UKZN Students Part of SADC Inter-Institutional Workshop
UKZN Student Team members with Facilitator Professor Maheshvari Naidu (seated right). Five UKZN students joined approximately forty other students from campuses across southern Africa for a two day workshop hosted by Africa Gender Institute (AGI). Co-hosted by the University of Cape Town and the University of Witwatersrand, the students met in the central location of Sandton, Gauteng for two days of intense presentations around the work of the Young Women’s Leadership Project (YWLP).
Doctoral students in the School of Social Sciences, Ms Abigail Behura, Ms Sinekekwela Khumalo, Ms Victoria Mutambara, Ms Roselyn Kanyemba and third year student in the School of Arts Ms Ruby Judd, spent two days at the workshop held in Faircity Quartermain Hotel where they presented their vision for the work of the Young Women’s Leadership Project for UKZN.
The students joined other students from the University of Cape Town, University of Zimbabwe, University of Botswana, University of Namibia, University of Witwatersrand and Eduardo Mondle University in Mozambique.
The Project is a collaborative inter-institutional project that draws together several universities in the Southern African Development Centre (SADC) to address issues and challenges that impact on women in Higher Education Institutions. The Project is an initiative of Africa Gender Institute housed in the University of Cape Town and is funded by Ford Foundation USA. It is now in its fifth year.
The students were invited into the project by Professor Maheshvari Naidu, Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences who is the UKZN facilitator and grant holder within the project.
Naidu said that this is the third year that UKZN has been part of the exciting Project. ‘The students are all new to the Project and this year the funders allowed for a co-facilitator and young lecturer to join us. Ms Nokwanda Nzuza, Lecturer in Anthropology (Pmb campus) has been teaching over the last two years and was the logical choice given her two year experience in teaching as well as her involvement as team leader in one of our previous projects (2012-2013) on female contraception,’ she said.
Naidu added that the Young Women’s Leadership Project looks at ‘inclusive campus citizenship’ of women in Higher Education Institutes with a specific focus on sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and this year’s team of students have a range of activities planned.
Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .Centre for Visual Arts Students at the Caversham Press
Ms Shannon Bennetts and Ms Mrishka Panallal working on their drypoint etchings using a lightbox at the Caversham Press.Students of UKZN’s Centre for Visual Arts in Pietermaritzburg attended two workshops at The Caversham Press, under the tuition of renowned master printmaker, Mr Malcolm Christian.
The mixed groups included students in their third year of study for the Bachelor of Visual Art (BAVA) degree, as well as postgraduate candidates at honours, masters and PhD levels.
They were introduced to unusual and innovative printmaking techniques, including drypoint etching on polycarbonate, and water-based silkscreen monotypes which the students eventually assembled into (a) book format(s). According to CVA Lecturer, Dr Kathy Arbuckle, the beauty of these techniques is that they are accessible but unusual, and the way the workshops are presented allows artists with different levels of expertise to participate and produce remarkable works.
Most participants gained fresh new perspectives to guide their practice. ‘Apart from technical expertise, Malcolm has a particular gift for providing students with constructive critique in a most affirming way, which makes a visit to Caversham so worthwhile,’ said Arbuckle.
Students were excited by the new techniques and some have already started to put them into practice in the CVA’s recently refurbished printmaking studio.
It was a great privilege for the students to work with Christian, who is known for his work with some of South Africa’s most successful contemporary artists such as William Kentridge and the late Robert Hodgins. With an honorary doctorate awarded by UKZN in 2014, Christian is also known for his commitment to community art initiatives at Caversham’s various outreach programmes, and thus the UKZN art students gained on many levels. They were exposed to new techniques but also to philosophies about art making and life, in an almost spiritual environment.
The studio is housed in an abandoned (disused) church, situated among gravestones in a valley outside Howick. All these elements make it a special place to produce creative work.
Further workshops at Caversham for UKZN Visual Arts students are planned later this year.
UKZNDabaOnline
author : .author email : .International Sustainable Agriculture Experts Visit SAEES
Ms Sarah Beerhalter (left), Ms Friederike Kraemer and UKZN staff meet with farmers.Three representatives of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH recently visited the School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences (SAEES) at UKZN to deliver training on sustainable agriculture to staff and postgraduate students.
GIZ is a German-based company specialising in international development, and provides global services in the field of international co-operation for sustainable development.
The company’s Ms Friederike Kraemer, Dr Alberto Camacho and Ms Sarah Beerhalter visited UKZN to deliver a Modules on Sustainable Agriculture (MOSA) course, which promotes farming systems that benefit producers, consumers and the environment.
According to Kraemer, the training builds regional capacity and enables the exponential spread of knowledge of sustainable agriculture techniques. Content covered in the training includes sustainable agricultural development, maintenance of soil fertility, biodiversity, labour, sanitation, plant protection, rural livelihoods, water management, animal husbandry, energy, and climatic change.
Participants worked in groups to exchange experiences and ideas and develop collaborative training material through participatory techniques. The groups presented work to each other and the GIZ trainers, using the material they were given to formulate training modules.
The ideal outcome of this kind of training is that GIZ trainers will work alongside trainees until they can work independently of GIZ to deliver the MOSA.
The visit included field trips to Ixopo and Umzimkulu, where the team had the opportunity to transfer the knowledge gained, viewing the farms they visited through the lenses of sustainable agriculture.
The interaction between GIZ and UKZN was initiated through Professor Heinz Beckedahl of the Discipline of Geography and Kraemer expressed GIZ’s appreciation towards him for his facilitation of the visit. The organisation has been linked with Beckedahl’s work through the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT).
The networks of both the GIZ team and the trainees were also expanded as a result of the workshop, paving the way for future partnerships and research collaborations.
Christine Cuénod
author : .author email : .UKZN Serval Research Featured by Earth Touch News
Dr Tharmalingam Ramesh with a serval cat.Research being undertaken in UKZN’s School of Life Sciences on the African serval cat has been featured in a documentary produced by Earth Touch News.
The cats are threatened by increasing habitat loss, fire-break burning activities, vehicle collisions, snares, hunting by dogs, poisoning, and the illegal fur trade.
Post-doctoral Fellow Dr Tharmalingam Ramesh’s research details population ecology and movement of servals under current land use scenarios, and demonstrates the animals are important ecosystem indicators in monitoring the effects of changing natural habitats.
‘Although the serval cat has a wide distribution on the African continent, it has been the least studied, despite being so highly threatened,’ said Ramesh.
The documentary shows FreeMe KZN Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre’s release of a rescued serval cat into the wild with Ramesh’s help.
‘Managing serval populations requires greater understanding of their response to South Africa’s fragmented landscape structure,’ said Ramesh. ‘If current intense land use continues, populations of habitat indicators like serval are likely to decline.’
Wetlands, where the main rodent diet of servals is concentrated, are under constant threat of human destruction for agricultural and other purposes.
Ramesh recommends that sustainable, wildlife-friendly farming practices are adopted in the agricultural landscape mosaics, and that external pressure on core area habitats of wetland and forest with bushland is reduced. Following appropriate land management practices within the buffer areas is essential to maintain the integrity of the ecosystem.
Ramesh’s work has conservation implications for other endangered wetland-associated species such as the wattled crane, grey-crowned crane, and blue crane.
Ramesh is supervised by Professor Colleen Downs, and their study titled: “Impact of Farmland Use on Population Density and Activity Patterns of Serval in South Africa”, was the first to provide a robust population estimation of serval, and to document their response to changing land uses. The study is also the first to document the effects of wetland fragmentation on spatial resource selection and movement of servals using radio tracking devices.
More information on Ramesh’s research is available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tharmalingam_Ramesh
Christine Cuénod
author : .author email : .International Scholars Visit UKZN’s Morphology and Andrology Group
Visiting scholars Dr Abraham Osinubi (left) and Dr John Basgen.UKZN’s Morphology and Andrology Group (MAG) hosted two international scholars, Dr John Basgen and Dr Abraham Osinubi, whose two-week visit focused on collaboration with staff and postgraduate students.
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen capacity in postgraduate research of its group members and students as well as improve collaborative strengths between the diaspora and UKZN, said Clinical Anatomy Lecturer, Dr Onyemaechi Azu.
‘International collaborations allow the exchange of new ideas and inspire new research production,’ said Basgen of the Charles R. Drew School of Medicine in California in the United States.
He said he had enjoyed Durban as well as his visits to UKZN laboratories where he learned about research equipment available to staff and students.
‘The highlight of my interactions with the students was teaching them stereology and discussing their research projects,’ Basgen said.
‘Our ongoing collaboration is related to measurement of structure within the testes and kidney in models of HIV treatment and diabetes. Tissue specimens will be processed at UKZN and sent to my laboratory for sectioning and imaging. The images will be returned to UKZN for stereological analysis.’
‘I have always wanted to visit UKZN so when the invitation came from Dr Azu, I took up the opportunity to further strengthen our collaborations,’ Osinubi said.
‘I found members of staff of UKZN to be highly dedicated, warm and accommodating. The postgraduate students were interested in testicular toxicology using my quinine model and unbiased stereological techniques. There was also great enthusiasm on their part to learn more and embrace case-based learning.’
Osinubi said international collaborations were the hallmark of academic excellence. ‘They allow maximisation of resources at the disposal of the worldwide scientific community. Indeed, laboratories have become a global village!’
He is currently conducting joint research in diabetology and reproductive anatomy, joint supervision of postgraduate students, the development of a robust case-based learning platform for the Institution, and review and assessment of postgraduate theses.
The visit included a trip to the University of Witwatersrand’s Morphology Laboratory as part of the collaborating units with MAG-UKZN. The engagements were highly rewarding and enjoyed by the international colleagues.
Lunga Memela
author : .author email : .UKZN Nursing Students Organise Anti-Bullying Campaign
UKZN Nursing students during the anti-bullying campaign.A group of fourth year UKZN Nursing students organised an anti-bullying campaign at Montarena Secondary School in Chatsworth, Durban, for Grade 8 and Grade 9 learners.
The students were Mr Jabulani Ngcobo, Ms Kelly Werner, Ms Tina Caluza, Ms Nokubonga Mkhabela and Ms Pam Cebekhulu.
The campaign aimed to educate learners about cyberbullying and physical bullying with the intention being to help prevent such behaviour.
Participants were told bullying could cause victims to suffer anxiety, fear, depression and low self-esteem, and were told to speak out and inform teachers and section heads if they were bullied.
Grade 8 and Grade 9 pupils were specifically targeted in the hope that when they were in Grade 12, they would not be bullies or tolerate bullying.
Said Ngcobo: ‘It was evident from the time we walked into the venue that these Nursing students were passionate about the profession they were about to enter into as well as the topic at hand. Everything was well thought out and well executed.
‘On our first day at Montarena we saw two learners hitting one another in front of teachers and had to take action.
‘Anti-bullying posters were placed around the school grounds with messages such as: Unite Against Bullying and Stop Bullying,’ said Ngcobo.
Guest speakers, Social worker Mr Melusi Shabalala, and fourth year Law student, Mr Sifiso Nxumalo, inspired learners not to bully one another, delivering a message of love, respect, hope and compassion.
Grade 9 learners Shaney Ranjoomia and Shivuyo Motiale said they found the talk ‘very interesting’ and ‘inspiring’, and were thankful to UKZN for presenting the intervention programme.
Sinenhlanhla Ngubane
author : .author email : .MoU phakathi kwe-UKZN ne-Open University izoqinisa ukubambisana kwezocwaningo
UDokotela Upasana Singh nezifundiswa zase-Open University yase-Mauritius emuva kokusayina isivumelwano sokusebenzisana.Click here for English version
I-UKZN nenyuvesi yase-Mauritius i-Open University basayine isivumelwano sokusebenzisana esizoqinisa ukusebenzisana phakathi kwalamanyuvesi amabili.
Lokhu kusebenzisana kuwumphumela wezingxoxo mayelana nokusebenzisana phakathi kukaDkt Upasana Singh noMnu Perienen Appavoo engqungqutheleni yezobuchwepheshe eyayise-Mauritius ngonyaka odlule.
‘UMnu Appavoo nami sinentshisekelo efanayo kwezocwaningo ngakho ngaphakamisa ukuthi sizame ukuthola isivumelwano phakathi kwezikhungo zethu zombili ukuze sigqugquzele ukusebenzisana okufanele. Lude ukhalo esesiluhambile kusukela kuNtulikazi ngonyaka wezi-2015, lapho kwakulungiswa isivumelwano kodwa sigcine sisayinwe ekuqaleni kukaMbasa kulo nyaka,’ kusho u-Singh.
U-Singh uphinde wathi lokhu kusebenzisana kuvuleleke kunoma ubani oyisifundiswa e-UKZN nase-Open University onentshisekelo yokuba yingxenye yemizamo yokugqugquzela ukusebenzisana kulemikhakha elandelayo :
• Ukusebenzisana kwezocwaningo
• Ukusebenzisana kwabafundi kwezocwaningo
• Ukunikezelana ngezincwadi nemibhalo yezokufunda
• Ukubambisana ekuthuthukisweni nasekululekweni kwabocwaningo olusha
• Ukubambisana ekwelulekweni kwabafundi bezique zeMastazi ne-PhD
‘I-MoU ivumela abafundisi bakulezi zikhungo ukuba babambe iqhaza ekusebenzisaneni kweminyaka emithathu. Abafundisi base-UKZN abanesifiso sokubamba iqhaza emisebenzini yokubambisana bangathintana nami ukuze ngibasize kokumele kwenziwe,’usho kanje.
nguThandiwe Jumo
author : .author email : .UKZN Celebrates International Jazz Day
UKZN Music Lecturers (from left) Ms Debbie Mari, Mr George Mari, Mr Neil Gonsalves and Professor Salim Washington.The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music staged Generations of Jazz as part of International Jazz Day which brings together communities, schools, artists, historians, academics, and jazz enthusiasts all over the world to celebrate and learn about the music, its roots, future and impact.
The day is held annually to promote peace and dialogue among cultures, diversity and respect for human rights and human dignity, the eradication of discrimination, freedom of expression, gender equality, and reinforcing the role of youth in enacting social change.
Jazz Lecturer Mr Neil Gonsalves said: ‘Connecting Generations Through Jazz, brought together young musicians and teachers from local schools, UKZN Jazz students and staff, Jazz appreciation club members, and local audiences and musicians in a celebration of this wonderful art form. Live performances, a jam session, short talks and a jazz appreciation session were on the programme.’
Gonsalves pointed out that the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at UKZN was one of many arts and cultural organisations in South Africa through which to register a jazz event on the http://jazzday.com/ website.
He says International Jazz day not only celebrates jazz but recognises it as a force for creating social cohesion.
Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .College of Humanities Hosts 2016 Careers Fair
Students at the College of Humanities Careers Day.The College of Humanities Student Support Services held a Careers Day on the Howard College and Pietermaritzburg campuses giving students the opportunity to interact with various organisations which exhibited including RCL Foods, SAPS and UKZN.
South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) representative Ms Helen Seymour said: ‘This event allows us to meet potential employees and to interact with them and provide them with all the necessary information about our company.’
Talent Acquisition Manager for RCL Foods, Ms Tasmin Coleman, said: ‘Being a part of UKZN’s Careers fair gives us the opportunity to showcase our brand as well as to meet and interact with future employees. We have taken on quite a few UKZN graduates in the past year based on their skills and expertise. We hope to inspire future leaders.’
Psychology student Ms Phumla Zaca said: ‘The careers day exhibits were really great and informative. The expo allowed us to engage more with companies and organisations about possible career choices. Student Support Services really did a good job. I hope they have this event next year with even more companies attending.’
Another student, Mr Stuart Lee George, said it had been a good initiative by the College to showcase the many career opportunities available. ‘It was a really good effort but we need more companies to come through for next year. I advise all students to attend the next careers fair because they could potentially meet their next employer here.’
Manager of Student Support Services, Ms Angeline Stephens, said she was pleased students and companies found the events beneficial. ‘Graduate marketability and recruitment are an important component of developing student careers,’ she said.
Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .Music Graduate Performs at Jazz Centre
Ms Zethembiso Mdletshe.The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music featured recent BA (Music) graduate and Afro/soul/jazz vocalist, Ms Zethembiso Mdletshe, who performed most of her own compositions and a few covers.
Her experimental sounds dealt with various themes such as self-love, identity, womanhood and overcoming through adversity.
‘It was an honour to perform on this platform after I just gradated. I’ve always wanted the opportunity,’ said Mdletshe. ‘The UKZN Centre for Jazz stage is highly respected all over the country with some of the greatest musicians having performed there. So to be part of such great history is one of the greatest feelings,’ said Mdletshe.
She grew up singing in church which she believes was the foundation of her art. Mdletshe’s number one fan is her mother who always made her sing at weddings and parties. ‘I've always loved music. When I heard, it was possible to actually study music, I jumped at the chance to learn about music and how to perfect the little that I knew.’
Mdletshe is currently working on creating more of her own compositions and is performing around Durban. ‘There are plans for an album but at the moment I am perfecting my music and promoting ZETHE as a brand, building up my fan base and making sure I excel in my music career,’ she said.
Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .Systems Thinking Expert Awarded 2016 Emerald Literati Network Award
Dr Shamim Bodhanya.Graduate School of Business and Leadership academic and systems thinking expert, Dr Shamim Bodhanya, and his former Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dr Sandra Hildbrand have been awarded the 2016 Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence, for their outstanding research on the application of the viable system model.
The award recognises the most impressive pieces of work seen throughout the past year by the Emerald Publishing Group which manages a portfolio of over 290 journals and well over 2 500 book titles as judged by eminent academics or managers.
Bodhanya and Hildbrand’s paper titled: “Guidance on applying the viable system model was published in Kybernetes: The International Journal of Systems & Cybernetics. The purpose of this paper is to show practitioners and researchers how to conduct a Viable System Model (VSM) diagnosis and further seeks to encourage others to apply VSM and to share their experience with using VSM.
Speaking on this achievement, Bodhanya said the award validates his passion and the value of teaching the practical application of theory which comes with 14 years industrial experience and 15 years in academia.
‘There is a lot of work done on VSM but there is very little literature on how to apply it. This paper bridges that gap as the idea is to engage students by showing them how the complex theories of systems are applied in a practical setting. Sandra and I have been working together on various journal articles throughout her doctoral studies and later when she became a post-doctoral fellow. This award would not be possible without her,’ he said.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited’s Academic Relations Manager, Mr Jim Bowden, congratulated Dr Bodhanya on his achievement: ‘Congratulations on your paper, to increase dissemination of such a high quality article, we have made it freely available until end of May 2016. We will be in touch with you regarding our plans to present your award very soon.’
Thandiwe Jumo
author : .author email : .KZN Health MEC Takes Part in Campus March
Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo addressed students at the Imbizo on UKZN’s Howard College campus.The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo joined students and staff in a march on the Durban campus against unplanned pregnancies, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.
The march took place after the UKZN HIV and AIDS Programme and the UKZN Men’s Forum organised a debate on the Imbizo Yempilo Campaign under the theme: “Men Taking Responsibility to Prevent Unplanned Pregnancies, HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections”.
Dhlomo lauded the UKZN Men’s Forum for championing messages of health among their peers. ‘If we want to champion messages around these diseases, we need to involve young people who can share them with their peers. I’m thrilled by this initiative and I will support you all the way.
‘All of us should take individual responsibility on health issues. The youth has to take its rightful place and lead us into the future and that can only happen if our individual actions are in support of this view,’ he said.
Dhlomo emphasised that the Department’s campaign: First Things First - Graduate Alive, was an indication of a mutual interest to ensure optimal health of the youth.
He urged UKZN students to ‘Say NO to Blessers’ and to avoid falling prey to the Sugar Daddy syndrome and abstain from sex. He encouraged those having sex to adopt Dual Protection Precautions to ensure they graduated without a baby and without HIV and AIDS.
Mr Leonard Masinga of eThekwini Municipality said: ‘There is no neutral platform for a man when we talk about issues of gender-based violence. Men can’t be spectators - either you are a perpetrator or a good man.’
UKZN’s HIV and AIDS Programme Coordinator, Ms Nomonde Mangantolo, added, ‘It is important that as a Higher Education Institution we create a conducive environment for students to have a voice on critical issues like Health’, while SRC President Mr Bandile Majola said:, ‘What is even more important for us as the UKZN Men’s Forum is that this message must be shared with our communities. We must share the knowledge we possess to empower other people.’
On the day, men were able to access HIV counselling and testing (HCT), blood pressure screening, blood sugar testing, body mass index information, and TB and STI screening.
The UKZN Men’s Forum plans to host this event every year and expand it to other Higher Education Institutions through establishing solid partnerships with the Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, and all FET colleges.
Melissa Mungroo
author : .author email : .InQubate(ing) “Mind to Market” Initiatives for Socio-Economic Prosperity
From left: Mrs Suvina Singh, Ms Jodi Coxwell, Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, and Mr Trevor Lorimer.“From Mind to Market” was the theme of an intellectual property and commercialisation seminar organised by UKZN’s InQubate on the Howard College campus.
It was the first of a series of workshops aimed at building a culture of transferring invaluable research driven by the University’s academic minds to the “market” where its benefit can be realised for the betterment of the South African people.
Introducing the event, Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship, emphasised the role of SMMEs in boosting wealth in developed economies such as the United States and Sweden.
Dr Rudi Kimmie, a consultant at InQubate, spoke passionately about the need to grow student entrepreneurship through the Student Entrepreneurship and Upliftment Project (StepUP) to be launched soon.
The audience of staff, students and business professionals listened attentively to patent attorney, Ms Jodi Coxwell’s explanation of patents, registered designs, trademarks and copyrights and the legislation which governs each.
Seasoned entrepreneur, Mr Ian Donjeany, who is CEO of the diversified engineering company, The Elgin Group, shared his life journey from student, to academic, to head of a multi-million rand organisation.
Newly-appointed Director of Intellectual Property and Commercialisation at InQubate and promoter of the From Mind to Market concept, Mrs Suvina Singh, said: ‘The UKZN Inqubate team is committed to working with the University’s researchers and students, external funders, investors, technology partners, industry and government, in order to successfully commercialise the University’s intellectual property and boost entrepreneurship and job creation.’
Rudi Kimmie
author : .author email : .