UKZN DAAD Exchange Programme Hosts Six PhD Students

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The School of Applied Human Sciences (Social Work Discipline) hosted six doctoral students from Zimbabwe, Germany, Johannesburg, and Swaziland as part of the UKZN German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Programme.

The month-long programme is part of the DAAD-funded internationalisation project led by Dr Maud Mthembu, a senior lecturer at UKZN.

The programme aims to build international and regional networks within the social work profession that advance research and social work practice on critical global issues including human rights, social injustice and the role that can be played by the profession to achieve sustainable development aims.

A visit to the Apartheid Museum provided an opportunity for students to understand the history of the cruel and repressive system.

During their stay, the students participated in academic and community activities, including being hosted by Dr Ela Gandhi of the Mahatma Gandhi Institute. They also visited local schools in Inanda and gained valuable insights about the life and legacy of Gandhi and the significance of these sites in the struggle against apartheid.

One of the highlights was the three-day PhD research workshop attended by international and local doctoral students and academics from UKZN, the University of California (USA) and the University of Johannesburg who facilitated research-related sessions. The students presented their research and received valuable feedback and insights from professors and peers.

Doctoral student Ms Tania Sani said, ‘Hosting the DAAD programme at UKZN exposed me to an academic environment that is solidly embedded in Africa, and views research and academia through an Afrocentric lens. This has enriched me with a deeper understanding of the importance of African values and ethics in my research’.

Fellow student Ms Zinhle Dlamini added, ‘From the whole experience I have learned the importance of possessing a continuous teachable spirit. Although after the workshop, I have had to redo half of my proposal, the experience is a source of delight instead of frustrating as I had initially thought it would be.’

The visitors returned home taking with them memories of their time at UKZN, newfound knowledge and a broader perspective on the world. The programme serves as a testament to the power of international collaboration and cultural exchange in shaping the next generation of global leaders and scholars.

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied