Mr Neil Honeycomb
Programme Coordinator
He holds an MPhil in Monitoring & Evaluation Methods (SU), building on postgraduate studies in Psychology (NMU) and Applied Ethics (SU). Neil has also contributed to student life and development via the University's student-led Psychology Society during his undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Outside of Mandela University, Neil volunteers at
REVIVE (a PBO and NPO registered community counselling centre in Gqeberha) and offers a supportive role in the NGO’s development.
Getting to know me
1. How would you define your role within the Engagement and Transformation team?
I play a supportive role within research and project management components of the portfolio. A significant part of my work is focused on reporting: contributing to annual E&T Portfolio reports, VC quarterly reports to Council, and other document development. I contribute to research outputs within the portfolio, and provide graphic design support within the DVC ETP Office, CriSHET, and Transformation Office. I have also been appointed as a Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) representative for the Bird Street Campus.
2. What does Engagement and Transformation in Higher Education look like to you?
An ethical approach towards understanding contextual realities and how these realities are responded to within the abilities of the Higher Education sector.
3. Describe your job in 3 words.
Creative; Structured; Generative.
4. What is your favourite activity when you are not in the office?
Spending quality time with my family.
5. What is your favourite place on Earth?
Anywhere in nature.
6. What is your favourite quote?
"Every individual needs revolution, inner division, overthrow of the existing order, and renewal, but not by forcing these things upon his neighbours under the hypocritical cloak of […] love or the sense of social responsibility or any of the other beautiful euphemisms for unconscious urges to personal power. Individual self-reflection, return of the individual to the ground of human nature, to his own deepest being with its individual and social destiny here is the beginning of a cure for that blindness which reigns at the present hour."
- Carl Gustav Jung. On the Psychology of the Unconscious (1912). In CW 7: Two Essays on Analytical Psychology p.5
7. If you could change something in the world, what would it be?
I would hope to change the way the world sees itself, to foster critical hope — to be kinder, more authentic, and possess a just regard for humanity in positive, generative ways.
8. What would you be able to give a 30-minute presentation about without any advanced preparation?
Resilience.
9. What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?
"What a waste".
A sentence that has stuck with me since opting to not pursue a career in the fine arts. Since then, I have brought the arts with me into (almost) everything that I do. I could not be more grateful. Perhaps not such a waste after all?
10. What motivates you?
The freedom to try new things and to find purpose in the work that I do.