(AGENPARL) – ven 03 novembre 2023 PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 November 2023
CUT inducts Prof. Deseré Kokt as a full professor
Prof. Deseré Kokt, an expert lecturer and researcher in human resource management and organisational behaviour at the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) delivered her Professorial Inaugural Lecture titled ‘Competencies for the New World of Work: A Futuristic Perspective’.
The inaugural professorial lecture is an important academic milestone where academics with full professorship status get to deliver a lecture focusing on their professed research expertise. CUT awards these to academics who are highly accomplished and widely recognised among their peers.
Prof. Kokt delved into the globalisation and the evolution of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies contributing to the development of the new world of work adding that the new world of work is characterised by various forms of digital technology that enable employees to work anywhere and anytime.
“In a very complex world of work where we are inundated with an environment that is becoming increasingly complex, we as human resource practitioners and researchers need to look into the future to see how the world of work will change in the future. How should we prepare the students, businesses, industry, and management for what they can expect to come? And the fourth industrial revolution is already part of our lives, this is the environment in which we work and learn, so these main drivers of globalization and technological enhancement are continuous,” said Prof Kokt.
She added that compared to traditional work models, modern employees are expected to work in technologically advanced environments as the nature of jobs has changed from using predominantly manual approaches to performing jobs that are more psychologically and emotionally demanding. “For the new world of work, an employee will need to be skilled with critical, analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, technological literacy, interpersonal skills, and communication skills. Teamwork, as well as life-long learning, flexibility, agility, and self-awareness, is also essential.”
Prof. Kokt highlighted that it is also important to remember that AI cannot replace certain skills. “Emotional intelligence, being self-aware, self-knowledge, organising one’s life/job, having empathy, and social skills will always be essential in the workplace and society.”
Captions:
1. Prof. Deseré Kokt delivered her Professorial Inaugural Lecture titled ‘Competencies for the New World of Work: A Futuristic Perspective’.
2. Dr. Sally Dzingwa, Prof. Samson Mashele, Prof. Deseré Kokt, Prof. Pamela Dube, Dr. Lineo Dzansi and Prof. Albert Strydom.
About CUT
CUT is the foremost higher education institution in the heartland of South Africa, dedicated to quality education and training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. CUT boasts pockets of excellence, including a premier Hotel School and leading research and innovation platforms, e.g., world-class medical product development through 3-D printing technology.
For more information about CUT, visit http://www.cut.ac.za.
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