53-year old Woman Graduates South African University, Bags Degree 35 Years Later
a 53-year-old woman, has achieved her lifelong aspiration of obtaining a degree, despite leaving school in 1989. Grant recently graduated with a Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa. After 35 years, she returned to academia, completing a Bachelor of Commerce and a postgraduate diploma from Varsity College before embarking on her master's degree. Grant now serves as a part-time online lecturer.
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Jacqueline Grant, a 53-year-old woman, has achieved her lifelong aspiration of obtaining a degree, despite leaving school in 1989. Grant recently graduated with a Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa.
Grant's journey towards her degree was marked by determination and perseverance. Initially enrolling in the Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Teaching program at the then-University of Natal in 1989, her educational pursuits were interrupted by life's demands.
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After 35 years, she returned to academia, completing a Bachelor of Commerce and a postgraduate diploma from Varsity College before embarking on her master's degree. Grant now serves as a part-time online lecturer.
She expressed that her aspiration had always been to pursue a career in teaching. UKZN noted that during the 35-year period when she was not in school, Grant spent over 25 years in the accounting and property sectors before embarking on her academic journey in 2015. The institution stated, “Her dream was always to be a teacher. In 1989, she enrolled at the then University of Natal for a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Teaching, but life took a different turn. Nine years ago, she decided to pursue that dream once more.”
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Discussing her challenges, she said, “The transition to academia was not without its difficulties, but this latest qualification has opened up new possibilities. It expanded my understanding of leadership and influenced my leadership style. I was promoted to a senior role at the start of this year.”
Grant’s research, titled ‘An Examination of the Role of Leadership in Fostering Employee Engagement During Times of Crises: A Case Study of the Commercial Property Sector in KwaZulu-Natal,’ is expected to aid leaders in developing effective strategies for employee engagement during crisis periods.
