Communication is Critical for Business Success
Department of Health representatives on the Business Communication programme on Howard College campus.UKZN Extended Learning recently hosted Department of Health representatives for a Business Communication course.
All organisations can benefit from practical business communication tools. In addition to enabling the organisation to track and analyse progress, such tools can identify areas for improvement and growth opportunities. Furthermore, all organisations have to comply with regulations on business reporting and they also need to report to employees and other stakeholders.
A business report provides an overview of all aspects of an organisation’s performance. Skills to produce business reports are thus an essential leadership attribute.
Delegates from the Department of Health participated enthusiastically in the programme and offered positive feedback on how they can use the knowledge they gained in the workplace. Acting District Director, Ms Mthokozisi Khumalo commented: ‘The facilitation was excellent and the content was clear. I will use the report writing format, and presentation and communication skills in my work environment. Previously, we would just write a report, but it wouldn’t have a clear flow of information.’
Director for Strategic Planning in the Department, Ms Narissa Moodley concurred: ‘The facilitators were well prepared, and the presentations were clear. We also learnt to be consistent in how we produce documents and presentations. The practical session allowed me to analyse how information is received by the audience.’
To equip yourself with the business skills required by employers to meet organisational needs, contact:
Nokwanda Mokoena
T: +27 31 260 3796
E: MokoenaN@ukzn.ac.za
or click here for more information on the programme.
Words: Nkosingiphile Ntshangase
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .CCMS Academic Appointed Co-Editor of Critical Arts
Professor Lauren Dyll has been appointed co-editor of the Critical Arts journal.Click here for isiZulu version
Professor Lauren Dyll of the Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS) within the College of Humanities has been appointed co-editor of the Critical Arts journal that is jointly housed at UKZN and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
‘Professor Dyll is a part of the journal’s succession planning, which is necessary to build continuity and ensure the journal’s continuing success,’ said Professor Keyan Tomaselli (UJ), Critical Arts founding editor.
‘I feel honoured to be working alongside Professor Keyan Tomaselli and with the international editorial board that includes Professor Emeritus Ruth Teer-Tomaselli. I am excited that I can contribute to supporting scholarship where authors in cultural and media studies engage in critical dialogues generated within the South-North and East-West relationship, with special reference to transdisciplinary epistemologies,’ said Dyll. ‘To co-edit a journal that has published two Nobel Laureates (Nadine Gordimer and JM Coetzee), and ground-breaking scholars like Stuart Hall, not to mention African luminaries such as Njabalo Ndebele and Ntongela Masilela, is a valued experience.’
Dyll will be dealing with a significant increase in editorial management work in the journal’s day-to-day operations, as well as future planning. ‘Managing Critical Arts has become a full-time operation in the complex South African scholarly journals’ regulatory environment. Added to this is the increased intensity of submissions, and the need for rapid turnaround.’
She will also provide academic and training support to some of the exciting projects currently underway, such as the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)-funded Postdoctoral Fellow Special Issue scheduled for late 2022. This project provides training and mentorship to enable emerging scholars to publish.
Dyll also curated a selection of 20 previously published Critical Arts articles written by UKZN scholars (2015-2021) that is available online as a Taylor and Francis Critical Arts collection. As collection editor, she thematised the collection as Revisiting curriculum transformation and the decolonisation debate: Perspectives from University of KwaZulu-Natal scholars.
Collection sub-themes include Western models of knowledge in South African universities; curriculum and epistemological transformations; the role/s of indigenous knowledge; neoliberal/market-driven priorities and approaches in university management and publishing processes in the Humanities.
The collection can be accessed at: https://staging.www.tandfonline.com/journals/rcrc20/collections/kwazulu-natal-scholars-decolonisation-debate
Dyll is a National Research Foundation rated researcher with research interests in participatory communication, critical indigenous qualitative methodologies and issues around cultural heritage and tourism in terms of the relationship between social change and identity. She has been a key contributor to Keyan Tomaselli’s long-standing Rethinking Indigeneity project that signals strategies that aim to facilitate the participatory and transformative aspects of the research (and/or development) encounter.
The majority of Dyll’s fieldwork has been conducted in the Kalahari area of southern Africa, and more recently in Mpumalanga (South Africa) where she is project leader for the South African National Heritage Council (NHC)-funded project, Mashishing Marking Memories.
She is a member of the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) Clearinghouse, and serves on the editorial boards of The Journal of Autoethnography (University of California Press) and Communication, Technology and Development Journal (published by the UNESCO Chair at University Bordeaux Montaigne for Emerging Practices in Technology and Communication for Development).
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .A Virtual Feast for UKZN’s Milestone 25th Time of the Writer Festival
Time of the Writer featured writer Mr Mandla Langa (left) and Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang (University of Pretoria).Click here for isiZulu version
The Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within the College of Humanities hosted a virtual opening of the 25th edition of the Time of the Writer Festival. Co-curator Ms Siphindile Hlongwa welcomed more than 300 viewers to the opening that was presented from the Luthuli Museum in Groutville, KwaZulu-Natal.
Said Hlongwa, ‘Chief Albert Luthuli was not only an activist for social change but also a fervent writer. As we mark the 60th anniversary of his autobiography, the power and intensity of his writing inspire the 25th anniversary of the festival to go beyond words and explore how memory, imagination and conscience is stirred by our novelists, poets, writers and other wordsmiths.’
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize acknowledged the important role played by the creative and literary arts in the fight against injustice. ‘We applaud the courage, genius and creativity of our writers who speak the truth with no fear or favour,’ he said.
In his address CCA Director Dr Ismail Mahomed reflected on the partnership established with the Lviv International Literary Festival in Ukraine and how artists come together during times of solidarity. ‘Our writers become word bearers of truth about our world. Several sessions of our festival speak truth about our South African democracy. We have also deepened our efforts to grow the isiZulu language programme across all our festivals.’
Speaking to this year’s festival and theme, featured writer Mr Mandla Langa commented, ‘This festival happens at a very crucial time for the people of our country. There is much turbulence and writers should aim to create an oasis. I am also happy to see many young writers in the programme; they hold the lamp and will take us to the future.’
Acclaimed writer, researcher and writing fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa Institute, Dr Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang presented an inspiring keynote speech in which she reflected on how Luthuli’s autobiography Let My People Go can inspire people and how the book has influenced other writers. She critically reflected on the past, analysed current contexts and offered inspiring insights for the future.
‘Historical narratives in the form of life stories like Let My People Go and historical novels have illuminated the role of African literature in Memory, Imagination and Conscience that resonates today because we still live in a world where inequalities along gender, race, cultural and sexual orientation persist. These books offer a critical historical lens from which to write and imagine hopeful futures, beyond wars and displacement,’ said Msimang.
She noted that the digital revolution has given many more people access to books and festivals. ‘Books have helped us survive the pandemic. More people are staying home and reading. These are indeed exciting times for the African novel. Women writers are being recognised, and the Time of the Writer has curated a programme where 70 percent of participants are women. The programme is diverse and dynamic. It is especially pleasing to witness the work of female historical novelists who continue to write women into history and insist on the value of diverse voices.’
In closing, Msimang said, ‘I would like to congratulate the authors who participated in this Time of the Writer in a rich exchange of ideas and visions. The programme’s bold inclusion of women’s voices and the authors of children’s books deserves our loud and appreciative applause.’
Words: Melissa Mungroo
Photographs: Supplied
author : .author email : .Accounting Students Engage with Prospective Employers at the Accounting Professions Day
The 2022 Accounting Professions Day hosted by the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance.The School of Accounting, Economics and Finance hosted Accounting Professions Day to provide a platform for students to engage with prospective employers. The virtual event attracted representatives from 18 accounting and auditing firms. It aimed to expose students to the Accounting profession, enable them to engage with industry experts, and gain insights into the profession. The program was facilitated by Accounting academics Mr Alastair Marais and Mrs Kerry Lee-Gurr.
Accounting Programmes co-ordinator Professor Surendran Pillay assured the firms that the School is committed to producing graduates that will add value to the work place.
‘We have made on-going improvements to our programmes through self-reflection and reviewing our process to ensure that we meet the standards set by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the University and firms,’ said Pillay.
He highlighted that the School has improved its output, achieving more than 80% in the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) throughput while the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting pass rate has improved rapidly.
‘We are constantly reviewing our curriculum and working to prepare our graduates to be ready to be more fit for the audit trainee programme when they enter traineeship. We have highly competent and experienced staff. We maintain level 1 accreditation with SAICA. To our students, you are blessed to have firms that are interested in you; do your research, listen carefully to the presentations and make a decision,’ said Pillay.
Firms present included A2A Kopano Incorporated; the Auditor-General South Africa; Baker Tilly Morrison Murray; BDO South Africa; Colenbrander Inc.; DNKA Inc.; EY; Investec; KPMG; Mazars; Moore Durban; Moore Midlands; PKF South Africa; PwC; SAIPA; SNG Grant Thornton; SAICA; Standard Bank and VHA Accounting Solutions Inc.
Great prizes were also up for grabs as a reward for students answering questions about the presentations. Most students were interested in the firms’ vacation work experience and graduate recruitment programmes.
Commenting on the event, BDO South Africa’s Partner Audit and UKZN graduate Mr Peter Galliver said, ‘As a UKZN alumnus, I feel it’s important to recruit our home grown talent and to provide real opportunities to the people from our immediate communities. In the past, UKZN has produced amazing graduates who have, with BDO’s training and support, gone on to be highly successful chartered accountants and business leaders.’
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Image: Supplied
author : .author email : .Research on COVID-19 at a Quantum Level to be Presented to the American Physical Society
An illustration showing how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein facilitates host cell invasion by binding with cell membrane embedded ACE2 receptors.At a significant annual international meeting of more than 10 000 physicists in Chicago in the United States in March, research from UKZN’s Quantum Research Group was presented to the American Physical Society (APS) concerning the role played by the phenomenon of quantum tunnelling in infection with SARS-CoV-2.
This important study reveals what happens on the minutest scale when viruses infect their hosts and could inform research into new therapies to treat disease and post-viral syndromes and relieve the burden they impose on health systems.
Researchers in quantum biology have had some success in describing biological processes including photosynthesis, enzyme catalysis, magnetoreception and olfaction (the sense of smell) - at the heart of many of these processes is the phenomenon of electron transfer, which is facilitated by the biological environment.
Professor Francesco Petruccione, Professor Ilya Sinayskiy and PhD candidate Ms Betony Adams from UKZN, and Professor Rienk van Grondelle from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in The Netherlands authored the study after being intrigued by the parallels between research in quantum biology and some mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, specifically the involvement of enzymes, the disruption of olfaction and the use of drugs that target specific receptors
In the context of the urgent drive to generate more knowledge about how exactly viruses find purchase in their hosts with the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic raging, this research examines how electron transfer might activate cellular receptors.
Quantum tunnelling describes the movement of particles through barriers that appear impenetrable; it is thought to play a role in many biological processes and possibly in the transfer of particles in the cells responsible for our sense of smell and even in cells in the body’s nervous system.
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus enters the body, it is understood to use enzymes to invade cells - enzymes make use of the lock-and-key mechanism to bind to a substrate. However, it has also been suggested that quantum tunnelling is involved in the action of enzymes.
Taking this knowledge into account, in combination with observations that the COVID-19 disease disrupts olfactory receptors leading to a loss of sense of smell, the researchers investigated how quantum tunnelling might play a significant role in enabling infection with SARS-CoV-2.
They developed a simple model to illustrate the mode of a viral spike protein’s vibrational and electronic (vibronic) interactions and the likelihood that there would be a transfer of charge between it and a receptor cell in the body in the first step of virus-host invasion. This suggests that the vibronic mode of the spike protein, such as those found on the SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses, enhances electron transfer. The research could lead to new therapies to treat such viruses that can be identified based on their unique vibrational spectra.
Petruccione, the South African Research Chair for Quantum Information Processing and Communication (QIPC), founder of UKZN’s Centre for Quantum Technology and interim Director of the National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Science (NITheCS) presented the research.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Image: Angela Illing
author : .author email : .Plant Breeding Professor Promotes Her Discipline on International Podcast
Professor Julia Sibiya featured on PBS International’s Plant Breeding Stories podcast.Associate Professor of Plant Breeding at UKZN Professor Julia Sibiya featured in an episode of PBS International’s Plant Breeding Stories podcast where she spoke about her career in the field of plant breeding, her research on the improvement of cereal crops, and the importance of encouraging young people to consider careers in agriculture.
Sibiya is the Academic Leader for the Production Sciences cluster in UKZN’s School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Vice-President of the African Plant Breeders Association (APBA).
PBS International is a United Kingdom-based pollination control company that produces fabric pollination bags and tents for plant breeders and seed producers. Its podcast series provided insight into how plant breeding affects diets, farming systems and the environment by profiling breeders, scientists and entrepreneurs and discussing their work and contemporary challenges in agriculture.
Sibiya initially wanted to be a doctor in her home country of Zimbabwe, but found herself studying agriculture, choosing to focus on plants when she realised that the tools and techniques applied were similar to those used in medicine.
She completed her undergraduate studies in Zimbabwe before undertaking a master’s degree at Ohio State University in the United States, focusing on plant virology. She lectured at the University of Zimbabwe before completing her PhD studies at UKZN’s African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI), focusing on biotechnology tools to combat plant diseases.
Sibiya has been on the staff of UKZN since 2011. Her research focuses on the second most important cereal after maize in Africa, sorghum. Prized for cultivation in dry areas, some types of sweet-stemmed sorghum are used for biofuels, and Sibiya is examining the development of high-yielding and dual-purpose hybrid varieties of the plant that yield both grains for consumption and high sugars for biofuel production.
She aims to achieve a selection of these mutually exclusive traits by developing a selection index using newly-available technologies such as gene editing, and her team is using a male sterile system to breed and develop hybrids of the self-pollinating crop.
She is also collaborating with the University of California Davis to enhance the productivity and nutritional quality of grain sorghum, even under drought conditions. This involves improving iron, zinc, proteins such as lysine, and important micronutrients.
Sibiya provided background on the regulations around the release and commercialisation of genetically modified and enhanced crops in southern Africa, and spoke about the APBA and its contributions to plant breeding.
‘With climate change, the challenges that we face are similar no matter where you are in the world. If we network as different associations, we can help one another to address some of these issues,’ said Sibiya.
‘By connecting with people with whom we can do collaborative research, we can assist one another and receive assistance from those with the infrastructure or skills to solve global issues that affect food and nutritional security,’ she added.
On attracting young people to agriculture, Sibiya suggested that ignorance about agriculture persists, and emphasised the highly scientific nature of the field.
‘The challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition in most African countries can be addressed if we train more agricultural scientists. Training at postgraduate level will help students innovate and run successful programmes, and influence policy to increase the resources available to fund research and improve nutrition,’ she said.
Sibiya made reference to her time spent leading part of the Improved Masters in Cultivar Development for Africa programme, funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa at three African universities, which embedded students in organisations where they could apply their skills, gain practical experience and kick-start their careers.
As a woman in academia, Sibiya also touched on the challenge of balancing work and family life.
She is applying gene editing and genotyping by sequencing technologies to enhance breeding efforts for under-researched orphan indigenous crops that have nutritional, medicinal, environmental and cultural benefits. She said that opportunities exist to diversify and focus on other value crops, to collaborate with the private sector and other institutes, to apply new technologies, and to interest more young people in plant breeding.
Words: Christine Cuénod
Photograph: Albert Hirasen
author : .author email : .Specialist Advocates for Eye Care in the Public Sector
Leading ophthalmologist, Dr Nombuso Mathe has been acknowledged for her patient advocacy and commitment to the Discipline of Ophthalmology.Click here for isiZulu version
The School of Clinical Medicine has paid tribute to Dr Nombuso Mathe for her commitment to patient advocacy and leadership in the Discipline of Ophthalmology. Mathe has been instrumental in improving service provision in hospitals, and advancing research in the Department.
‘She is very passionate about patient advocacy and leadership in ophthalmology and the public sector, while her research interests lie in the pathophysiology and surgical management of glaucoma. As a result of her commitment, McCord Hospital’s services have improved and a new urgency has been injected into our research,’ said Dr Carl-Heinz Kruse - Acting Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at UKZN.
Mathe is a senior consultant and a Deputy Head of the Clinical Unit at McCord Hospital in Durban. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine in 2004 and joined the South African Military Health Services as a member of the permanent force. She served as a medical officer at military bases in KwaZulu-Natal and as part of a peace-keeping mission in Burundi. She then joined the Ophthalmology department at Addington Hospital, and completed her training as an ophthalmology specialist in 2015. In the earlier years of her career, she pursued her interest in high volume cataract surgery through Africa Vision, and worked as a consultant at Ngwelezane, McCord and Greys Hospitals.
Mathe set up her private practice in Gauteng, where she also taught final-year Optometry students at the University of Johannesburg. She was involved in teaching programmes run by district health services in the Sedibeng municipality, and served as a sessional consultant at Sebokeng Hospital. She completed 13 months of sub-speciality training in adult and paediatric glaucoma through a fellowship at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, United Kingdom.
Words: Lihle Sosibo
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .In Search of Efficient and Effective Postgraduate Student-Supervisor Relations: A Student Perspective
.A significant number of students are now undertaking postgraduate studies. As novices in their academic trajectories, they need efficient and effective academic supervision for successful completion. An academically active supervisor is hence important for the academic development, success and growth as well as the quality of postgraduate students enrolled in South African Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Supervision is a taxing task as it involves the supervisor guiding and mentoring the student through all the stages of a research project, from conceptualising the study, to its design, implementation and writing the dissertation/thesis. Supervisors are also called on to address personal problems and institutional issues that the student might confront that could hamper completion of his/her work (Hoffman & Julie, 2012).
Supervision does not occur in a vacuum, and postgraduate students experience problems that hinder them from completion of their studies. Although postgraduate student-supervisor relations are widely covered in the literature, it is important to approach this topic from a student perspective. This opinion piece offers a perspective on how these relations should unfold and what efficient and effective student-supervisor relations should look like. It also offers recommendations on how universities can address the challenges experienced by supervisors and students in postgraduate student-supervisor relations.
Student-supervisor relations and power dynamics
An effective relationship between a student and supervisor based on professionalism, respect, trust and collegiality (Hodza, 2007) is key to successful completion of a research programme. The student and supervisor need to develop interpersonal skills to work with each other. Unfortunately, many supervisors adopt a dictator-knower attitude where they see themselves as experts and specialists in their respective fields who can impose their views on the student without allowing him/her to launch counter arguments.
This is not conducive to the student’s empowerment and academic development. When supervisors exercise too much power, tension and conflicts arise as the student resists being controlled. Supervisors need to bear in mind that their main role is that of a facilitator and guide who stimulates and encourages the student towards a successful research undertaking (Wilkins et al, 2018). Beyond that, ‘the supervisor should always attempt to stretch the mind of the student through encouraging the student to think deeply and outside the box’ (Hodza, 2007, p. 11567), thus developing his/her critical thinking skills.
Delays in completion
Supervisors in South African HEIs are often overloaded and find it difficult to strike a balance between supervision and their other responsibilities. Delays in assisting postgraduate students could mean that ‘students might extend the timeframe for completion of their studies, causing completion delays. In turn, such delays could lead to postgraduate students dropping out’ (Yende, 2021, p.136).
Extended timeframes impose a financial burden as the student has to re-register. They could also prevent him/her from completing the degree within minimum time. It should also be noted that some students lack commitment to their postgraduate studies (Vereijken et al, 2018; Comley-White & Potterton, 2018).
Critical ethics of care
The funding issues confronting postgraduate students are of serious concern and many begin their postgraduate journey with limited or no funding. The Student Representative Council (SRC) and University management tend to focus on the problems confronting undergraduate students. Many supervisors have come to the rescue of postgraduate students by providing funding through their cost-centres and soliciting scholarships and funding from different sources. These critical ethics of care have enabled many students to pursue their academic endeavours and dreams of being future academics.
Recommendations
The following recommendations are based on our perspectives and reflections on student-supervisor relations:
• Universities should develop and offer staff supervision management training for academic staff and academic skills programmes for postgraduate students
• In order to address the academic workload, universities should hire more academic/research staff who are capable of being supervisors
• Universities and Higher Education stakeholders should launch more funding initiatives to support postgraduate studies
References
Comley-White, N., & Potterton, J. (2018). The perceived barriers and facilitators in completing a Master’s degree in Physiotherapy. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 74(1), 1-5.
Hodza, F. (2007). Managing the student-supervisor relationship for successful postgraduate supervision: A sociological perspective. South African Journal of Higher Education, 21(8), 1155-1165.
Hoffman, J. C., & Julie, H. (2012). The academic transitional experiences of Master’s students at the University of the Western Cape. Curationis, 35(1), 1-8.
Vereijken, M. W., van der Rijst, R. M., van Driel, J. H., & Dekker, F. W. (2018). Novice supervisors’ practices and dilemmatic space in supervision of student research projects. Teaching in Higher Education, 23(4), 522-542.
Wilkins, D., Lynch, A., & Antonopoulou, V. (2018). A golden thread? The relationship between supervision, practice, and family engagement in child and family social work. Child & Family Social Work, 23(3), 494-503.
Yende, S. J. (2021). Factors of effective postgraduate student-supervisor relationships at selected universities in South Africa. Journal of African Education, 2(2), 135-156.
Mr Luthando Molefe is a lecturer in the Discipline of Science Education within the Cluster of Science and Technology Education in UKZN’s School of Education.
Mr Zamokuhle Magubane is a Writing Place tutor and a PhD candidate in the Discipline of Curriculum Studies within the Education Studies Cluster in UKZN’s School of Education.
Photographs: Supplied
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
author : .author email : .UKZN Programmes Welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Programme
UKZN is now part of the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.Click here for isiZulu version
UKZN is the latest university to be welcomed into the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program. The Bachelor of Business Science (Finance) and the Bachelor of Commerce Honours (Finance) degrees in the College of Law and Management Studies have been acknowledged as incorporating at least 70 percent of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK) and placing emphasis on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
These two programmes position students to obtain the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) charter, which has become the most respected and recognised investment credential in the world. Entry to the CFA Institute University Affiliation Programme signals to potential students, employers, and the marketplace that the programmes’ curricula are closely tied to professional practice and well-suited to prepare students to sit for the CFA examinations.
The Bachelor of Business Science is a four-year professional (undergraduate) degree designed to provide students with a well-rounded, broad knowledge base, underpinned by the theories, methodologies and principles essential to effective management and sustainability of private and public organisations. It focusses on the disciplines of finance, economics, accounting, investment, mathematics and statistics.
The Finance Honours programme accepts top-performing students who have completed a Bachelor of Commerce with a Finance major (along with a second commerce major, often in Economics, Management or Accounting). The Bachelor of Business Science fourth-year and Finance Honours programmes provide theoretical knowledge and quantitative skills in the fields of econometrics, corporate finance, portfolio management, international business finance and financial modelling. Students develop analytical and research skills to solve problems related to finance, and the ability to work independently. This enables them to pursue a successful career in the financial services industry, and other private or public institutions where financial and investment management skills are required.
The CFA Institute is the global association of investment professionals. It is a champion of ethical behaviour in investment markets and a respected source of knowledge in the global financial community. There are more than 160 000 CFA charter holders worldwide in 164 markets. The Institute has nine offices worldwide and there are 161 local societies, including one in South Africa.
Words: Ndaba Online
Image: Supplied
author : .author email : .Education Academic Awarded Erasmus + Mobility Scholarship
Lecturer and PhD candidate Ms Zoleka Mkhabela.Click here for isiZulu version
Ms Zoleka Mkhabela, an nGap Lecturer and PhD candidate in the School of Education has been awarded the Erasmus + Mobility Scholarship that will enable her to spend six months at the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Poland.
During her stay in Siedlce, Mkhabela will interact with other local and Erasmus scholarship students, academics, community organisations and citizens. She will participate in lectures, and presentations in academic, social and cultural settings. She will also engage with and live stream early childhood teaching sessions and the use of sensory teaching resources to staff and students, focusing on special needs in the Foundation Phase modules in UKZN’s School of Education.
A Memorandum of Understanding between UKZN and Siedlce University enables staff and students to engage in study abroad programmes, student exchange programmes and collaborative research. The agreement was initiated by Dr Angela James, Academic Leader for Community Engagement in the School of Education.
Mkhabela said that being selected for the scholarship is a ‘true honour and life-changing opportunity that will allow me to broaden my worldview and understand different pedagogies that I could implement in my teaching. I am looking forward to broadening my horizons on a global scale and will engage postgraduate students to apply for Erasmus + mobility scholarships.’
James commented, ‘It is enhancing and exciting for students to interact with other students, academics and community members in other countries. These are great learning experiences. We know that Zoleka will be a great ambassador for UKZN.’
Mkhabela is completing her PhD in Social Sciences (Geography) at UKZN. Her research, which is interdisciplinary and spans Geography and History, is entitled The Curriculum and Competing Discourses: Geography Teachers’ Perspectives on Land Reform in Grade 12 Geography Textbooks.
Words: Melissa Mungroo, Zoleka Mkhabela and Angela James
Photograph: Supplied
author : .author email : .