Graduates Celebrating at the Westville Campus Graduation Ceremony.61.38% Women to Graduate at UKZN
“FIVE LEADING INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATES”
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will confer an impressive 9637 degrees at its 18 graduation ceremonies to be held on its Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses, which commenced on Monday, 13 April and ending on Tuesday, 21 April.
A notable 5 915 (61.38 percent) of the graduands are women while 260 will graduate cum laude and 85, summa cum laude. About 4186 degrees will be conferred in the College of Humanities, 1952 degrees in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, 931 in the College of Health Sciences and 2568 in the College of Law and Management Studies.
Furthermore, a total of 264 doctoral degrees will be conferred and approximately 82 graduands with disabilities will also be capped at the ceremonies.
Two academics will receive the University’s Distinguished Teachers’ Award for teaching excellence. They are Professor Anesh Maharaj in the School of Mathematical Sciences and Professor Michael Savage in the School of Environmental Sciences.
Prominent academic Professor Philippe Denis, in the School of Religion and Theology will be made a Fellow of UKZN. University Fellowships are conferred annually on outstanding academics for research excellence and distinguished academic achievement.
The Senate and Council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal have approved the nominations to confer honorary degrees in 2015 on five distinguished individuals, for their unique and outstanding contribution to society both locally and at a global level. The awards which will be conferred at the graduation ceremonies:
Honorary degrees (see notes below for details) will be awarded to:
• Professor Alan Aderem (Doctor of Science) in category 1
• Dr Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (Doctor of Science) in category 1
• Mrs Fée Halsted-Berning (Doctor of Literature) in category 2
• Mr Michel Sidibé (Doctor of Administration) in category 2
• Mr Philip Nchipe Tabane (Doctor of Music) in category 2
FACT FILE:
The Honorary doctorate awards will be made in two categories:
Category 1 – Distinguished services in the advancement of one or more of the branches of learning recognised by the University, and Category 2 – A personal record of distinguished service and/or achievement in some other field of endeavour (e.g. the advancement of democracy and social justice, social service, community leadership, economic enterprise, public affairs, philanthropy, the performing and creative arts).
RECIPIENTS
Alan Aderem (Doctor of Science)
Category 1 – Distinguished services in the advancement of one or more of the branches of learning recognised by the University.
Internationally recognised immunologist and cell biologist, Professor Alan Aderem has studied the interface between the innate and adaptive immune system for more than 25 years. He is currently the President of the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute where he has made an immense contribution to medical research. His laboratory’s research focuses on diseases afflicting citizens of resource poor countries, including AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and influenza and he has had a strong influence on shaping the biomedical research environment in South Africa. More specifically in fore fronting the importance of basic science as a foundation for improving health care, and currently Chairs the Board of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH).
Françoise Barré-Sinoussi (Doctor of Science)
Category 1 – Distinguished services in the advancement of one or more of the branches of learning recognised by the University.
French Virologist, Dr Francoise Barré-Sinoussi, was a co-recipient in 2008 of the Nobel Prize in Physiology for her discovery in 1983 of the retrovirus that would later come to be known as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. Her discovery advanced the world’s understanding of the viral replication cycle and led to the first diagnostic tests for HIV, which have been the basis for AIDS treatment, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and indeed the development of vaccines against HIV – all of which played a part in limiting the spread of the global pandemic.
Fée Halsted-Berning (Doctor of Literature)
Category 2 – A personal record of distinguished service and/or achievement in a field of endeavor (e.g. the advancement of democracy and social justice, social service, community leadership, economic enterprise, public affairs, philanthropy, the performing and creative arts) which is deemed appropriate for the University to recognize.
Ceramicist, Fée Halsted-Berning’s contribution in nurturing talent in rural KwaZulu-Natal through Ardmore Ceramic Art has been hailed throughout the international arts world as a triumph of creativity and empowerment over poverty, disease and lack of formal education. This recognition has enriched the communities from which they come, economically as well as through education, opportunity, pride and dignity in their work as artists. As part of a commitment to uplifting local artists, the Ardmore Excellence Fund was established in 1998 to help cover medical expenses for Ardmore artists suffering from HIV/AIDS and also to serve as an educational programme on the prevention of HIV.
Michel Sidibé (Doctor of Administration)
Category 2 – A personal record of distinguished service and/or achievement in a field of endeavor (e.g. the advancement of democracy and social justice, social service, community leadership, economic enterprise, public affairs, philanthropy, the performing and creative arts) which is deemed appropriate for the University to recognize.
Michel Sidibé, the Executive Director of UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), has been recognised nationally and internationally for his contribution in the fight against AIDS. He helped shape the global movement for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. His marked influence in shaping South Africa’s policies on HIV and AIDS, as well as his extraordinary record of international public health service and leadership in catalyzing the global movement for universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and support has contributed significantly to the unprecedented global political commitment and funding for HIV/AIDS.
Philip Tabane (Doctor of Music)
Category 2 – A personal record of distinguished service and/or achievement in a field of endeavor (e.g. the advancement of democracy and social justice, social service, community leadership, economic enterprise, public affairs, philanthropy, the performing and creative arts) which is deemed appropriate for the University to recognize.
Philip Tabane has been described as a pure musical genius and is recognised nationally and internationally for his unique musical style. He is the creative genius that spawned a whole genre of music known as Malombo - the rhythm and sound of the ancestral spirits that emanates from the elevated realm of spiritual creative harmony. This architect of the Malombo tradition is credited for having fused ancient African rhythms with western instruments creating a new and unique sound. Despite his massive musical talent, he has remained the quintessential African performer that has long been true to his African roots. Philip Tabane can best be described as the African Renaissance music man who expresses his creative spirit in a fusion of Pedi, Shangaan/Tsonga and Venda, the languages of his ancestral home who captures the essence of African Scholarship in his music.