Prof Buckley
Director of the School of Computing
From diploma to doctorate, and all through part-time study – this is the inspiring example that Prof Sheryl Buckley is setting for students at the School of Computing in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET).
Prof Buckley is the new Director of the school of Computing. She aims to contribute to the attainment of Unisa’s strategic and operational goals by being flexible and by looking at creative and innovative ways to maintain peak performance of academics. The ideal is to help academics balance the many demands of work and their personal life while maintaining productivity.
“My previous management positions armed me with sufficient tools to become a good implementer of the vision and mission of the institutions I worked for, as well as an innovator through collaboration,” Prof Buckley says.
Solid track record leads to Unisa
Before joining Unisa in August 2011, she was deputy head of the Business Information Technology department at the University of Johannesburg. Prior to that, she headed up the Business division of a technical college, and also previously worked in the high school environment.
While working full time, she improved her qualifications from diploma to doctorate, always studying part time.
Not surprisingly, she has a healthy respect for learning and knowledge sharing. “From an early stage I realised that in a knowledge society it is only through knowledge sharing that current complex challenges can be confronted,” Prof Buckley says.
“Furthermore, the only way to get through transition is to focus on the future,” she says, adding that she is a transparent manager who has a strong work ethic. “I like to empathise when people feel unsettled. Here, communication plays an important role. Anything worth doing should be challenging and will require hard work. There are no shortcuts and if you want to add value, you have to work for it.”
Working hard is second nature to Prof Buckley but she also knows how to relax. When not working at Unisa, Prof Buckley enjoys walking, dancing and going to the gym to keep fit.
Innovation and efficiency
Her immediate plans for the School of Computing include looking at how the school could be optimally structured in order to be managed better and in harmony with all the key performance areas (KPAs). This is necessary owing to the sheer size of the school, she says.
“I would further like to focus my attention on tuition-related matters in addition to the other duties and responsibilities that I have,” says Prof Buckley. “This school is supposed to be the forerunner in an Open Distance Learning institution like Unisa. It has to become the centre of innovation in teaching, as well as in learning, and be driven by a research culture.”
When asked about her thoughts on the college’s move to Florida, the softly spoken Prof Buckley says this will finally see all the academics housed on the same campus.
“I am aware that moving the rest of the school to Florida has its own challenges and can have a direct effect on some personnel. It is a necessary move which will lead to a better functioning of the school.”
She says the school is going to great lengths to ensure the relocation goes smoothly, with minimum inconvenience. “Already transport plans have been drawn up. I will be in constant communication with those affected and will try my best to ensure that I assist them in any humanly possible way.”
Commenting on her appointment as Director of the school, she says: “I feel very positive in my new position and I am looking forward to being part of the innovative Unisa team in tuition to take the university to new heights in the provision of the most effective distance tuition. We owe it to our students who choose Unisa as the place to receive the ’key to unlock their future’.”
