The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management was recently recognised in two categories of the 2024 South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) Awards.
The school won an award in the category Best University in People Practices and Governance (PPG) Standards Alignment, and Debbie Mtshelwane, a lecturer and programme leader for Human Resource Management won an award in the Best Standard Research Paper/Dissertation category.
These awards were made at the recent annual SABPP People Factor Conference that took place in Johannesburg.
Debbie, who holds a master’s degree in human resource management from the NWU, says she feels proud, grateful and honoured that she and her school were nominated and won two of the awards.
"These achievements are truly the result of collaborative efforts from all the staff in our school, which led to us being recognised as the best university in PPG standards alignment. The research award is also a testament to the support, insights and advice from my research promoters, Prof Lizelle Rossouw and Prof Lene Graupner," says Debbie.
Debbie has played a key role in shaping the educational experience of students. She has demonstrated her dedication to the field through impactful initiatives such as master classes, work readiness workshops/webinars, internships during breaks, guest lectures, and industry days to support students and expose them to real-world human resource management practices. Through these efforts, she has facilitated valuable interactions between students and industry experts, equipping students with the necessary knowledge and skills for their future careers.
Debbie says her journey into human resource management was not a conventional one, but rather a serendipitous discovery. She initially aimed for a degree in communication, but she found herself redirected to human resource management due to capacity constraints. What seemed like a twist of fate turned out to be the beginning of a fulfilling career and a deep passion for human resource management education.
"I planned to switch to my first option of communication later, but then I ended up enjoying the human resource management modules and decided to stay," she explains.
Her advice to those who want to excel in this career?
“Dedication, perseverance and proactive engagement beyond the classroom are key to excel in human resources or industrial psychology. Commit to personal growth, take advantage of opportunities, stay updated with industry trends, develop soft skills, and remember that networking is crucial for career advancement. Consistently exceed expectations and maintain a lifelong learning mindset. If you strive for excellence in your professional journey, you will be going places."
Debbie Mtshelwane, a lecturer and programme leader for Human Resource Management won an award in the Best Standard Research Paper/Dissertation category at the 2024 South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) Awards.
