Dr Needham has been appointed, he joined the JET board of directors in May 2025.
Dr Seamus Needham is the Director of the Institute for Post-School Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). With a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a Master’s in Education from UWC, and a BA (Honours) in History from the University of Cape Town, Dr Needham has over three decades of experience in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), education policy, academic leadership and research. He holds a PhD from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, a Master’s in Education from UWC and a BA (Honours) in History from the University of Cape Town. Dr Needham has led key national and regional research initiatives, including South Africa’s largest TVET graduate destination study, and has published widely on employability, articulation and vocational education pathways. His policy contributions include serving on Ministerial Committees and Advisory Teams for the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Council on Higher Education and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). With a strong commitment to education system transformation and social justice, Dr Needham brings deep insight into post-school education and the labour market.
