Professor Phumla Mtala was born in Umtata in the Eastern Cape Province, South
Africa. She was trained as a nurse and obtained diplomas in Nursing and Midwifery Sciences at Lovedale and Frere Hospitals, respectively. Having worked as a professional nurse for 8 years at Umtata General Hospital, Professor Mtala embarked on a career change and became an educator.
She obtained two degrees, a Bachelor of Commerce and an Honors Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) at the University of Transkei and University of South Africa, respectively.
Following her studies Professor Mtala held teaching positions at Umtata Technical College, the University of Transkei, and at Border Technikon in the Eastern Cape. Motivated by changes and opportunities presented by the post-apartheid education system, Professor Mtala decided to focus her career on educational institutional development and enrolled at Rhodes University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Educational Leadership in November 1995. Subsequently, Professor Mtala applied for and received a USAID funded, AAI administered scholarship to study at Eastern Michigan University, where she obtained a Masters in Economics Cum Laude in December 1997.
Upon returning to South Africa, Professor Mtala resumed her career as an educator at Border Technikon where she held positions of increasing responsibility including Department Head, Associate Director and Dean of Faculty. In her role as Dean of Faculty, Mtala established the Faculty of Economic & Management Sciences and was appointed Executive Director at Technikon Southern Africa in January 2000. Following the merger of Technikon Southern Africa and the University of South Africa (UNISA), she was appointed Director of Programs in the College of Economic & Management Sciences in July 2004. The new UNISA is South Africa’s first comprehensive university, and the largest distance learning university in Africa. Prof. Mtala’s current challenge is to develop UNISA’s new mix of qualifications which range from certificates to doctoral degrees.
At AAI’s 22nd Annual Awards Gala, Professor Mtala was awarded AAI’s Distinguished Alumna Award for spearheading institutional transformation in South African over the course of her career in the field of education.
Prof. Mtala is widowed with two daughters, Thabisile, a Chemical Engineering Graduate, and Sindisiwe, a final-year Tourism Student.
Professor Mtala receives Distinguished Alumna Award from AAI Trustee Steve Pfeiffer
Professor Mtala shows her award to President Mbeki