Sethu Nguna.
Learning strategy · Systems · Decision practice

I build learning
capability.
From the ground up.

I turn institutional needs into learning systems people actually use.

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+ yearsIn learning design
4 facultiesIn one curriculum pilot
1,200+Students moved online
75%+Engagement held
01 / Selected institutional work

Build the system.
Bring it into use.

Diagnose the need, align the institution, deliver, then keep improving.

01 / Function & platform building

AidData Training

AidData · William & Mary · 2023–Present

Launched / ongoing delivery

Turning development finance research into skills for journalists, officials and researchers.

What I built

Strategy, curriculum and the AidData Training Hub platform.

Evidence of delivery

A W&M-credentialed course, a Manila pilot and multi-year training in Pakistan.

Pakistan case study ↗ Training Hub ↗ The course ↗ W&M credential ↗ Hub walkthrough ↗
02 / Institutional strategy

UKZN digital learning

University of KwaZulu-Natal · 2021–2023

Strategy & capability development

Turned digital learning gaps into priorities, standards and staff development.

What I built

Led the design team, the strategy and the first Instructional Design Expo.

Evidence of delivery

14 workshops, 297 attendees, 21 module redesigns and a 10-week design sprint.

UKZN Design Sprint ↗ Strategy deck ↗ Supporting document ↗
03 / Curriculum & implementation

UNIZULU 101

University of Zululand · 2016–2021

Cross-faculty pilot

A cross-faculty core curriculum, moved online during COVID-19.

What I built

The curriculum and a support team of 40+ postgraduate assistants.

Evidence of delivery

1,200+ students, 75%+ engagement; 73% of 955 respondents rated it good for first years.

UNIZULU 101 ↗ Design walkthrough ↗
04 / Diagnosis & roadmap

Code for Africa MOOC Analysis

Code for Africa · 2022–2023

Audit & relaunch strategy

Audited learning platforms for African data journalists and planned their relaunch.

What I built

A platform evaluation and a learning roadmap.

Evidence of delivery

Six learning pathways with pre- and post-course evaluation.

Platform audit ↗ Relaunch proposal ↗
05 / Leadership learning delivery

Data Command

AidData / Presidential Precinct · Global Democracy Fellowship · 2026

Designed & delivered / 3-hour simulation

International leaders deciding together on conflicting evidence.

What I built

A fictional health-system handover negotiated across roles.

Evidence of delivery

Fellows produced a defensible joint public statement.

Global Democracy Fellows negotiating a joint statement during Data Command
Photo: Presidential Precinct · via AidData
AidData’s account ↗
06 / Independent R&D

Neckbeard

Teludens Lab · 2026

Independent R&D / agent skill

My independent R&D, behind the curtain at Teludens Lab: testing how agentic AI flows can carry parts of my learning design process.

What I built

Neckbeard, an agent skill that reads a codebase and drafts onboarding, tutorials and practice. It runs in Codex, Claude and Cursor.

Evidence of delivery

Tutorials with real commands and recovery steps, plus a record of what the agent actually ran versus only read. 23 tests pass.

Watch the overview (1:05) Project site ↗ Repository ↗
Neckbeard overview · 1:05
02 / How I work

Institutional context first.
Working capability next.

It has to fit the organisation, not just the learner.

01

Diagnose

Read priorities, workflows and the capability gap first.

02

Align

Agree direction with leaders, experts and partners.

03

Design

Join curriculum, technology, standards and support.

04

Integrate

Build around existing processes and people.

05

Deliver

Run a working pilot, then scale where it fits.

06

Improve

Measure, learn and refine.

03 / Applied capability

Strategic ownership.
Technical fluency.

From institutional decisions to the build.

Learning strategyBlended deliveryPlatform developmentFacilitationM&E

Learning ecosystems

WordPress/LearnPress, Moodle, D2L Brightspace, custom plugins and multimedia.

AI in the learning workflow

Generative AI for learning content and tools.

Protect inputs, check outputs against sources, keep human review, measure usefulness.

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 ↗