Walter Sisulu University, through the Faculty of Management and Public Administration Sciences (FMPAS), is inviting applications for an Administrative Intern (TVET/CET) position within the Office of the Wholesale & Retail Leadership Chair: Eastern Cape.
The internship is being offered in partnership with the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA) as part of the establishment of the Wholesale & Retail Leadership Chair for the Eastern Cape.
The Leadership Chair aims to promote research, skills development and collaboration with industry in the wholesale and retail sector. The programme places particular emphasis on entrepreneurship, transformation, and economic development in rural and township communities.
This internship provides students currently completing their qualifications at TVET and CET institutions with an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience. The successful candidate will work in a higher education and sector research environment while developing valuable administrative, coordination, research and stakeholder engagement skills.
Position Details
Position: Administrative Intern (TVET/CET)
Programme: W&R Leadership Chair – Eastern Cape
Faculty: Faculty of Management and Public Administration Sciences (FMPAS)
Institution: Walter Sisulu University
Internship Type: Fixed-term Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Internship
Stipend: R9,000 per month
Closing Date: 18 September 2026 at 17:00
Application Email: [email protected]
Attention: Itebogeng Masibigiri
Purpose of the Internship
The Administrative Intern will provide administrative and operational support to the Leadership Chair and project team.
The position is intended to provide students with practical exposure to workplace processes while allowing them to apply knowledge gained through their studies. The intern will also assist with research coordination, stakeholder activities, workshops, meetings, documentation and general office administration.
The internship can provide valuable experience for students interested in administration, business management, wholesale and retail, marketing, logistics, supply chain management, research coordination and related fields.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will assist the Leadership Chair and project team with a range of administrative and coordination activities.
Administrative and Coordination Support
Responsibilities include providing general administrative assistance to the Leadership Chair and project team. The intern will assist with day-to-day office activities and help ensure that administrative tasks are completed accurately and within required deadlines.
The position also involves coordinating activities and supporting the smooth operation of projects associated with the Leadership Chair.
Meeting and Diary Management
The intern will assist with scheduling meetings, managing diaries and coordinating meeting logistics.
Duties may include arranging meeting times, communicating relevant information to participants, preparing meeting-related documentation and ensuring that logistical requirements are addressed.
Stakeholder Engagements and Workshops
The successful candidate will support the organisation of stakeholder engagements, workshops and learning sessions.
This may involve assisting with invitations, attendance records, venue arrangements, documentation and other administrative requirements associated with events and stakeholder activities.
The role provides an opportunity to gain practical exposure to professional communication and stakeholder coordination.
Filing and Records Management
The intern will maintain filing systems, databases and stakeholder records.
Accurate recordkeeping will be important to ensure that information can be retrieved when required. The successful candidate should therefore have good attention to detail and the ability to organise information systematically.
Data Collection
The position includes supporting data collection activities such as surveys and interviews.
The intern may assist with preparing information, recording responses, organising collected data and providing administrative support during research-related activities.
Basic knowledge of research or data collection processes will be an added advantage.
Procurement and General Administration
The successful candidate will assist with procurement and general administrative processes.
This may include supporting documentation, maintaining records and assisting the project team with routine administrative requirements related to procurement and operational activities.
Meeting Minutes and Follow-Up Actions
The intern will be expected to take minutes during meetings and assist with tracking follow-up actions.
Good listening, writing and organisational skills will be important when recording discussions, decisions and actions arising from meetings.
Reports and Presentations
The successful candidate will assist with compiling reports, presentations and other knowledge outputs.
Basic computer skills, particularly knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, will be useful when preparing and formatting documents and presentations.
Office Support and Queries
The Administrative Intern will respond to queries and provide general office support.
Professional communication and a helpful approach will be required when dealing with staff, students, stakeholders and other individuals interacting with the Leadership Chair.
Minimum Requirements
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- A qualification in Wholesale and Retail Management
- Business Administration
- Management
- Marketing
- Logistics
- Supply Chain Management
- Or a related field
- Basic computer literacy
- Knowledge of Microsoft Word
- Knowledge of Microsoft Excel
- Knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint
- Knowledge of Microsoft Outlook
- Good written communication skills
- Good verbal communication skills
- Strong organisational skills
- Strong administrative skills
- Ability to work effectively in a team
- Ability to manage time effectively
The opportunity is specifically intended for students currently completing their qualifications within the TVET/CET environment.
Added Advantages
Although not listed as mandatory requirements, the following experience or knowledge will be advantageous:
- Exposure to the wholesale and retail sector
- Understanding of the higher education environment
- Understanding of the skills development environment
- Basic knowledge of research processes
- Basic knowledge of data collection processes
Candidates who have previously been exposed to administration, research activities, stakeholder engagement, retail operations, business administration or related activities may find the practical nature of the internship particularly relevant to their studies.
Key Competencies
The successful candidate should demonstrate the following competencies:
Attention to Detail
Administrative and research-related work requires accurate handling of information and documentation. Candidates should be able to identify errors and ensure that records and documents are properly maintained.
Willingness to Learn
The internship is designed to provide workplace exposure and practical learning. A willingness to learn new processes, systems and administrative procedures will therefore be important.
Initiative
Candidates should be able to take initiative when completing assigned duties and supporting the project team.
Professionalism and Reliability
The intern will work in a professional higher education and sector research environment. Professional conduct, punctuality, reliability and responsible handling of assigned duties will be expected.
Ability to Work Under Pressure
The position may involve multiple administrative responsibilities, meetings, workshops and deadlines. Candidates should be able to manage competing tasks and remain organised when working under pressure.
Communication Skills
Good interpersonal and communication skills are required. The successful candidate should be comfortable communicating professionally with colleagues, stakeholders and other individuals.
Time Management
The ability to prioritise tasks, manage deadlines and complete assigned responsibilities efficiently will be important for this internship.
What the Internship Offers
The internship offers students an opportunity to gain practical workplace exposure while completing their academic qualifications.
The intern will gain exposure to areas such as:
- Office administration
- Meeting coordination
- Diary and scheduling management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Workshop coordination
- Records management
- Database administration
- Data collection
- Research support
- Procurement administration
- Report preparation
- Presentation preparation
- Professional communication
- Higher education administration
- Skills development activities
- Wholesale and retail sector initiatives
The R9,000 monthly stipend provides financial support during the fixed-term Work-Integrated Learning period.
Application Requirements
Applicants should prepare the required supporting documents before submitting an application.
Applications should include:
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of registration for the current academic year
- Certified copies of qualifications and academic records
- Names and contact details of at least two referees
Candidates should ensure that the information provided in the CV is accurate and clearly reflects their qualifications, skills and relevant experience.
The CV should also clearly indicate the candidate’s contact details, educational background and any relevant administrative, retail, business, research, logistics or other experience.
How to Apply
Applicants who meet the minimum requirements should submit their applications by email.
Send the application to: [email protected]
For the attention of: Itebogeng Masibigiri
The application should include the required CV, proof of current-year registration, certified qualifications and academic records, as well as the names and contact details of at least two referees.
Closing date: 18 September 2026 at 17:00.
Applications should be submitted before the closing deadline to avoid missing the opportunity.
Enquiries
For further information regarding the internship, enquiries can be directed to:
Palesa Mashinini
Email: [email protected]
Applicants requiring clarification about the internship may use the enquiry contact before submitting their application.
Important Notice
The Wholesale & Retail Leadership Chair for the Eastern Cape reserves the right not to proceed with the appointment of any candidate for the TVET/CET Intern position if no suitable candidate is identified or if circumstances warrant discontinuation of the recruitment process.
Candidates are therefore encouraged to carefully review the requirements and submit complete applications containing all requested documents.
Final Application Checklist
Before sending the application, applicants should confirm that the following are included:
- Detailed CV
- Proof of registration for the current academic year
- Certified copies of qualifications
- Certified academic records
- Names of at least two referees
- Contact details for the referees
- Correct application email address
- Application addressed to Itebogeng Masibigiri
- Application submitted before 18 September 2026 at 17:00
This Administrative Intern (TVET/CET) opportunity is suited to students seeking practical experience in administration, management, wholesale and retail, marketing, logistics, supply chain management or related fields. The internship provides exposure to professional administration, research coordination, stakeholder engagement and skills development within the Eastern Cape.