Prof. David Phathabantu Ngidi bids farewell to CUT after 15 remarkable years of service.

Prof. David Phathabantu Ngidi says it still feels surreal that he will soon conclude fifteen years and six months at the Central University of Technology (CUT) when he bids farewell at the end of December 2025. His journey at CUT began on 1 July 2010, when he became the institution’s first substantive Dean of Humanities, a role he fulfilled with distinction for five years and six months.

Following the successful completion of his first term, he began his second five-year term as Dean, serving six months before being appointed Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC): Teaching and Learning from 1 January to 30 April 2016. He was subsequently appointed DVC: Teaching and Learning on 1 May 2016, a position he continues to hold as he approaches the conclusion of his second term on 30 April 2026.

Reflecting on his time as Dean, Prof. Ngidi speaks with deep pride and gratitude. Guided by a principle instilled by his doctoral mentor, “you cannot microwave research,” he advocated for meaningful, sustained scholarly engagement. He encouraged staff to pursue full research development rather than relying on abbreviated workshops, fostering a culture of rigorous inquiry within the faculty. During this time, he achieved a personal research milestone, earning a Category C NRF rating (2014-2019) through his scholarly publications.

Under his leadership, the Faculty of Humanities reached remarkable heights, becoming CUT’s top-performing faculty in research outputs and proportion of staff holding doctoral degrees. Beyond these achievements, Prof. Ngidi spearheaded the Strategic Transformation of Educational Programmes and Structures (STEPS) process aligned with Vision 2020. This initiative introduced new qualifications across undergraduate to doctoral levels and reshaped the faculty’s departmental structures and developments that continue to define CUT’s academic identity.

Before joining CUT, Prof. Ngidi served in several senior leadership roles at the University of Zululand, including Vice-Dean: Research, Higher Degrees and Community Engagement, and Head of the Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies. His contributions were recognised with an institutional Certificate of Recognition for research service, experience that prepared him well for his transition into executive leadership at CUT.

As DVC: Teaching and Learning, he has provided strategic direction across all four faculties, the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT), Work-Integrated Learning and Industry Liaison, and numerous key institutional initiatives. Among his most significant accomplishments are the legacy projects he initiated and championed, projects that continue to shape CUT’s future. These include the Academic Workload Model, the STEPS process (aligned to Vision 2023), and the Fully Online Programmes developed in partnership with Higher Education Partners South Africa (HEPSA), with the first three of eight programmes launched on 1 September 2025. These initiatives stand as enduring contributions to CUT’s academic landscape.

Grounded in the Psychology of Education, in which he holds both master’s and doctoral degrees, Prof. Ngidi has always valued collaboration and collective effort. He extends heartfelt appreciation to all colleagues who supported him across faculties, centres, divisions, and administrative units.

He also expresses sincere gratitude to CUT’s governance structures, including Senate (where he served as Deputy Chairperson and later as Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal from 2 November 2020 to 11 March 2021), the Institutional Forum, the SRC, organised labour, Executive Management, the Teaching and Learning Senior Management Team, and his office team.

In his closing words, Prof. Ngidi reflects warmly on his time at CUT: “Indeed, CUT has been good to me, and that would not be possible without all your support and love. Thank you for the wonderful time. It’s not goodbye but see you later!”

CUT proudly honours Prof. David Phathabantu Ngidi for his exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and transformative contributions that have shaped the institution for more than a decade.

Uploaded: 27 November 2025