Kgomotso Khetiwe Ramushu
Researcher & Programme Coordinator
Tshwane
Summary
Skilled Researcher and Research Programme Coordinator enthusiastic about supporting advancements in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Passionate about increasing knowledge to drive growth and development. Ready to apply knowledge and 15 years of experience in research, grants administration and programme coordination. Experienced researcher with strong focus on research design, data analysis, report writing and presentation as well as convening workshops, colloquia and conferences. Enjoys for collaborative teamwork and achieving results. Adaptable, reliable, and ready to contribute to impactful projects across sectors - governmental, private sector or non - governmental organisations. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
6
6
Languages
Work History
ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER
Stellenbosch University
01.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Africa Open Institute
- Africa Open Institute
- Gathered and organized information for research purposes.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to conduct comprehensive studies and generate valuable insights.
- Tailored research approaches to address specific community needs, leading to impactful societal contributions.
- Organized material to research and complete writing tasks.
- Developed engaging articles for online publications, resulting in increased readership and social media shares.
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Literacy Association of South Africa
01.2022 - 12.2024
- Maximized resource utilization by monitoring staff schedules and allocating tasks.
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders and facilitated communication .
- Oversaw day-to-day operations and literacy advancement initiatives of branches across several South Africa
- Led successful projects, workshops and 3 conferences from conception to completion, achieving objectives on time and within budget constraints.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Negotiated rates, donations and service with exhibitor's, sponsors, customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Contributed to the Strategy development and consistency across the organization.
- Improved event attendance rates by implementing targeted marketing strategies and promotional materials.
- Evaluated post-event feedback from attendees, incorporating insights into future planning efforts for continuous improvement on subsequent events.
- Delivered timely status updates on project milestones leading up to each event, ensuring all stakeholders remained informed on progress and expectations.
- Increased corporate fundraising revenue by developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives.
Research Programme Coordinator
NIHSS
10.2014 - 06.2019
- Entered data, generated reports, and produced tracking documents.
- Improved team productivity with regular communication and progress updates, fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Managed project timelines for successful completion, ensuring milestones were met and deadlines were adhered to.
- Collaborated with department heads to develop strategic plans aligning with overall company objectives, fostering a unified approach toward shared goals.
- Gathered and organized materials to support operations.
- Served as a liaison between internal teams and external partners to ensure mutual understanding of expectations related to funded projects.
- Increased accuracy in financial reporting by monitoring grant expenditures and ensuring compliance with funder guidelines.
- Maintained accurate records of all grant-related documents, including proposals, contracts, reports, and correspondence.
- Streamlined the grant application process by developing and implementing efficient workflow systems.
- Completed pre and post-award research activities while delivering excellent customer service.
- Provided guidance on regulatory compliance issues, ensuring that funded programs adhered to applicable laws and regulations.
- Managed multiple concurrent deadlines while remaining detail-oriented when submitting progress and financial reports to funders.
- Contributed to strategic planning efforts by analyzing historical funding trends and projecting future resource needs.
- Assisted in building organizational capacity through participation in relevant workshops, conferences, and networking events focused on grants administration.
- Coordinated events to encourage community involvement and increase awareness of organization's mission.
- Grants administration: Administration of Calls, ensure compliance and integrity of review processes, develop & maintain contract documentation; maintain records in database systems, prepare scheduled and special reports, studies and analyses as well as facilitate innovation and research and provide support to researchers
- Academic panel reviews (collating applications, designing scoresheets, panel selection, convening meetings and report writing)
- Planning and convening seminars, workshops and colloquiua
- Programme coordination (Call administration, contract and disbursement administration, reviewing reports for contractual compliance and report writing)
FREELANCE RESEARCHER & WRITER
Numerous (Project Based) -
01.2019 - Current
- Clients (Puku Childrens' Literature Foundation ; Abethu Heritage Initiative ; Lefifi Tladi Trust; Credo Mutwa Foundation; Arts & Ubuntu Trust)
- Conducted thorough literature reviews to identify gaps in knowledge and inform future research directions.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to conduct comprehensive studies and generate valuable insights.
- Managed multiple research projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.
- Optimized project management strategies to adhere to strict timelines, effectively managing resources.
- Tailored research approaches to address specific community needs, leading to impactful societal contributions.
- Facilitated partnerships with external research institutions, expanding resources and expertise available for projects.
- Created content for company intranet and regularly posted documents, updates and clear communications pathways.
- Raised company awareness with well-executed public relations initiatives, securing positive press coverage.
- Customized communication plans to fit target audience knowledge and level of expertise.
- Generated clear, concise and original verbiage for written communications.
- Increased corporate fundraising revenue by developing and implementing strategic plans and initiatives.
MANAGING DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Swart Gevaar Productions
01.2019 - 12.2022
- Company Overview: Theatre production
- Theatre production
- Strengthened client relationships with regular communication, timely project delivery, and high-quality services.
- Delivered consistent revenue growth by identifying new business opportunities and expanding service offerings.
- Oversaw operations and provided corrective feedback to achieve daily and long-term goals.
- Cultivated a strong organizational culture built on integrity accountability teamwork which resulted in higher retention rates among staff.
- Spearheaded outreach initiatives aimed at increasing youth involvement in theater arts through workshops and educational programs.
- Managed comprehensive marketing campaigns for each production, leading to increased ticket sales and public awareness of the theater company.
Junior Researcher
Centre for Education Policy Development
11.2012 - 10.2014
- Mentored incoming junior researchers, fostering a collaborative and supportive learning environment.
- Streamlined research processes for increased efficiency, utilizing various project management tools.
- Developed data visualization tools to clearly convey research results for nonexperts.
- Proactively sought feedback from colleagues on research design and implementation approaches, resulting in improved outcomes overall.
- Conducted extensive literature reviews, summarizing key findings to inform future studies.
- Enhanced data accuracy by meticulously organizing and cleaning research datasets.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop comprehensive research strategies and methodologies.
- Assisted in developing survey instruments for data collection, ensuring high response rates and representative samples.
- Contributed to the publication of research reports, demonstrating expertise in subject matter.
- Enhanced policy research efficiency by streamlining data collection and analysis processes.
- Contribution to National Education Policy Development
STUDENT TUTOR & RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Pretoria
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Elevated student writing abilities by offering guidance on essay structure, grammar usage, and effective communication strategies.
- Developed strong rapport with students by maintaining open communication channels and actively listening to their concerns or struggles.
- Collaborated with lead tutors to develop and implement tailored learning plans for individual students.
- Provided support to students with learning disabilities, ensuring a comfortable and inclusive learning environment.
- Assisted instructors in grading assignments promptly while providing meaningful feedback to students.
- Helped struggling students achieve grade-level proficiency through consistent reinforcement of key concepts.
- Facilitated group study sessions to foster collaborative learning among peers.
Education
MPHIL - AFRICAN STUDIES
University of Cambridge
Cambridge, United Kingdom 01.2023 - Current
Bachelor of Arts - GENDER STUDIES (HONS)
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa 04.2001 -
BPOLSCI - INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
University of Pretoria
Pretoria, South Africa04-2011
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL FRENCH - undefined
Alliance Francais
Skills
Academic and Technical writing
Data interpretation
Ethical considerations
Strong work ethic
Research planning, design and implementation
Critical thinking
Team collaboration
Qualitative and quantitative research
Documentation and reporting
Research presentation
Fieldwork experience
Project management
Performance monitoring
Report writing
Evaluation design
Results-based management
Monitoring frameworks
Policy analysis
Indicator development
Effective communication
Problem-solving
Time management
Department management
Project lifecycle management
Relationship building
Sponsorship acquisition
Cross-functional teams leadership
Budgeting and finance
Stakeholder management
Publications
- Dipono tša Lefifi: Tladi's illuminating musings, Book chapter, 2013
- Black Girls are from the Future: Blogging as a Gateway to Information Communication Technology and Enterprise Development, Book chapter, 2013
- Upcoming White Paper for Post School Education and Training, Department of Higher Education and Training, 2013
- Https://www.coronatimes.net/feminising-the-pandemic-covid-19hypermasculinity/
- Https://africanfeministwomanistarchive.wordpress.com/
- Https://herri.org.za/9/kgomotsoramushu/
Grants
- Ndoli Jowei Archival project, National Arts Council of South Africa
- Tony Elumelu Storytellers Fund, Africa No Filter
- Writing workshops, Wikimedia Foundation
Timeline
MPHIL - AFRICAN STUDIES
University of Cambridge
01.2023 - Current
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
Literacy Association of South Africa
01.2022 - 12.2024
ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER
Stellenbosch University
01.2021 - Current
FREELANCE RESEARCHER & WRITER
Numerous (Project Based) -
01.2019 - Current
MANAGING DIRECTOR & PRODUCER
Swart Gevaar Productions
01.2019 - 12.2022
Research Programme Coordinator
NIHSS
10.2014 - 06.2019
Junior Researcher
Centre for Education Policy Development
11.2012 - 10.2014
STUDENT TUTOR & RESEARCH ASSISTANT
University of Pretoria
01.2011 - 12.2012
Bachelor of Arts - GENDER STUDIES (HONS)
University of Pretoria
04.2001 -
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL FRENCH - undefined
Alliance Francais
BPOLSCI - INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
University of Pretoria