UKZN PhD Candidate Awarded Prestigious Research Scholarship

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UKZN PhD candidate, Mr Luthando Molefe has been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Foreign Student Program (FFSP) Scholarship 2024-2025 to conduct research for over 10 months at the split-site Universities of Northern Iowa and Oregon in the United States (US).

The South African FFSP provides grants for South African university graduates to pursue postgraduate studies at a US university. Students are selected through a rigorous application and interview processes, and receive a high level of support ranging from visa processing and health insurance to a comprehensive pre-departure orientation and re-entry session.

Molefe was awarded Visiting Student Researcher/Research Fellow, granted to South African PhD students currently enrolled with a South African university to conduct one year’s research at a US university.

During his appointment, Molefe will engage in independent research that seeks to examine “Mentorship for Professional Learning: An Arts-Inspired Narrative Inquiry into Early-Career Teachers in Selected Learning Ecologies”, which forms part of his ongoing PhD study, through an international collaboration under the guidance of an international academic host.

Molefe’s visit to the split-site also offers him an opportunity to engage with faculty staff, teacher education programmes, and visit local schools as it pertains to his research study and interests.

‘The reviewing, interviewing and independent panels were all highly impressed by my work over the years as it concerns teacher education and community outreach. Moreover, it was described as “highly promising”. I’m thankful beyond measure for this opportunity that allows me international exposure, collaborations and access to a different perspective of looking at my current research scholarship. This is one golden moment where one should be highly proud of themselves presented the competitive nature of this prestigious scholarship.’

Molefe added that his grant is also in line with UKZN’s Strategic Plan 2023-2032 Goal 5 on Targeted Internationalisation. ‘While this goal aims to attract international students in longing to be a world class African university, it also aims to produce students that are going to be fit enough to compete at a global level through the rich knowledge and skills gained at the Institution. I am, therefore, grateful to UKZN and its well-rounded School of Education academics who have been instrumental in sharpening this version of myself I am today and continue to be.’

Molefe is no stranger to excellence, having obtained his Master of Education cum laude and his Bachelor of Education (Honours) summa cum laude, both at UKZN.

He has successfully presented his PhD research at 41 conference proceedings (32 international and 9 national). Out of these, he has won four best oral presentation awards. Moreover, he has presented his research as a plenary speaker at an international level, and guest lectures at five South African universities. Furthermore, he has successfully supervised 10 postgraduate students (honours).

He currently serves as a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Teaching and Teacher Education journal. He also sits on a number of professional academic/research bodies as a member. He holds over 113 certificates of excellence in the areas of academic excellence, community engagement and leadership, pillars he is mostly passionate about. 

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Supplied