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Morris Phundulu shares an inspiring account of his journey and pivotal role at JET.

Morris Phundulu is a JET data analyst researcher in the Research and Data Ecosystems Division. His primary role is to extract valuable insights from datasets to inform decision-making processes and drive strategic initiatives. He collects, organises, manages, cleans and analyses data from various sources to uncover patterns, trends and correlations that can provide actionable insights. Morris uses STATA, R, and Excel to analyse data and create comprehensive reports, including tables and graphs, to support research. Morris’s work also involves exploring different economic and financial analysis types such as cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, return on investment (ROI) and social return on investment (SROI) analysis for various projects.

Morris's ultimate goal is to leverage data to assist JET in achieving greater efficiency, effectiveness, and competitiveness in the market, making more informed decisions, minimising risks, and maximising opportunities for growth and innovation. He believes that his expertise in data analysis can be instrumental in guiding strategic decision-making across various divisions, and incorporating data-driven insights into JET’s strategic planning processes will ensure that the decisions are grounded in evidence and have higher chances of succeeding.

For Morris, one highlight of his work at JET was analysing data for the evaluation of the Jobs Fund Enterprise Development and Support for Worker Seekers projects when he was still a JETStreamer. Another was his involvement in the SROI analysis of the Open and Innovative Schooling Model conducted for the Commonwealth of Learning. Through these projects, Morris learned about the concepts of financial, economic, and value-for-money analysis. He mentioned that it is unusual to find research in South Africa that looks at returns on investment in education projects.

Morris is currently involved in evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a project aimed at improving early-grade learners’ reading skills to establish whether it can be feasibly replicated in similar conditions. He is also involved in the Teacher Internship Collaboration South Africa (TICZA) project, which aims to expand the extended student-teacher internship model across South Africa.

Morris is proud that JET is contributing to improving educational quality and outcomes through evidence-based interventions, data-driven decision-making and innovative research. He believes that JET has enhanced the capacity of educators and school leaders through comprehensive training and professional development programmes. Through fostering strong community and stakeholder partnerships, JET has implemented sustainable and scalable programmes, promoting equity in education and addressing broader socio-emotional. JET, through its holistic approach and commitment to marginalised communities, is having a substantial impact on the educational landscape. Furthermore, JET is keen on developing or capacitating young researchers.

Morris is eager to stay updated on the latest developments in data analytics and to explore innovative approaches to solving organisational challenges. He believes that continuous learning and adaptation are key to staying ahead in today’s rapidly evolving landscape of data-driven decision-making.

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