Burning the midnight oil

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is the perfect workplace for someone like Neerasha Naidu – that is, somebody who wants to learn and knows how to make the most of every opportunity coming her way. Balancing work with studying and raising children was no mean feat – but it got easier, said Neerasha Naidu.

How do you experience UCT’s commitment to staff development?

I believe it’s incredibly empowering. I’ve benefited from training programmes and leadership development initiatives like the HERS programme for women in higher education. Most recently, I did a master’s in professional people management.

It was one of the most amazing programmes that I’ve ever done. It reinforced my belief that the most important aspect of my work is to enhance employee engagement and activity.

Tell us a bit more about this?

It’s important to have the right mindset – especially when running a team of 200 people. I work in student housing as a senior coordinator, and when my staff grow, their growth benefits me too. I know that they have many aspirations. We talk about them often.

But the trick, now, is how to get from talking to doing – whether that’s getting their matric certificate or furthering their studies, I want to help them wherever I can. Because when people around you seek these opportunities, it means they are motivated and committed. But you have to go out yourself and find those opportunities. Once you take that first step, the next step is a sense of discipline.

Tell us about your experience of studying while working?

Since I came to Cape Town 23 years ago, I’ve been studying part-time. Innately, I knew where I wanted to be, but I still had to make sacrifices – and it has been difficult at times, for sure.

Every Friday after work, my day would be: Go home after work, have a quick meal, shower, and then study until 02:00 in the morning. Then I was up at 05:00, and I’d study again till 20:00, and after that I was doing assignments – all while raising my daughters too! So there was no television, no going to the movies, no socialising. But it’s been worth it. I have been able to see my daughters get a quality education at UCT, too.

What’s next for you and UCT?

I’m going to continue to do my job as best I can – I’m sure of that. But also: I graduated on 3 April!

Now that I’ve finished my studies, it’s left something of a void. Who knows if I will study again? I have all this free time – I keep thinking, am I missing something?

My daughters always tell me: Mom, you must go out and live. And I’m happy to say that I am. I can catch up on movies, on my social life, and see old friends again. I can even play chess. All this time has given me a chance to reflect on how enriching my university experiences have been.

I can truly say it’s been worth it. People thought I was crazy at times. They said: Why would you want to study further at your age? But I believe in the goals of the university. I believe that, by improving myself, I can better contribute to them. That’s what I have done – and what I’ll continue to do.