Dr Tumelo Tsikoane joined the National University of Lesotho more than twenty years ago. A product of NUL with majors in History and Political Science, Dr. Tsikoane spent the first five years after graduating from NUL teaching Development Studies and History at high school level. In 1985 he enrolled for a Masters degree with the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. The experience he amassed while at “The Hill,” especially the time spent during field work in Moshi not only strengthened his educational base but also continues to inform his perspective and appreciation of challenges confronting many developing countries in the twenty first century.
In 1991 Dr. Tsikoane was nominated for the prestigious Fulbright Junior Scholars Fellowship that enabled him to read for a doctoral degree at Boston University (USA). Following his return from staff development leave he, like many of his colleagues at NUL, spent most of the time teaching, conducting research and doing community service. His most recent effort in the area of community service has been to assist communities in remote parts of his home area to access grid electricity.
During his stay at NUL Dr Tsikoane served variously as Head of the Department of Development Studies, member of the Ninth University Council, Faculty of Humanities representative on key Committees such as Board of Development. Until recently he represented the University Congregation on Senate. In addition to these responsibilities which provided insight to the inner workings of the NUL system, Dr Tsikoane also sat on the Boards of a number of regional and international organisations. He served as Chairperson of the Policy Advisory Board for Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke(MS) or Danish Association for International Development for 5 years. From 2002 to 2006 he served as Board member, Women and Law in Southern Africa (WLSA). The experience gained from these postings not only helped to gain insights into the essentials of good practices in corporate governance but also augmented his leadership and administrative competences.
Dr Tsikoane joins the NUL Administration at the time when the university faces daunting challenges. Many believe and hope that his academic background and firm character will combine to inject new perspective to the office of the Registrar at NUL. For the next fours years he will be part of a team charged with a tough agenda of turning NUL around, making it regain its original glory and repositioning it to be part of a community of world class institutions of higher learning.
The National University of Lesotho through the Department of Political and Administrative studies launched a project on “Democratic Accountability in Service Delivery of Policing in Lesotho”.
The National University of Lesotho has received a grant to the value of M10 million from the government of Lesotho, through the Ministry of Education of Training.
