Nawaal Deane

Nawaal's portfolio spans strategic leadership across the Course Curriculum Design (CCD) team, with oversight of Amathuba Accelerate, learning analytics, the One Button Studio, and the Course Production Unit where teams of learning designers and multi-skilled media production specialists reside. She line manages CILT's design and communications team. At the strategic level, her remit includes decisions on which course curriculum design projects CCD takes on and how staff time is allocated across the portfolio.

Her broader leadership extends to UCT's AI in Education framework, the university's blended learning strategy, and the production of AI literacies courses for all UCT stakeholders. She serves as UCT's representative on the Potential for Microcredentials in Southern Africa project, and oversees CILT's marketing and communications portfolios.

HOW TO ENGAGE WITH NAWAAL

Project scoping and staff allocation. Engage Nawaal first to determine whether a project falls within CCD's remit and how staff capacity can be assigned.

Course production projects. High-level oversight and strategic direction for the development of online courses, MOOCs, and short learning programmes at UCT.

Microcredential case studies. Engage on UCT's microcredential landscape, informed by Nawaal's role as UCT representative on the Potential for Microcredentials in Southern Africa project.

Amathuba Accelerate strategic planning and communications. Collaborate on strategic planning, stakeholder communications, and institutional positioning for the Amathuba Accelerate project.

Digital design team services. Access CILT's digital design unit for UCT projects requiring visual, media, or digital communication support.

BACKGROUND & EXPERTISE

MPhil in Inclusive Innovation (UCT Graduate School of Business). Prior to CILT, Nawaal spent over a decade as an award-winning journalist in print and broadcast media and ran her own online production company. Her expertise spans curriculum design, digital media production, AI literacies, microcredentials, project management, and institutional strategy with a throughline commitment to accessible, future-ready education.