Mamogobo went on an educational tour of England and Scotland to visit several higher learning institutions, after receiving the bursary in 2022.
The trip, she says, has given her the edge to push forward the frontiers of knowledge. “I have been contemplating on either going for Research or Clinical Psychology. Thankfully, the tour has offered so much clarity when it comes to my career endeavours.
Among many other things, I enjoyed my time at some of the top universities in the world: Cambridge, Oxford, and St. Andrews. Meeting and interacting with South African students studying in the UK was awe-inspiring and was a confirmation that anything is possible.
“Being among an extraordinary calibre of students across 18 universities has stretched my level of curiosity and eagerness to learn. Engaging in robust debates and discussions have been some of the many highlights on the trip. I have learned to be an active listener and to be open-minded. As a result, I am confident enough to say I am an empowered person,” she said.
“Our university's vision statement is ‘To be an African university leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation’. I believe research is the main catalyst for sustainable development and innovation, and the main tool which propels humanity forward.
As a result, I am hoping to be a Research Psychologist with an interest in education and African Psychology. I also hope that one day my work will help shape South Africa's education system for the better.”
Mamogobo adds that the Abe Bailey experience harnessed her with what she would like to call the E-trifecta, namely, exposure, empowerment, and equipment.
“There is something ground-breaking about exposure. An individual can only aspire to the level of their awareness and exposure. I believe the trip has increased my level of exposure as that becomes the much-needed arsenal to propel me to the next level of life.”
She further explains that the tour was a life-changing experience, which afforded her the opportunity to learn more about the bilateral relationship between the UK and South Africa.
“One of my highlights was visiting the South African High Commission where I had the opportunity to ask about the measures in place to make sure that scholarships are easily accessed by learners in disadvantaged communities who aspire to study abroad."
Mamogobo is also the winner of the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba student essay-writing competition.
Winning the essay writing competition
While away on the Abe Bailey experience, Mamogobo was announced as the overall winner of the essay writing competition at the seventh Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Annual Lecture, held recently at the Mbombela campus.
The focus of her essay was to shine a light on the University of Mpumalanga as an ecosystem for moral and ethical leaders. She explains that it also explores how the institution's culture and values play an integral role in endorsing moral and ethical leadership.
“I found out that I won the essay competition right after I landed in Dubai for my education tour. I had mixed emotions having won the competition and being an aspiring leader myself and actively partaking in student-based leadership positions.”
She mentions that the essay explored three themes: moral and ethical leadership; the concept of action as an important factor in leadership, and lastly, giving tribute to moral and ethical leaders who exist within the university borders.
"I was motivated by UMP's core values as they are in the students’ and staff’s day-to-day activities. One value that stood out for me was collaboration, for it guides moral and ethical leaders to not act only for themselves but for the people they lead.”
Mamogobo adds that the active student leadership at the university also motivated her.
“They are an embodiment of the UMP core values and have done exceptional work in their respective leadership positions. Moral and ethical leaders understand that success is not a one-man show, and this is echoed by one of the university's core values, which is collaboration and I believe this is the golden thread that ties the rest of the values together."
Her winning essay won her a gift voucher from Exclusive Books to the value of R1 000. She has not yet received her prize, but she plans on advancing her bookshelf, and reading 23 books as one of her new year's resolutions for 2023. She aims to buy self-help books under the category of leadership, psychology, and business.
@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.