Sethu Nguna.
Learning strategy · Systems · Decision practice

I build learning
capability.
From the ground up.

I read the institutional landscape, work with leadership and turn unmet needs into learning systems people can use.

Strategy through implementation. Curriculum, platforms, facilitation and data-informed improvement.

Explore selected work ↓View experience ↓
Participants collaborating during the Mandela Washington Fellows learning experience
From research to decision practice

Learning that moves
into the room.

Data Command · Mandela Washington Fellows · 2024 & 2025
10+ yearsLearning design and institutional systems
4 facultiesUNIZULU 101 curriculum pilot
1,200+Students in remote learning transition
75%+Engagement maintained in that transition
01 / Selected institutional work

Build the system.
Bring it into use.

A consistent thread across research and university settings: diagnose the need, align the institution, deliver an intervention and maintain the feedback loop.

01 / Function & platform building

AidData Training

AidData · William & Mary · 2023–Present

Launched / ongoing delivery

Establishing and scaling an international training initiative that translates development finance research into practical capability for journalists, public officials and researchers.

What I built

Learning strategy, curriculum, partner coordination and the AidData Training Hub: a custom WordPress environment with bespoke plugins and integrations.

Evidence of delivery

Flagship credentialed course Navigating Global Development Finance; Manila pilot for 20 practicing journalists; multi-year blended training in Pakistan.

Explore the Training Hub project ↗ Watch the Training Hub walkthrough ↗
How the work fits together

My responsibilities connect platform architecture, multimedia production, delivery and programme M&E. The work brings institutional expertise and partner needs into one practical learning initiative.

02 / Institutional strategy

UKZN digital learning

University of KwaZulu-Natal · 2021–2023

Strategy & capability development

Worked with academic leadership to diagnose digital learning challenges and translate institutional needs into design priorities, standards and professional development.

What I built

Instructional design team leadership, institutional digital learning strategy, design standards and the inaugural UKZN Instructional Design Expo.

Evidence of delivery

Collaboration with Quality Assurance to align curriculum and digital learning practices with NQF-compliant frameworks.

Explore UKZN Design Sprint ↗ View strategy presentation ↗ View supporting document ↗
03 / Curriculum & implementation

UNIZULU 101

University of Zululand · 2016–2021

Cross-faculty pilot

Designed a core curriculum pilot that could operate within academic structures across faculties and campuses, then led its emergency remote learning transition.

What I built

Curriculum architecture, institutional coordination and a delivery support structure involving more than 40 postgraduate student assistants.

Evidence of delivery

Pilot integration across four faculties, ten programmes and two campuses. Maintained 75%+ engagement among 1,200+ students during the COVID-19 transition.

Explore UNIZULU 101 ↗ View delivery example ↗
04 / Diagnosis & roadmap

Code for Africa MOOC Analysis

Code for Africa · 2022–2023

Audit & relaunch strategy

Evaluated digital learning capacity and developed a relaunch strategy for custom platforms serving African data journalism and civic technology audiences.

What I built

Platform evaluation, digital learning content and recommendations connecting technology choices with organisational learning needs.

Evidence of delivery

Completed assessment and relaunch strategy; learning design in collaboration with editorial and capacity-building teams.

Read platform audit ↗ Read relaunch proposal ↗
05 / Leadership learning delivery

Data Command

AidData / Presidential Precinct · Global Democracy Fellowship · 2026

Designed & delivered / 3-hour simulation

Designed and facilitated research-informed decision practice for international leaders facing conflicting evidence and institutional constraints.

What I built

A fictional health-system handover scenario requiring negotiation across institutional roles.

Evidence of delivery

Fellows produced a defensible joint public statement, weighing service continuity, fiscal limits and accountability.

Global Democracy Fellows negotiating a joint statement during Data Command
Photo: Presidential Precinct · via AidData
Read AidData’s delivery account ↗
02 / How I work

Institutional context first.
Working capability next.

The intervention has to fit the organisation as well as the learner.

01

Diagnose

Read institutional priorities, existing workflows and the capability gap before choosing a solution.

02

Align

Work with senior leadership, subject-matter experts and delivery partners to establish a shared direction.

03

Design

Connect curriculum, learning technology, standards and support into a coherent intervention.

04

Integrate

Design around institutional processes and the people responsible for delivery.

05

Deliver

Build and facilitate a working pilot, then extend delivery where the context supports it.

06

Improve

Maintain data-informed instruments and use evaluation findings to refine the intervention.

03 / Applied capability

Strategic ownership.
Technical fluency.

I move between institutional decisions and the practical work needed to implement them.

My work spans research-led professional learning, digital transformation and simulation design. I build with the people who will use and sustain the system.

Learning strategyBlended deliveryPlatform developmentFacilitationM&E

Learning ecosystems

WordPress/LearnPress, Moodle and D2L Brightspace; custom integrations and plugins; multimedia and digital course development.

AI in the learning workflow

Practical generative AI and prompt engineering for learning content and tools, supported by training in LLM applications and generative AI fundamentals.

My implementation approach: protect sensitive inputs, verify outputs against source evidence, retain human review and measure usefulness in the task.

Decision practice

Role-specific authority, competing priorities, evidence and uncertainty, followed by structured reflection. Experience designing platforms and facilitating learning.

Explore simulations & games ↗
04 / Experience

Built across
institutional settings.

Training & Instructional Design Manager

AidData, William & Mary · October 2023–Present

Senior Research Analyst

Statecraft Simulations Group, Gates Global Policy Center · December 2025–Present

Lead Instructional Designer

University of KwaZulu-Natal · 2021–2023

eLearning Consultant

Code for Africa · 2022–2023

Academic Coordinator

University of Zululand · 2016–2021

MA Education with Merit · Liverpool John Moores University, 2023

05 / Ideas into practice

Writing & public work.

Explore Runtime State ↗
Start a conversation

Build the capability.
Make it work in practice.

Learning strategy, institutional systems and decision practice.

sethnguna@gmail.com ↗