Experience

Dr. Loquitur Maka is a researcher and academic leader focusing on Sustainable Agriculture and Higher Education. Holding a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture, Masters in Agricultural Extension, and currently pursuing a second Master’s in Education, she brings a unique perspective to her work. As the Assistant Director of Institutional Research at the University of the Free State, Dr. Maka is passionate about driving academic growth, strategic planning, and mentorship. She is also dedicated to supporting emerging leaders through her involvement with the Young African Leaders Initiative and GreenMatter Fellowship. Her career is focused on creating positive change in education and research.

Assistant Director: Monitoring and Institutional Research (Directorate for Institutional Research and Academic Planning) 

University of Free State, Bloemfontein Campus, Free State 

July 2023- Current 

Duties 

• Scholarly Research: Conducts high-quality scholarly research aligned with the University's strategic goals, facilitating informed decision-making and leading to scholarly presentations and publications.

• Alignment with UFS Vision: Reviews the research agenda and projects within the Management Information and Research (MIR) department to ensure their alignment with the UFS vision and strategic direction.

• Institutional Research: Engages in institutional research that supports planning, policy formulation, and decision-making processes.

• Management of Longitudinal Projects: Manages longitudinal research projects in various areas, such as institutional culture surveys, to identify strategic imperatives requiring attention and planning.

• Innovation in Research Focus: Introduces new institutional research foci to remain current with evolving trends in higher education and the external environment.

• External Context Analysis: Conducts analyses to enhance the understanding of the external context affecting UFS, including trends in state funding, policy shifts, and matriculation results.  

Postgraduate Writing Consultant (Centre for Postgraduate Studies)

University of Free State, Bloemfontein Campus, Free State

Feb 2023 – Current

Duties:

• Enhancing Argumentation: Strengthening arguments within academic documents, placing a specific emphasis on improving structural elements, logical coherence, progression, and proper referencing.

• Structural Guidance: Assisting postgraduate students in structuring their dissertations, theses, chapters, or research proposals to ensure overall coherence and logical flow.

• Academic Register Evaluation: Evaluating the academic register employed in the documents, with a particular focus on maintaining a formal language, achieving conciseness, and enhancing overall clarity.

• Support for Academic Conventions: Providing support and guidance related to general academic conventions, including the correct use of sources, citations, in-text references, reference lists or bibliographies, and offering direction to ensure avoidance of plagiarism.

Institutional Researcher (Centre for Teaching and Learning)

University of Free State, Bloemfontein Campus, Free State

Dec 2022 – June 2023

Duties:

• Student Engagement and Success Research: Collaborate on the conceptualization, planning, analysis, and reporting of research focused on student engagement and success at the University of the Free State (UFS) and nationally.

• Learning and Teaching Research Projects: Contribute to the conceptualization, planning, analysis, and reporting of various learning and teaching research initiatives within the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), the UFS, and at the national level.

• Research Support Initiatives: Offer assistance to other focus areas within the CTL and units within the UFS by participating in research development and support initiatives.

• Statistical and Qualitative Analysis: Conduct both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, as well as qualitative analysis, as required for the research projects.

• Dissemination of Research: Present research findings through appropriate channels, including reports, conferences, and journal publications, to contribute to the broader academic discourse.

• Mentoring and Training: Provide mentoring and training to other CTL staff members, fostering their understanding of research processes and methodologies.

Online Facilitator (Young African Leaders Initiative)

University of South Africa, Midrand, Gauteng

June 2018 – July 2023

Duties:

• Guidance and Facilitation: Provide guidance and facilitate the learning process on the online platform, ensuring an effective and engaging educational experience.

• Participant Support: Respond promptly to participants' queries, addressing their concerns and aiding as needed to enhance their online learning journey.

• Discussion Facilitation: Initiate and actively contribute to online chat rooms and discussion forums, fostering meaningful discussions and debates that promote collaborative learning and knowledge exchange.

Contract Lecturer: B.Ed. (Natural Sciences and Life Sciences) 

Cape Peninsula University of Technology 

April 2022 – Nov 2022

Duties:

• Teaching Planning: Plan teaching activities, including the preparation of lectures, seminars/tutorials, and the development of relevant learning materials to facilitate effective learning experiences.

• Engagement in Learning and Teaching: Actively engage in the learning and teaching process, delivering lectures and seminars, conducting assessments, and contributing to the overall educational experience of students.

• Research Endeavors: Undertake research activities, which may include scholarly research relevant to the field of Natural Sciences and Life Sciences, to stay updated and contribute to the academic knowledge base.

• Student Support: Address participants' queries promptly, offering guidance and clarification on academic matters. Additionally, meet with students individually to discuss their academic progress and provide supervision for student research projects.

Educator: Agricultural Sciences, Natural Sciences and Business Studies 

Western Cape Education Department, Metro East District (Soneike High School)

Jan 2021 – Mar 2022

Duties:

• Classroom Teaching: Engage in classroom teaching, covering various aspects including academic instruction, administrative tasks, educational support, and maintaining discipline among students.

• Academic Oversight: Oversee the academic progress of students, ensuring they receive comprehensive instruction and support in Agricultural Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Business Studies.

• Extracurricular Activities: Organize and coordinate extracurricular and co-curricular activities that complement the educational curriculum, fostering a holistic learning experience for learners and promoting their overall development.

Researcher (Smallholder Agricultural Development Unit)

Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, Gauteng

Oct 2017 – Jan 2022

Duties:

• Research for Stakeholder Development: Conduct both quantitative and qualitative research aimed at supporting, developing, and enhancing the capacities of smallholder farmers and other stakeholders within the agricultural value chain.

• Data Management: Oversee data collection processes, which may involve individual face-to-face interviews, group interviews, data capturing, and thorough data analysis to derive meaningful insights.

• Research Publications: Compile and publish research papers that contribute to agricultural research for development, thereby sharing knowledge and promoting advancements in the agricultural sector. Additionally, participate in the review process of research papers.

• Skills Transfer and Training: Take responsibility for imparting skills and knowledge through training sessions to ARC (Agricultural Research Council) researchers, agricultural advisors/officers, and farmers. This includes sharing best practices and emerging insights gained through research endeavours.

Training Assistant (Training and Advisory Unit)

Agricultural Research Council, Pretoria, Gauteng

Oct 2017 – Jan 2022

Duties:

• Extension Training Assessment: Assisting in the assessment and review of Big 5 Extension Training tools, ensuring the quality and relevance of training resources.

• Training Coordination: Coordinating training programs for Agricultural Extension officers, facilitating their professional development.

• Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Conducting both quantitative and qualitative research activities as required for various projects and initiatives.

• Fieldwork and Data Collection: Engaging in fieldwork to collect data relevant to research and training initiatives, contributing to evidence-based decision-making.

• General Administration: Undertaking general administrative tasks to support the efficient operation of the Training and Advisory Unit.

Researcher (Agriculture and Rural Development Research Institute) 

University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape

Jan 2017- Sept 2017

Duties:

• Information and Knowledge Base Establishment: Participating in the establishment of an information and knowledge base focused on land administration and management capacity strengthening within District Land Reform Committees.

• Indicative Framework Development: Developing an indicative framework for the objective assessment of land needs and uses, contributing to more effective land resource management.

• Research: Conducting comprehensive research, encompassing all aspects from research design to implementation, with a focus on agriculture and rural development topics.

• ARDRI Newsletter Contribution: Contributing to the ARDRI newsletter, sharing insights, research findings, and knowledge with a broader audience.

Intern (Enterprise Portfolio, Programme, & Project Management Office)

Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, East London, EC

Apr 2015 – Mar 2016

Duties:

• Project Management System Interaction: Interacting with the EPMLive system to access information about all DRDLR projects and review project reports for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

• Project Audits and Visits: Conducting project audits and visits to assess the progress and performance of various projects within the department.

• Support and Training: Providing support and training to officials utilizing the EPMLive system, ensuring they can effectively use this project management tool.

• Administrative and Logistical Support: Handling administrative and logistical arrangements for EPMO officials, contributing to the smooth functioning of the office.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: Conducting project visits for Monitoring and Evaluation purposes, gathering data to assess project outcomes and impacts.

• Quarterly Reporting: Compiling and verifying quarterly reports for Monitoring and Evaluation, helping to track and communicate project progress

Student Tutor (Department of Agric. Economics and Extension)

University of Fort Hare, Alice, Eastern Cape

Feb 2013 – Mar 2015 

Duties:

• Facilitating Learning: Guiding students in comprehending and applying newly learned content in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension.

• Teaching-Learning Guidelines: Interpreting and implementing teaching-learning guidelines prepared for each tutorial session, ensuring effective communication of course material.

• Promoting Independent Learning: Assisting students in becoming independent and collaborative learners by fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

• Study Skills Development: Providing support and training to students in developing appropriate study skills to enhance their overall academic performance.

• Assignment and Report Assistance: Assisting students with assignments and practical reports, aiding them in meeting course requirements effectively.