Elevating Academic Administration: 2025 Conference & AGM

May 7-9, 2025 Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Gauteng

Join us at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Gauteng for the Association for Academic Administrators’ 2025 Conference & AGM. This event will feature a diverse agenda, including keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops focused on enhancing the standards of academic administration. Don’t miss the opportunity to network with peers and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and challenges in the field.

GOLD SPONSOR

SILVER SPONSORS

Join us for the official opening of the conference with a welcome address from the Chairperson of the Board, Mr Vido Kungune, VUT.

Dr Abbey Mathekga, Director: Enrolment and Student Administration, University of Pretoria.
Session chair: Mr Vido Kungune, Chairman of the Board

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Distinguished Professor of Education, University of Stellenbosch.
Session chair: Mr Ashmind Daniels, Deputy Chairperson of the Board

Break-away Group A: Plenary Room

Facilitators: Mr Ashmind Daniels (AAA Board) and Peet du Plessis (GM AAA)

“We are not “non-academics” – we are academic administrators”
Facilitating Dialogue on Experiences and Insights of Academic Administrators.

Discussion leader: Khwezi Bonani, Coordinator: International Student Services Office, UWC

Break-away Group B: Break-away room 1

Facilitators: Mr Preggy Reddy and Ms Sandra Raubenheimer (AAA Board Members)

“No More Paper, Electronic is better?”
Facilitating ideas and processes which fosters positive changes.

Discussion leader: Lynn Poonah, Coordinator: Examinations and Graduations, UWC

Break-away Group C: Break-away room 2

Facilitators: Mr Vido Kungune and Ms Ranitha Ramdeyal (AAA Board Members)

Topic: “Best practices for administering dual degrees in higher education: Bridging regulatory gaps and ensuring equitable student outcomes”

Discussion leader: Tsholofelo Nkoane, Departmental Administrator: Department of Informatics, University of Pretoria

Topic: “Enhancing student administration in international affairs while adapting to emerging trends: A case study of the University of Limpopo”

Discussion leader: Buliswa Msana, Practitioner: Student Administration

Break-away Group B: Break-away room 1

Discussion topic: “The Impact of the maladministration at NSFAS on the academic administration function at HEI’s”.

Break-away Group C: Break-away room 2

Discussion topic: “Due to a rise in the submission of fraudulent matric results with applications, how can institutions ensure that the matric results submitted are correct and verified as such. Applicants are also not declaring if they have studied at a previous institution when they apply. How can this be checked.”

Break-away group discussions continued

Break-away Group A: Plenary Room

Topic: “Enhancing student administration in international affairs while adapting to emerging trends: A case study of the University of Limpopo”

Discussion leader: Buliswa Msana, Practitioner: Student Administration

Break-away Group B: Break-away room 1

Discussion topic: “The Impact of the maladministration at NSFAS on the academic administration function at HEI’s”.

Break-away Group C: Break-away room 2

Discussion topic: “Due to a rise in the submission of fraudulent matric results with applications, how can institutions ensure that the matric results submitted are correct and verified as such. Applicants are also not declaring if they have studied at a previous institution when they apply. How can this be checked.”

Promotional presentation – Silver Sponsor – Robyn Abrahams of Academia by Serosoft

“The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Navigating the Academic Landscape.”

“Quiet Quitting of Professional Services Staff in HEIs: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions.”

“Balancing Tradition and Innovation: Navigating the Future of Academic Administration.”

“Solid Academic Administration over Decades of Change.”

“Navigating Academic Administration in a Decentralised Environment: Insights from the UFS Business School”

Mr Kevin Bassett & Ms Georgina Lee – Directors, Cardiff, UK 
Mrs Mihloti Mkhatshwa – Regional Director – Southern Africa

Digital Certification, Biometric ID & AI

Promotional presentations by Silver Sponsors Adapt IT and The Invigilator

“Given the online self-service admissions and registration processes and the high demand of higher education with limited spaces, how do institutions leverage technology to ensure best students have a better chance before the not so best students fill up the limited spaces”

Chair: Mr. Vido Kungune

Important Note: The agenda for the AGM is published on the 2025 AAA Conference website on the following link