
UKZN Collaborates with KwaZulu-Natal Universities for SASUF Research and Innovation Week
Click here for isiZulu version
UKZN, together with Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) and the University of Zululand (UNIZULU), participated in the South Africa Sweden University Network (SASUF) Research and Innovation Week.
SASUF hosted numerous satellite events across the country during the week, with the KwaZulu-Natal student network hosting a hybrid seminar themed: Characteristics of an African University, which was held at UNIZULU and attended by South African and Swedish participants.
President of the SASUF Student Network in South Africa Mr Andile Mthembu said the event aimed to encourage students to interact and find solutions to daily challenges facing African universities.
Keynote speaker, Dr Tshepo Moloi of the University of Johannesburg, highlighted the importance of understanding the history of universities in order to understand the modern-day university. Colonisation was a recurring theme in his presentation as he emphasised the importance of being rooted in an African perspective for a true transformation in the Higher Education community.
He highlighted the issue of African history being told from a Eurocentric perspective. ‘What I want students to take from this event is the fact that African universities predate European universities and Western universities and they (students) need to take responsibility and propose programmes that will make their universities relevant,’ he said.
UKZN student and the event's programme director, Ms Yolokazi Malangeni, opened the floor for students to engage on the topic and share their views.
Mr Menzi Mthethwa of UKZN said, ‘African universities lack African cultural and educational roots; they are not afro-centric but rather an extension of Eurocentric thought.’
Ms Nonhlanhla Vezi of MUT highlighted the need to decolonise education not only at the Higher Education level but at the basic level as well; while Mr Ayanda Zikhali of UNIZULU spoke on the complexity of the term “colonisation”.
In closing, UNIZULU International Relations Manager, Mr Zenzele Mdletshe, thanked representatives of partner universities who attended and emphasised the importance of such gatherings for the university community.
Words: Sinenhlanhla Mkhwanazi
Photographs: Supplied