tralac wishes to congratulate all graduates who recently graduated with Post-Graduate Diploma in Management Practice (Trade Law and Policy Management) from the University of Cape Town. The programme is presented by tralac in collaboration with the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. This postgraduate qualification is awarded and accredited by the University of Cape Town.

We would like to congratulate the following graduates on their success:  Sibusiso Gumede, Ekhsaan Jawoodeen, Siegfried Kuwite, Daniel Machemba, Shirley Moncho, Niven Muneesamy, William Mwanza, Kevin Naidoo, Zuko Ntsangani, Tina Reddy, Jodi Scholtz, Reginald Selelo, Hargreaves Sikwibele, Sephewe Chetane, Sam Geiseb, Fumane Matafle-Johnathan, Herbital Maluleke, Joyce Mutua, John Mwangakala, Lerato Ntlopo, Kleopas Sirongo and Marie Umulisa.

The graduation ceremony was held on 11 June 2009 at the Jameson Hall of the University of Cape Town.

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What the tralac programme has meant for me’

Niven Muneesamy says…

Tralac is doing a fantastic job in Southern Africa! The course has improved my competencies at multiple levels (managerial, technical and interpersonal). I am now in a better position to understand trade and regional integration issues, especially those pertaining to Southern Africa.  It is useful to highlight that the tralac course was well-organised – be it in terms of design, implementation, evaluation of learning and support to students.   I wish to sincerely thank you for having given me the opportunity to follow the course and for all the support provided by tralac to ensure my success.

Herbital Maluleke says…

South Africa has shortage graduate and professional skills. This has prompted me apply for a  Trade Law Centre for Southern Africa (Tralac) scholarship for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice (Trade Law and Policy) program. This program has helped me keep my mind focused on the positive contribution of developing the South African economy through trade facilitation. The program is more about intellectual challenge; the results were more of my personal growth. My success story begins when I was working for Limpopo Department of Agriculture as a junior agricultural economist to become a principal agricultural economist at Grain South Africa. The biggest thing this program has done for me is a chance to move my career again from being a principal agricultural economist to manage the international trade intelligence desk at the South African Agricultural Business Chamber (ABC) in Pretoria. This is my personal goal I have set for myself, and I have worked extra hard and tirelessly to get it.  I have learned more about the importance of trade for our continent, Africa. I have also realized that development and wealth can be easily realized through trade in Africa due to its abundance of natural resources, agricultural produce and minerals African countries can trade among each other as well as to the world. In conclusion, this program has boosted my confidence to give the kind of advice agribusiness/business requires. The greatest gift the program has given me is the ability to market my brand name Herbital Maluleke and build relationships with both public and private sector.

William Mwanza says…

The Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice (Trade Law and Policy) has been to me a very long, tough, but worthwhile experience. I have indeed come out ‘the other end of the conveyer belt’ a significantly value-added product! Firstly, the nature and intensity of the course meant I needed to manage my time well so as to maintain an effective life balance i.e. between my work, family, academic, and social commitments. I strongly believe this emphasis on effective time management, as well as other systemic management concepts I have acquired on the course, will greatly assist me in all my future endeavours, particularly with regard to my contributions to effective management of trade policy. Indeed, the trade law and policy aspect of the course has also been highly enlightening. The inclusion of new generation issues in the course content has ensured that I, as a participant, am in tune with the current trends of world trade, and this will definitely help me be a more effective contributor to trade law and policy in my country, region, and continent. Being a member of only the third intake, I would like to commend tralac for the underlying logic of the course i.e. mixing economics, trade and management, and also for providing full sponsorship for this course. I have no doubt whatsoever that this course will positively re-inforce trade and regional integration efforts in Southern Africa, and in Africa as a whole, now and in years to come.

Niven Muneesamy says’

“The tralac course will no doubt remain a memorable episode in my life. Indeed, it was the first time that I was subject to such an exceptional learning experience. The learning strategies and techniques (in particular the Action Research Learning approach) utilised as well as the content of the course were simply outstanding and were instrumental to further honing my skills and knowledge at multiple levels.

On the one hand, the programme has allowed me to improve my managerial skills.  I have learned about a wide repertoire of management concepts, frameworks and methods, and have acquired the necessary skills and attitude to operate with increased confidence and competence in any setting. I wish to highlight the value of the component focusing on “systemic thinking and management”.

On the other hand, the course has endowed me with technical skills, especially those pertaining to trade law and trade policy. The programme has transformed my perspective of regional integration, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is much easy now for me to systemically examine and understand issues pertaining to regional and global trade.

I therefore strongly recommend the course to anybody interested in developing competencies in management, regional integration and global trade.”

Tina Reddy says’

The tralac course has been one of the best courses I had undertaken. It has provided me with the foundation to critically think through trade and management issues, whilst providing an array of tools to ensure management effectiveness. I am now able to think systemically, strategically and reflect at a personal and professional level.

John Mwangakala says’

The programme has been a great resource to me. The specific value this programme has added is in terms of understanding business of professional service firms which is of great interest to me. Through the learning that has taken place I am able to see professional service business in multiple dimensions and therefore a very informed leader. There is more visibility and high confidence in the business I run because of tools and techniques that have acquired through this course. Thank you.

Lerato Ntlopo says’

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?”
— Marianne Williamson

I believe that personal development comprises activities such as enhancing self-knowledge, developing talents and potential, and improving human capacity. I feel personally enhanced by the Post graduate Diploma in Management (Management Practice) through the Graduate School of Business UCT.

I gained management competences that include ability to think in terms of a system and multiples perspectives, ability to understand the variability of work in planning and problem solving and human behaviour. The learning constituted values that the activities I did added to my work context. The theoretical insights that I have gained and improvement thereof into my management practice are very high. The use of improvement storyboard, break-through improvement, use of causal relationships in problem solving has ALSO improved my management practice.

Firstly, taking into account my current position as a Trade Promotion Officer, this course has improve my analytical skills for devising strategies which have measurable impact on Lesotho’s small scale producers who will become small scale exporters due to my analytic promotional skills. Vision, mission, and objectives indicate a lot to me as they assist me to reach my goals at the end of the year, I therefore believe I am a good strategic planner and I consider that motivation comes from within. Management courses have trained me a first-class distinction between efficiency and effectiveness and changing my mind set to today’s world.

Secondly, this programme has increased my capability in trade negotiations as having a wider knowledge of the Multilateral Trading System related issues contributes to the ability to become a better trade negotiator.

In a nutshell, I would say my social capital has increased, my listening skills improved, my capability to mindfulness increased. I now regard myself a better value creator, got a new way of problem solving, and general knowledge of work have increased. I have widened my scope of work from being a just a Trade Promotion Officer into being part of the country’s negotiating team in the Southern African Customs Union.

Due to the nature of my work in the External Trade section, I developed an interest in World Trade issues that drives me to pursue a career in International Trade issues as a result of the two components of the programme – trade law and trade policy.

I would therefore like to show my greatest gratitude to Tralac for the sponsorship as without it I wouldn’t have enrolled into the programme. Tralac I am proud of you.  Thank you!!

Joyce M. Mutua says’

I joined the tralac programme at a time when my country under the East and South African (ESA) cluster was negotiating the Economic partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU. Kenya Dairy Board nominated me to represent the dairy industry in the negotiations. However, with a background in dairy Science and technology, I was ill equipped to advice the Ministry of trade on dairy trade policies.

Following the  completion of the first two modules of the tralac programme (Post graduate diploma in management practice – Trade law and policy done in collaboration with the University of Cape Town, I was able to confidently advise on a favourable trade policy for the dairy sector. The same has since been adopted at the EAC region. The training also enhanced my confidence and capacity to make contributions in decision making meetings. As a result I have since been appointed a member of several national technical advisory committees such as The National Codex Executive Committee, The national SPS committee, the National TBT committee.

Further, the weekly reflections enhanced my management skills and particularly in addressing milk quality in the country, being the officer in charge of the same. The skills I acquired were therefore not just useful for the course completion but for the successful execution of my duties.  Thanks to tralac!!

Ekhsaan Jawoodeen says’

The programme provided a platform to interact with colleagues form across the continent. The training was intensive and applied, drawing from international experience. I hope that the programme grows from strength to strength and continues to be a resource for the continent.  Thank you for the experience.

Kleopas Sirongo says’

Participating in the Postgraduate Diploma in Management Practice has enabled me to acquire knowledge and experience in international trade matters. The course has stimulated my inner ability to help my organization achieve its shared vision and objectives.
The course has strengthened my capacity to work in teams and able to provide strategic advise to my subordinates and supervisors. Moreover, the course has enabled me to develop an understanding on aspects of the International Agreements and improved my data analytical and negotiation skills. In addition I have also learned about trade law and economics of the international trade system such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), Regional Economic Integration and development issues.
On Systematic Management Practice, I have learned about how breakthrough improvement uncovers and diagnose the root cause of constant and costly problems in my organization. Most importantly, the experience acquired in devising changes that manage the causes, and controls to prevent the problems from reoccurring.
I am happy to report that evidently, the course has improved the manner in which I make decisions as a manager.
Report writing is undoubtedly the most complex and challenging process, but having participated in the course has helped me understand the element that make up reports writing and subsequently made me a better report writer.

Finally, I am really proud to be associated with tralac and the University of Cape Town, for providing excellent and quality education programmes.  Thank you.

• We are looking forward to receiving commentaries from other graduates.