Faculty of Economic Management Sciences D r Fa z ly n P e t e r s e n r i s i n g s ta r
Using technology effectively to build a better work and life balance As a senior lecturer at UWC, Dr Fazlyn Petersen knows that she was able to come up with many successful ways of crewomen at university are expected to play many ating more time and managing the increased workroles at the same time – multi-tasking as acaload. demics, researchers, mentors, wives and “In order to create more structured workmothers. ing hours and time, I tried schedul“As mothers and academics, it ing hours to check emails and seemed only natural that we deal with student queries. I crewould take over the role of ated lessons on our electronic teacher to our children during learning management system the lockdown.” Of course, this with expectations and sent was in addition to the stuout reminders for students dents she was in charge of at the start of every week. I professionally, as well. On made work available to stutop of these challenges dents before the expected was added a loss of childdate, so that they had more care and domestic services time to prepare. lessons during the pandemic. contained videos to explain “simply put, caring about work and this assisted a litour students’ success meant tle with the number of quespending many more hours ries. I also learnt to delegate working than ever before. I certain administrative tasks to teach a large class of more than colleagues and our teaching as300 students. Many students exsistant.” pected their lecturers to be availHer long-term professional goal able after hours to assist them with is to become an Associate Profeswork. I felt like my workload had tripled sor, and she is currently working on in 2020. Changing to online learning also creating more inclusive online enviblurred the boundaries between work and ofronments in education and health by usfice time.” ing data-free options. “Many people are currently Her areas of academic speciality include risk, quality, project and excluded, due to the digital divide and significant inequaliknowledge management; as well as ties in south Africa,” she explains. “I felt like my workload had tripled business analysis and testing. she is “I’m hoping that my work will a certified project manager and tester, change this by moving from the in 2020. Changing to online learning and has invaluable experience in sevexclusionary fourth industrial also blurred the boundaries eral industries such as financial serrevolution (4IR) towards the fifth between work and office time.” vices, retail and auditing. industrial revolution (5IR) that will With all of that on her plate, time manfocus on user needs, innovation agement became crucial to navigating the pandemic. purpose and inclusivity.”
