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Meet Ian Luyt | GetSmarter Notable Achiever
In recognition of students who stand out from the crowd, GetSmarter’s Notable Achievers campaign highlights a top-performing student each week.
Ian was chosen by our Student Success Team for his engaging presence on the online campus, particularly when it comes to discussions. He has also excelled academically in the University of Cape Town Practical Labour Law online short course.
Here’s what he had to say about his experience:
How has the course benefited your career and/or life?
The course material that was presented during the Basic Labour Law short course was directly relevant to my current position as FTUR for the Union at South African Airways. It gave new directions to engagement at bargaining level as well as CCMA disputes, incapacitation processes, and employment equity principles and contractual rights.
What were your concerns before enrolling on the course? How were your concerns alleviated and why?
Time management for ensuring a correct balance between work responsibilities, as well as engaging efficiently with course requirements and deadlines was questionable at the start of the course as one never knows what to expect. But with each module throughout the course it reflected estimated times needed to complete each section of the modules, as well as great assistance from our success manager, Natasha Hardy, with information shared by her on time management and how to break the work down in steps as to ensure we meet the deadlines. After applying these principles to the first two modules it became second nature for the following six modules.
What aspects did you enjoy about learning online with GetSmarter?
I thoroughly enjoyed having a subject matter expert one click away. By engaging in the discussion forums provided for in each module, the head tutor Pieter Koornhof engaged and responded swiftly and effectively. As with Labour Law there were extensive debates and interpretations on matter which didn’t only assist with lateral applicational thinking, but it removed the notion of cylindrical thinking and broadened my knowledge base extensively. Being a full time worker this was a great way to achieve further learning without having to be full time in class, as the class was at my fingertips at all times and access was very convenient. For my type of circumstance, studying in this manner will be excellent in being able to actually advance even further in Law when it becomes available through such a great institution as UCT.
Are you doing this course for personal or professional objectives? If so what are they and have you felt you have been able to achieve them with this course?
One thing I believe in is that if you do not challenge yourself on a personal level then your professional growth will be limited. Therefore my approach was dual purpose in that, if I apply and challenge myself to reach personal objectives, then indirectly on a professional level it will automatically have a positive impact. A very important aspect in my job is strategic engagement and also knowing the Law, as well as its interpretation at advanced levels as to be able to apply and enforce it correctly without delay. Therefore this course was a catalyst in servicing these aspects.
Our Student Success Team identified you as being an outstanding student. Why do you think you are a Notable Achiever and how do you continue to do well on the course?
I was quite shocked when I was contacted, as honestly there were many other great students on the same course. It took a lot of time, research and planning to ensure effective application to the course and I can just be thankful for the understanding and support that was provided for me by my loving family, as I had to do a bit of studying in the evenings at home. There are also thanks to be shared with the team of GetSmarter, for their clear and concise direction and always being a phone call or an email away.