose.The same foundaons that shaped the boy in that small home sll guide the leader steering bold ideas forward today. Here is to a decade of impact - and to the legacy sll in moon.

6He’s not afraid to jump. From Bloukrans to boardrooms, Luxolo Rubushe knows that legacy demands boldness

From Automaon to Autonomy: The Rise of Agenc AI in EdTechby Thapelo MokoleIntroduconArficial Intelligence (AI) has been used in educaon for a long me — like helping suggest learning materials or grading tests. But now, we’re entering a new phase called agenc AI. These new AI systems don’t just respond to commands — they have goals, make choices, and keep learning over me (Schneider, 2025; Gridach et.al, ). In this arcle, we’ll look at how agenc AI is changing educaon, from the early smart systems to today’s AI learning helpers, and what the future might look like. 1. The Past and Diminishing PresentIn the context of EdTech, from the very beginning, soware development arfacts followed strict rules and -logical guard-rails defined by the developer as a result systems couldn’t make their own decisions outside of those defined by the glorified typist aka “Developer”. Some of these developments included but were not limited to the Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Integrated Terary Systems, Student Informaon Systems and the likes, being systems that took much of the heavy liing that humans had to do from an administrave standpoint parcularly, even with that they followed fixed and strict rules whether explicit or implicitly so.With me we saw an introducon of tools such as Moodle which added quizzes and feedback mechanism in the teaching process (Dougiamas, 2004), but the technological capabilies were very basic and didn’t adapt much.With beer data and machine learning, plaorms like Knewton and DreamBox started offering more personalized learning based on the precept sequences available to its consumpon or ulizaon but sll, they couldn’t set goals or act independently (Conklin, 2016; Palaniappan & Jain, 2025).

Now, we have stepped into a new dispensaon, a new era, a new me, a me where man and machine could potenally be one. AI me, where systems go above and beyond. 2. The Emerging PresentIn the past couple of years we have seen a rapid change in the landscape of AI and technology in general, with the introducon of Large Language Models (LLM) which are tools used to understand, generate, translate and answer queson such and ChatGPT (Naveed, 2023; OpenAI, 2025). Now, AI in educaon parcularly is becoming more and more advanced and those that adopt it quicker will capture the market and will potenally rollout other systems quicker than those following tradional methods. This then introduces us to mini-ChatGPT’s like tools or plaorms that have specific or targeted tasks with domain knowledge specializaon called Agents. As expounded by Plaat et al (2025) in their paper, Agenc large language models. Agenc AI refers to the systems/tools that can do 3 things reason, act and interact within the following context:• Understand its surroundings • Set and follow goals• Make choices without being told exactly what to do• Learn from experienceFor example, instead of just predicng what students need, agenc AI will make its own decisions, set goals, and interact with students in smarter ways (the key here being, by itself). Below we contrast the flow between an tradional system and an Agent.Figure 1. Visual representaon of tradional and agenc system (source, author)As depicted in the image above, not only would an agenc tool return the needed data, but would build human like interacons with itself or other 3rd pares on your behalf to return the most opmal path of events that can follow. The following are a few examples of the possible applicaons of Agents in the EdTech space;Use-cases in Educaon:• Curriculum Helpers: These AIs help teachers create lesson plans by looking at student data, learning goals, and classroom needs.• Smart Feedback Tools: These agents don’t just say what’s wrong — they figure out why a student made a mistake and suggest beer ways to learn.• Smart Selecon (Admission) Tools: These agents could be used interrogate the students' applicaons and input provided to make meaningful admissions into qualificaons – or even go deeper, recommend beer alternaves where the student in queson can have beer impact.• Team of AI Helpers: Some plaorms use mulple AI agents — one might act as a tutor, another as a classmate, and another as a supervisor — to create a more social and supporve learning experience.3. The FutureIn the future, agenc AI won’t just help with tasks — it will work with students, teachers and back-office administrators as partners, by acng as proacve, autonomous assistants that not only execute tasks but also make intelligent decisions, provide insights, and drive efficiency.Here’s what’s ComingAI Learning Companions:• Students might learn side-by-side with AI agents that ask quesons, try acvies, and reflect together — acng more like teammates than tools.Personalized Learning Over Time:• AI could track a student’s progress, interests, and learning style over months or years, adjusng lessons to fit their needs.Teacher and AI Working Together:• Instead of replacing teachers, AI will support them — 8

• helping with classroom tasks, checking how students are feeling, and customizing lessons for each student.Enhanced Decision-Making Support (Backoffice personnel):• Analyse vast amounts of data (financial reports, operaons metrics, compliance info) autonomously. It generates strategic insights, flags risks, and suggests opportunies to decision-makers in real me. Agents will monitor market/industry trends and generate quotas that can alert the admission teams to rebalance the intake of certain qualificaon depending on the need in the industry over the coming years.Safety and Ethics:• As AI becomes more independent, it’s important to make sure it behaves responsibly. Clear goals, -• - transparency, and human oversight will be key to keeping students safe.Conclusion: Empowering the Future of LearningAgenc AI represents a paradigm shi in EdTech — from tools that serves, to tools that collaborate. As these systems grow more capable, the role of academic staff, educators, students, and business through developers “over glorified typists �” must evolve in tandem. The future of learning isn’t just digital — it’s dialogic, dynamic, and increasingly agenc. In conclusion, Agenc AI doesn’t just respond — it reasons, adapts, and collaborates.From another “glorified typist”Thaps… see you again next me on tech-zinto9

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Victor KgomoeswanaOpinion PieceExecuve Director: Markeng & Communicaon, University of Limpopo“Personally, what drives me is the role I play in advancing UL as a centre of excellence for the Southern African region. Every successful campaign, every well-orchestrated event, every student inspired by our messaging—these are the quiet victories of operaonal staff. We may work behind the scenes, but we are indeed the backbone of the instuon.”

12The Backbone of the Instuon: Empowering Operaonal Staff for Sustainable Service Delivery – A Markeng Perspecve By Victor KgomoeswanaIn the machinery of any successful instuon, operaonal staff are oen the unsung heroes, quietly ensuring that the wheels keep turning. Within a university environment, where core funcons such as teaching, research, and community engagement are at the forefront, the operaonal teams working behind the scenes are vital. In my role as Execuve Director: Markeng and Communicaon at the University of Limpopo (UL), I’ve come to view empowerment not as a slogan, but as a strategic imperave, especially when service delivery and instuonal sustainability are at stake.Empowerment in Pracce: Beyond the BuzzwordTrue empowerment begins with a simple but profound queson: Can my team funcon without me? If each team member knows not just what we do, but why we do it and how it contributes to the broader instuonal goals, then we are empowering them. It involves creang systems and processes that are understood and respected, inslling a culture rooted in purpose, fairness, and outcomes. That’s how we build resilience in our instuons.My leadership philosophy, an evolving blend of transformaonal, strategic, and authenc leadership, centres on aligning the team with the university’s vision and then leading by example. When people see consistency, fairness, and clarity from their leader, it gives them the confidence to stay focused, be ethical, and deliver with intent.Markeng: A Strategic and Operaonal AnchorMarkeng is oen seen through a narrow strategic lens, but its day-to-day role is very much operaonal. At UL, Markeng and Communicaon contributes directly to the university’s strategic goals, such as enhancing its reputaon and visibility. Yet, it also plays a frontline operaonal role, especially when it comes to implemenng campaigns, hosng public events, or coordinang high-impact acvies like graduaonceremonies. These are not mere formalies; they are opportunies to deepen alumni engagement, showcase excellence, and inspire the next generaon.Take student recruitment, for example. While the act of teaching and learning sits at the heart of the university’s mission, it cannot happen without students. Our role in aracng prospecve students, supporng research showcases, or curang instuonal events is a form of strategic operaons—making markeng both a backbone and a bridge.Equipping the Backbone: Skills for Sustainable DeliveryEmpowering operaonal staff in markeng and communicaons requires more than technical know-how. It demands strategic thinking, professionalism, and nuanced communicaon skills. Our staff must not only perform tasks but understand their strategic value. They must know how to engage a wide array of stakeholders, from students to academics, media to government, while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and relevance.To support this, the University of Limpopo invests in professional development, including memberships to industry bodies like PRISA, and provides funding for further studies, parcularly at UL. We also offer praccal learning opportunies to students through internships and student assistant roles, ensuring a pipeline of capable future professionals.Collaboraon as CultureAt UL, we view Markeng and Communicaon as an internal service provider, one that thrives through collaboraon with other operaonal units, be it Student Services, Facilies, or IT. Planning, designing, execung, and reviewing iniaves in partnership ensures a unified, instuon-wide approach to service delivery.However, the challenge of collaboraon is real. The silo mentality, driven by deeply personal investment in one's own domain, can inhibit collecve progress. Somemes, instuonal reward systems unintenonally favour individualism over teamwork. That’s why leadership must be intenonally transformaonal, advocang for a shared vision and fostering synergy across departments.Lessons from a Mulfaceted CareerMy experience across corporate, media, and educaon sectors has been invaluable. Whether at Ernst & Young, in the NGO sector, or through media engagements, I’ve learned the importance of being outcomes-driven, customer-centric, and strategically agile. These insights -

have directly shaped how I manage markeng operaons at UL, from building media relaonships and navigang crises, to stakeholder engagement and strategy formulaon.Looking Back, Thinking ForwardSince joining the University of Limpopo, I have had the privilege of building the Markeng and Communicaon strategy from the ground up. We’ve introduced systems, structured the department, and launched campaigns that have posioned UL as a naonal asset and connental player.The next five years are about consolidaon and elevaon. We aim to leverage technology, strengthen inter-departmental relaonships, deepen alumni engagement, and benchmark ourselves internaonally to reach world-class standards.A Word to Higher Educaon LeadersMarkeng must not be treated as an aerthought or a reacve tool during crises. It is a strategic enabler that should be integrated into the instuon’s planning cycles. Instuons that embrace this perspecve will reap the benefits in both brand equity and operaonal coherence.Personally, what drives me is the role I play in advancing UL as a centre of excellence for the Southern African region. Every successful campaign, every well-orchestrated event, every student inspired by our messaging—these are the quiet victories of operaonal staff. We may work behind the scenes, but we are indeed the backbone of the instuon.13

Behind Every Payslip and Leave Day: Meet the Team That Makes HR & Payroll Magic Happen!by Jeridah MakwalaWhen you think of payroll, you might think of payslips, spreadsheets, and submission deadlines. But behind the curtain of numbers and compliance is a passionate, ght-knit team bringing the ITS HR & Payroll system to life, day in and day out.This month, we pull back that curtain to introduce the HR/Payroll DevOps Team, the engine room powering one of the most mission-crical modules in the ITS ecosystem.Who Are the Heroes Behind the Screens?Meet the people turning complex HR processes into streamlined, user-friendly experiences:• Brilliant Tleane – Product Owner, steering the vision• Jackie Rielly – Senior Developer & Team Lead, the calm in every storm• Elsabe Marggraf – Senior Developer, coding excellence personified• Lucia Sithole – Developer & Jasper reporng wizard• Bheki Shandu – Senior Developer and newest member of the crew• Allie de Nysschen & Vikesh Ravjee – Our sharp-eyed Senior Business AnalystsWhat makes them click? It’s more than just technical know-how—it’s a shared mission: make life easier for HR & Payroll teams across campuses.“We are a small team, but we are agile, collaborave, and completely client focused. Every improvement we make has people behind it—users counng on us to get it right.”What Does a Typical Day Look Like?No two days are ever the same. Some start with invesgang incidents. Others begin with planning for system enhancements or diving into client feature requests.There’s always someone in the “hotseat”, the go-to for urgent DevOps issues, while others work on everything from new funconality to technical deep-dives. Regular team huddles keep the momentum going and make sure no one is le behind when the pressure’s on.And when things heat up? The team rallies. No lone rangers here, just one unit, many minds.What Do Clients Need Most?Timing is everything in payroll, and this team knows it. From processing monthly salaries to managing year-end tax submissions, client needs are oen cyclical…and somemes urgent.

15“Tax season can feel like a landslide! But with proacve validaons and early prep, we help clients avoid last-minute panic.”Some common support areas include:• Leave, Claims, Roung workflows• Jasper reporng snags (think server syncs, data sources, or permission issues)• Payroll setups that meet unique instuon requirementsThe goal? Solve quickly, build trust, and constantly improve.What We’re Most Proud Of?The Payroll program itself is a standout—highly accurate, adaptable, and built to handle complexity with ease.Features clients love:• Reliable tax calculaons (yes, even the edge cases!)• Flexible setup opons with global defaults and custom overrides• The well-loved Calc Method “i”, unlocking tailor-made payroll logic• A self-service leave module—clean, accessible, and widely usedAnd then there’s the new Total Guaranteed Package ( TGP) funconality—modern, efficient, and currently being rolled out to instuons who want more control and clarity around employee remuneraon.Moments That Maered?One of the team's most impacul projects? Completely restructuring a client’s payroll setup from scratch—shiing from Salary + Benefits to a flexible Cost-to-Company (CTC) model.Despite a ght deadline, the team not only delivered on me—they delivered a week early, ensuring a smooth transion before the final salary run.Staying Sharp, Staying CompliantIn a world where tax laws and labour regulaons are always shiing, staying current is non-negoable.The team monitors:• The Payroll Authors Group (PAG)• Government Gazees• And works overnight if needed—especially aer naonal budget announcements—to update tax tables before payroll deadlines hit.Now that’s dedicaon.What Makes This Team Tick?It’s a mix of skills, values, and mindset:• Client-first thinking• Problem-solving agility• Teamwork without ego• A growth mindset—always asking, “How can we do this beer?”They don’t just fix things. They make the system stronger, smarter, and more user-friendly.What’s Next?If given a magic wand, the team would:• Automate more manual processes, reducing errors and freeing up user me• Expand mobile capabilies to support clients on the moveThe vision? A smarter, more intuive ITS experience—one that just works, wherever you are.Final Words to Our HR/Payroll Users“You’re using one of the most robust systems out there—explore it fully! Take advantage of its features, dig into what it can do, and don’t be afraid to ask quesons. We’re here to help.”To the HR/Payroll DevOps Team: thank you for being the quiet force behind every successful payroll run and every sasfied client.And to potenal clients reading this: your HR team deserves a system,and a support crew like this.

Fast. Accurate. Effortless.Mark Smarter, Not Harder.ICAS automates results and grading—so your academic staff can focus on teaching, not admin. Instantly idenfy passes, fails, and supplementaries with ease.

Non-Academic Staff: The Operaonal Engine Behind Higher EducaonBy Princess AndriesAs South Africa’s higher educaon sector connues to evolve in response to student demand, policy reform, and digital transformaon, there is growing recognion of the vital role played by non-academic staff. These professionals—spanning student services, finance, ICT, administraon, HR, and infrastructure—form the core of daily operaons in both universies and TVET colleges.In recent months, several developments have reaffirmed just how integral these teams are to instuonal performance.One notable intervenon came from the Naonal Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which deployed 50 servicing administrators and 50 graduate interns across TVET campuses at the start of 2025. The move was designed to improve on-the-ground service during registraon, support bursary administraon, and ease operaonal pressure on instuonal staff. This rollout followed an advance payment of R641 million to colleges to cover tuion and student allowances, ensuring readiness for the academic year.Careers Portal, 16 Jan 2025The importance of adequately staffed administrave -funcons was further highlighted during a Parliamentary oversight visit in January. While the visit focused broadly on readiness for the 2025 academic year, a recurring theme was the need to fill vacant non-academic posts in areas such as HR, finance, and general administraon.

18Instuons were encouraged to priorise appointments to avoid operaonal delays and ensure full support for academic acvies. Universies also benefit from integrated management soluons such as Adapt IT’s ITS system, which enhances their capacity to meet stringent reporng and governance requirements efficiently, ensuring connued funding and stakeholder trust.Parliament.gov.za, 30 Jan 2025Simultaneously, the growing demand for holisc student services has placed a spotlight on support units such as academic advising, wellness, and career guidance. Instuons that have invested in these areas are seeing measurable improvements in student retenon and engagement. As a result, several performance improvements plan under review for the 2025–2027 cycle include the expansion and professional development of student-facing support staff.[DHET Instuonal Performance Reports, 2024/2025 Dra]Digital transformaon across the sector has also drawn aenon to the work of non-academic ICT and systems teams. In a sector briefing by Amazon Web Services (AWS), universies were commended for their ability to adapt mission-crical plaorms for registraon and assessment- thanks to skilled internal teams managing cloud infrastructure and enterprise soware. Their work has ensured system connuity, data integrity, and operaonal resilience during periods of peak demand.AWS Public Sector Blog, Dec 2024Looking ahead, the development of non-academic leadership is emerging as a key area of focus. A webinar hosted by Vaal University of Technology in November 2024 explored the need for structured career progression and leadership development for middle managers in support roles. Discussions included succession planning, transformaon, and the importance of recognising operaonal staff as strategic contributors to instuonal growth.VUT Webinar Summary, Nov 2024These developments, taken together, signal a broader shi in the sector: one that affirms non-academic staff not only as enablers of instuonal success, but as crical partners in delivering the naonal higher educaon agenda. Their contribuon is foundaonal to the funconing, responsiveness, and transformaon of the sector—oen without fanfare, but never without impact.

• How do we ensure that AI serves to enhance, rather than replace, the educator’s role?Nkosinathi masterfully guided the panel through these complex topics, encouraging open dialogue and challenging aendees to think beyond the buzzwords.Driving Transformaon Through Inclusion and InnovaonBuilding on the momentum, Matshele M. closed the session with a powerful presentaon focused on the real-world implicaons of AI in vocaonal training. Her message was clear: innovaon must serve everyone. She highlighted three crical pillars:• Content Curaon – Leveraging AI to create more tailored, adapve learning paths for students, improving outcomes and engagement.• Accessibility and Inclusion – Designing learning environments that meet the needs of differently abled students, ensuring no one is le behind in the digital revoluon.• Educator Readiness – Encouraging faculty to become change agents, equipped with the tools and mindset to embrace connuous technological change.Her presentaon sparked meaningful discussions throughout the conference—underscoring Adapt IT’s commitment not just to digital transformaon, but to inclusive, human-centred innovaon.More Than a Presence—A PurposeATEC 2025: Adapt IT Champions Innovaon in Vocaonal EducaonBy Jeridah MakwalaThe Annual Technical Educators Conference (ATEC) 2025 has officially wrapped—leaving in its wake a powerful exchange of ideas, bold discussions, and renewed energy around the future of technical and vocaonal educaon. Held from 18 to 20 June at the Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, the conference drew educaon leaders, and industry experts under the theme:“Cra the Future: Quality Vocaonal Educaon Models and Training Through Modern Technologies.”As a proud sponsor, Adapt IT was not only visible, but acvely engaged in helping drive the conversaons that maer.Shaping the Narrave on AI in EducaonThe opening session, moderated by our very own Nkosinathi Hlongwane, set a compelling tone for the days ahead. His session, “The Role of AI in Educaon Today,” tackled some of the most pressing quesons on the minds of educators and technologists alike:• How is AI currently being used in vocaonal educaon environments?• What are the opportunies and risks in adopng AI tools for teaching and learning?

Beyond the stage, Adapt IT engaged with aendees at our stand, showcasing soluons designed to support TVET instuons with integrated management systems, digital campus soluons, and data-driven decision-making tools. The response was overwhelmingly posive, with instuons expressing a clear desire for scalable, future-fit technologies.Looking AheadATEC 2025 confirmed what we already knew—technical and vocaonal educaon is at a turning point, and the integraon of modern technologies is no longer oponal, but essenal. As we reflect on the conference, we remain commied to walking alongside instuons in this journey—providing the tools, insights, and support they need to thrive in a digitally driven world.A big thank you to the ATEC organisers for pung together such a dynamic plaorm, and to our team for represenng Adapt IT with passion, insight, and excellence.Student Finance, Front and Centre: A Powerful Week with Ingwe TVETWe recently had the pleasure of welcoming the amazing team from Ingwe TVET College to our Adapt IT campus for an in-person training session focused on the Student Debtors module.This visit marked another important milestone in our growing partnership—strengthening our shared commitment to financial excellence in the TVET sector and delivering praccal, hands-on support where it truly counts.But this session was about much more than just learningsystem features. It was about empowering the dedicated professionals behind the scenes—the people who quietly work to ensure students are financially supported while keeping instuons sustainable. The Student Debtors funcon is where empathy meets accountability, and where finance teams become not only number managers but also advocates, advisors, and champions of student success.Our gracious host, Annamarie Witbooi, made sure everyone felt welcome and supported throughout the visit with her warm hospitality and careful aenon to detail. Led by our team of specialists, the training covered everything from streamlining system processes to customizing features to fit Ingwe’s unique needs. The energy, collaboraon, and knowledge-sharing in the room were truly inspiring.As our Managing Director, Luxolo Rubushe, recently shared:“Massive strides are being made by Ingwe TVET and other colleges in adopng and leveraging our iconic ITS Integrator ERP system. Our White Space Programme connues to gain momentum across TVET colleges, thanks to the strong leadership of Xolelwa Olayi, Desiree Makofane, Zakhele Khathide, and Amanda Lubbe. And the launch of the much-ancipated TVET Template is just around the corner.”We congratulate everyone involved on these excing developments and look forward to connuing our support as TVET instuons innovate and transform.To the passionate professionals from Ingwe TVET College—thank you for your ongoing dedicaon. Your work might oen happen behind the scenes, but your impact is front and centre.Here’s to stronger systems, deeper partnerships, and a shared commitment to student success.20

Honouring Legacy, Empowering the Future: A Proud Partnership with the Sam Nzima FoundaonAdapt IT Educaon was honoured to partner with the Sam Nzima Foundaon during the Youth Day 2025 Memorial Weekend in Mbombela, a powerful celebraon of leadership, talent, and community impact.A Weekend of Purpose and ProgressThe weekend kicked off with the Sam Nzima Foundaon Golf Day, where this year’s event saw a record-breaking number of women parcipants, many of whom ranked among the top performers. The day ended with an inspiring prizegiving ceremony, highlighng excellence, camaraderie, and the call for even more women to join next year’s event.Later that evening, our Group Managing Director hosted a networking dinner with key stakeholders, including Mr Motha, Deputy Principal: Academic Teaching and Learning. It was an opportunity to strengthen relaonships and share ideas on advancing educaon through meaningful collaboraon.The weekend culminated in the 5th Dr Sam Nzima Memorial Lecture held at the TUT Mbombela Campus. A thought-provoking keynote by Prof Pika Ntuli tled “49 Years Since June 16 – Lots to Celebrate or Lots of Disappointments” invited reflecon and renewed purpose. The programme included powerful contribuons from academic leaders, a hearelt tribute by Jabu Nzima, and a standout poem by a student named Lerato, who moved the audience with a message of youth, hope, and leadership.Community ImpactTrue to the spirit of giving, the Sam Nzima Foundaon made a generous donaon to St John’s Care Center, a Child and Youth Care NPO based in Mpumalanga, reinforcing the importance of supporng and upliing vulnerable youth.Our CommitmentThis partnership aligns deeply with Adapt IT Educaon’s commitment to youth empowerment, educaon, and legacy-building. We are proud to walk alongside the Sam Nzima Foundaon in driving purpose-led iniaves that celebrate the past while building a stronger future.21

22

Vaal University of Technology Marks a Milestone with ITS Infinity: First Postgraduate Applicaons Successfully SubmiedBy Bridget NkunaThe Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has taken a bold step into the future of student administraon with the successful implementaon of ITS Infinity. This new chapter was marked by a proud moment on 5 June 2025, when the first two postgraduate students officially submied their applicaons using the system.These students' stories embody resilience and ambion, making this achievement even more meaningful. Their shared senment, "we are cruising nicely," captures both their personal journeys and the experience of using the ITS Infinity plaorm — smooth, efficient, and future-ready."I never imagined applying for my Master’s would be this seamless," one student shared. "It feels like VUT is truly invested in making things easier for us."Why It Maers• Simplified Processes: ITS Infinity has modernised the applicaon experience at VUT, making it easier and faster for postgraduate students to submit applicaons from anywhere.• User-Friendly Experience: Both students expressed that the system was intuive, eliminang the usual paperwork hassles.• Instuonal Progress: This milestone highlights VUT’s commitment to embracing digital transformaon in higher educaon administraon.Looking AheadThe success of these first applicaons signals a posive trajectory for VUT’s postgraduate intake process. As more students follow in their footsteps, VUT is posioned as a leader in leveraging educaon technology to enhance the student experience.We congratulate VUT and the pioneering students. The future indeed looks bright!

24

ITS Integrator: One System. Total Control.Streamline student, finance, HR, and academic workflows with a trusted ERP built for higher educaon.Real-me. Scalable. Proven.

Product Enhancements That Drive Efficiency and EmpowermentBy Onalennna MangopeWe’re excited to introduce several enhancements across our Payroll and HR systems, each designed to support greater efficiency, transparency, and employee empowerment.TGP Module – Payroll SimplifiedOur Payroll system now features a comprehensive TGP (Total Guaranteed Package) module. This ensures accurate and flexible payroll structuring by consolidang all guaranteed earnings and employer contribuons into a single, streamlined package. The result? Reduced administrave complexity and improved transparency for both HR and employees.Disciplinary and Grievance – Fair and Consistent ProcessesWe’re expanding our HR system with a robust Disciplinary and Grievance subsystem. Built to ensure fair, consistent, and efficient resoluon of employee concerns and misconduct cases, this enhancement strengthens organisaonal integrity and promotes a culture of accountability.Skills Development – Empowering Employee GrowthWith our enhanced Skills Development subsystem, employees can now plan, track, and grow their competencies through personalised learning paths. Built-in progress monitoring ensures that individual development is not only connuous but also aligned with broader organisaonal goals.These upgrades reflect our ongoing commitment to delivering systems that support your operaonal needs while enhancing the employee experience.

Parallel Roles, Shared PurposeBy Princess AndriesA conversaon over coffee between two colleagues…Monde (Client-facing | DevOps Consultant):I just wrapped up a session with one of the universies- , Student Affairs, Finance Office. Honestly, I walked away feeling so inspired. They’re not in the academic limelight, but wow… the heart they pour into student success is unmatched.Fred (Internal | Finance Business Partner):That’s powerful. It reminds me of how easily we forget the ones who support the system from the inside out. We always think “impact” equals “external” or “revenue driven.” But the back end is its own balefield too.Monde:Exactly! And the crazy part? It made me reflect on our own world here. When I’m client-facing, I know people oen associate that with being ‘core’. But none of what we do would land without the teams supporng us. Your finance reports, HR's people strategies, Markeng driving external communicaon... It all builds the structure.Fred:We oen joke that we're “not the headline acts” of the business. But the truth is, we’re the backbone that quietly holds things together. Finance watches the boom line, HR protects the people, L&D ensures we grow... It’s all connected.Monde:It’s like what Student Affairs does for students—they don’t teach, but they make learning possible. Same here. You don’t work on the product, but you make the product teams stronger, sharper, and supported.Fred:And isn’t that the heart of inclusion? Not just who’s at the table, but who makes it possible for the table to stand. Different desks, shared purpose.Monde:Well said. We all serve…just in different ways.Fred:And together, we build something bigger than any single role.27

World Refugee Day, 20 JuneRaises awareness of the plight of refugees and the need for global solidaritySouth Africa’s Diversity & Inclusion Observances in June 2025By Princess AndriesYouth Day, 16 June Commemorates the 1976 Soweto Uprising and the youth’s role in the fight against apartheid

29Father’s Day, 21 JuneA day to celebrate and appreciate fathers, including LGBTQI + parentsYouth MonthHonours the history, struggles, and achievements of young people in South Africa

Drowning in ManualApplicaons?ITS Infinity simplifies admissions with automac scoring based on applicants’ academic results (APS), smart document uploads, and real-me applicaon tracking, so your team spends less me on admin and more me selecng top candidates.Modern admissions. Done right.

Andries RamakgwakgwaCoffee with...Assistant Registrar: Faculty of Management and Law, University of Limpopo“We are here to serve students with purpose, innovaon, and respect, because every student maers.”

32Soluon-Driven Leadership: The Andries Ramakgwakgwa Way By Andries RamakgwakgwaMeet Andries Ramakgwakgwa, a professional known for his innovave thinking, soluon-driven mindset, and unwavering dedicaon to academic administraon. In this edion of Coffee Session, we get to know the man behind the tle, his journey, philosophy, and the values that drive his service to higher educaon.Meet the Mind Behind the MissionIf you had to sum him up in three words, Andries Ramakgwakgwa would say: Professional, Innovave, Soluon-driven. And that’s exactly how he approaches each day in his role as Assistant Registrar for the Faculty of Management and Law at the University of Limpopo.“My typical day involves coordinang and leading the academic administraon of the faculty, ensuring a sustained, professional working environment for my team, and serving all stakeholders with a posive, soluon-driven mindset,” he shares.But for Andries, higher educaon is more than a profession, it’s a calling. What inspires him most is “the privilege of serving the next generaon of scholars… who will go on to make a tangible difference in their communies, South Africa, and the broader African connent.” Being part of this impact, he says, aligns with the university’s mission of “finding soluons for Africa.”Career JourneyAndries entered the higher educaon space in 2012 and has since built a career marked by purpose and transformaon. One of his proudest achievements? “The successful incorporaon of my innovave and creave ideas into our service iniaves, providing life-changing opportunies for students who previously saw no path to higher educaon.”During the COVID-19 pandemic, like many in the sector, he faced major challenges. But he met them with agility: “We swily implemented digital tools to serve our stakeholders online and in a hybrid environment,” ensuring connued access to vital services.Faculty and Student SuccessFor Andries, working within the Faculty of Management and Law brings immense sasfacon.“I enjoy the professional environment, the clearly evident results of our performance, and watching my team grow both personally and professionally,” he says.He is especially passionate about student success, which he believes hinges on exceponal customer service and professional conduct. “Every student deserves to be treated with respect and kindness. We also need to ensure that our plaorms are user-friendly and impacul.”He credits the University of Limpopo’s uniqueness to its “rich heritage, strong community es, and influenal alumni who hold strategic posions in both the public and private sectors.”Educaon and TechnologyTechnology, according to Andries, plays an essenal role in transforming higher educaon. “It enables seamless service delivery, provides convenience, fosters cost-effecve and impacul communicaon, and ulmately improves the quality of service to all stakeholders,” he explains.He’s excited about systems like the newly developed ITS Infinity and Freshdesk, which he believes have the potenal to revoluonise student management and enhance service delivery.Looking ahead, he envisions a fully digised faculty: “In the next five years, I hope to see all administrave processes online, backed by a highly innovave, soluon-driven team at the core.”Life Beyond the OfficeWhen he’s not streamlining academic operaons, you might find Andries exploring mulmedia technology or following naonal and global geopolical and economic developments. His passion for tech runs deep, he’s even a mulmedia specialist, a fact that might surprise many who know him only in his registrar role.His life philosophy is grounded in faith: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” — Philippians 4:13.Whether leading systems innovaon or quietly mentoring his team, Andries Ramakgwakgwa exemplifies a thoughul, progressive approach to academic administraon. His vision, dedicaon, and faith in the transformave power of educaon connue to make a meaningful impact at the University of Limpopo, and beyond.

“Sharpen your sword. Invest in your growth through courses, coaching, and feedback. Let your voice be known. Speak up with respect. And always celebrate your successes, no maer how small.”Phumzile WilliardUp Close & Personal Human Capital Business Partner

34Phumzile Williard: Human Capital with Heart By Bridget NkunaAs Human Capital Business Partner, Phumzile combines her love for people with over two decades of professional experience to help align Adapt IT Educaon’s human capital value chain with its business goals. But her journey wasn’t always in HR.“My career started in 1998 as a Leadership & Development Specialist. It wasn’t in Human Capital then, but I loved people maers,” she shares. Aer retrenchment and a career pivot, she joined Adapt IT in 2015, bringing with her a Master of Commerce in Human Resource Management and a deep-rooted passion for creang posive environments.When asked to describe herself in three words, Phumzile says she’s “fun-loving, supporve, and people oriented.” Those qualies shine through in how she leads and supports others. “Leadership for me is about creang a culture where people feel seen, heard, and valued,” she says. “I believe I show up as a leader when I inspire trust and empower growth.”Learning Through the JourneyLike many seasoned professionals, Phumzile acknowledges that her path wasn’t always smooth. She reflects on the challenges of Human Capital and stakeholder misalignment. “That taught me to stay focused on posive outcomes,” she says with quiet certainty.Her proudest professional achievement? “The execuon of the Human Capital Value Chain, ensuring that each stage of the employee lifecycle is aligned with divisional needs and culture.” For Phumzile, it’s not about quick wins but consistent, thoughul engagement that delivers meaningful results.Values that Anchor HerRespect and honesty are central to how Phumzile engages. “I treat everyone with dignity, regardless of role, background, or opinion,” she says. “Building trust with the teams I support is vital.”When navigang the balance between empathy and accountability, Phumzile offers a grounded approach: “I seek to understand first, the ‘why.’ That guides a fair and construcve path forward.”Her advice to her younger self would be simple but powerful: “Exercise a degree of paence in all situaons.”Beyond the DeskOutside of work, Phumzile’s passions include music, especially anything with a symphony orchestra. And while she says there’s nothing parcularly surprising about her, she treasures light conversaons, good company, and a good laugh as part of her self-care roune.Her personal mantra? “With paence, I trust the process.”Looking to the FuturePhumzile’s excitement about the future of Human Capital in educaon and tech is infecous. “AI and data analycs open up opportunies for praconers to design individualized growth journeys based on competency frameworks and relevant, impacul learning,” she says.When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave, she keeps it simple yet profound: “Be kind. Treat everyone with dignity.”A Final Word of EncouragementTo young professionals, especially women, aspiring to grow into leadership roles, Phumzile offers this hearelt advice:“Sharpen your sword. Invest in your growth through courses, coaching, and feedback. Let your voice be known. Speak up with respect. And always celebrate your successes, no maer how small.”Phumzile Williard may describe herself as fun-loving, supporve, and people-oriented, but to her colleagues at Adapt IT Educaon, she is also a quiet force for good: paent, consistent, and always human first.

MD’s OfficeTeam Profile

36At the Heart of It All – The Top Offices By Princess AndriesIn every organisaon, there’s a space where vision meets execuon, where careers are shaped, and where every department, no maer how different, finds its link. For us, that space is the MD’s office.This month, we shine a warm light on the office of our Managing Director…Mr Luxolo Rubushe fondly known as Mphathi, MD, Lux …a place that quietly supports every one of us. Whether we’re in Sales, Development, HR, or Support, our efforts all feed into the strategic heart led by a man who sees us, hears us, and champions us. For years, he has walked alongside our CEO, Mr Tony Vincente, helping to steer the ship with steadiness and insight.And then there’s Lesego…the calm in the storm, the gatekeeper, the connector. With a knack for juggling diaries, emails, and urgent requests, she keeps the rhythm of the MD’s office smooth and steady. We’ve all received that gentle nudge or helpful reply that makes us feel seen…even on the busiest days.This is more than an office. It’s a centre of gravity. A space of leadership, support, and direcon. And we’re all beer for the way it holds us together.

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