School of Applied Human Sciences Hosts Annual Postgraduate Conference

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The School of Applied Human Sciences recently hosted its 3^rd annual Postgraduate Conference themed: “Meeting the Challenges of Local Realities in the Context of Global Transitions”.

Students from the four Disciplines of the School – the Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS); Criminology and Forensic Studies, Psychology and Social Work - presented their research at the Conference held at the Howard College Theatre.

Delivering the opening address, Dean and Head of the School, Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize, said he was proud to see so many students participating in the Conference.

He spoke briefly on the theme saying it was consistent with the School’s strategic goals of contributing to knowledge production. ‘We hope research will be both multi-vocal, multi-disciplinary and go beyond boundaries. I am convinced we will rise to this challenge.’

Awards for the best abstracts from each of the four disciplines were presented to students Mr Jonathan Foley (CCMS); Ms Trianne Armachund (Criminology and Forensic Studies); Ms Chanelle Mulopo (Psychology) and Ms Ndileka Macabela (Social Work).

The School’s Distinguished Service Awards were also presented to Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize for his outstanding leadership and Professor Vishanthie Sewpaul for steering the Social Work Discipline at UKZN and nationally.

Speaking about his colleagues Professor Donal McCracken said: ‘Professor Mkhize is a true leader who has earned his stripes. He has created from nothing a School which is efficiently run along professional lines. But the remarkable thing about Professor Mkhize is that his leadership is both consultative and humane. Firm but fair. He rules in a true African spirit.

‘Those who have been colleagues of Professor Sewpaul for a number of years will state without fear of contradiction that she is an outstanding scholar,’ said McCracken.

‘She is an excellent manager and leader and has a profound and deep sense of justice which results in an ethical ethos permeating through any project she is associated with.’

One of the topics covered at the Conference was “Victims of Xenophobia: A Comparative Victimological Assessment” by Mr Samuel Fikiri. ‘My study focuses on the review of the literature on the experiences of xenophobia victims in comparison to global, national and local levels,’ said Fikiri. ‘There is a pressing need to explore the victimisation experiences of foreign nationals with the purpose of  attracting the attention of the government, NGOs and civil society activists need to make special efforts to pursue preventative action and advocacy.’

Another interesting topic explored at the Conference was “Academic Skills Shortage in the Selected KwaZulu-Natal Higher Education Institutions (HEI),” by Ms Thulile Ngonyama.

‘My findings reflect serious skills shortage in South African academia particularly in the fields of Accounting, Natural Science and Engineering,’ said Ngonyama. ‘Factors such as the brain drain, poor education systems and globalisation have been blamed as contributing factors. Hopefully, this research will provide an overview of the impact of skills shortage in academia in KwaZulu-Natal.’

 Melissa Mungroo