In the second quarter of 2018, women accounted for 43,8% of the total workforce, but only 32% of all managers.

Setting the example and standing shoulder to shoulder with her male counterparts in the higher education sector, is Prof Linda du Plessis, who was recently appointed vice-principal of the North-West University (NWU).

The vice-principal performs specific managerial, administrative and supervisory duties as assigned by the vice-chancellor, and will also act as the vice-chancellor in case the latter is absent, ill or otherwise unable to perform his or her duties. Prof Du Plessis follows in the footsteps of Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg, who retired at the end of 2018.

Career highlights

Prof Du Plessis has more than 25 years of experience in the higher education sector, and joined the NWU in September 2007. She made history by being the first-ever female vice-rector at the NWU’s campus in Vanderbijlpark. In 2016 she was appointed as campus rector, a role she had fulfilled since the year before. After the NWU’s strategic restructuring process in 2017, she was appointed as the deputy vice-chancellor responsible for overseeing operations at the campus in Vanderbijlpark, with the added responsibility of planning across the university.

She boasts several leadership and research awards and has contributed to various national and international publications. As a strategist she is well known for her dedication and focus when overseeing high-level projects.

Lifelong learning

Prof Du Plessis is passionate about higher education. Proving her commitment to being a lifelong learner, she is currently enrolled for a second doctoral degree in higher education management at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. As an NWU alumna, she obtained a BSc, BScHons and master’s degree in information systems and completed her doctoral studies in 2002 at the former Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.