UKZN Academic Presents on Rural-Friendly Public Service at International Politics of Inclusion Workshop

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College of Law and Management Studies Dean of Teaching and Learning, Professor Betty Mubangizi contributed her expertise on the topic of rural-urban divide of local government and its role in social inclusion which was the theme of the workshop titled: “The Politics of Inclusion”. The workshop was organised by the Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP) and UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST).

It created a platform for academics and practitioners from a variety of countries to explore ways in which collaboration between UN entities and research networks and institutions could facilitate a shift in public policy-oriented analysis, from policy to politics and from particular anti-poverty interventions to longer-term development strategies focusing on social and economic inclusion.

‘My conceptual paper highlighted the need for research in understanding the modalities of a rural-friendly public service – a public service that is cognisant of the burden that bureaucratic processes and the rural-urban divide place on the rural and socially excluded when it comes to accessing public services,’ explained Mubangizi.

The workshop also coincided with CROP’s Scientific Committee meeting. As a recently appointed Committee member, this was Mubangizi’s first meeting.  The committee serves as a think tank and support structure which advises CROP in setting a research agenda as well as knowledge generation and dissemination processes.

Mubangizi is looking forward to using insights gained from this experience to advance teaching and learning at the College.

Words by: Thandiwe Jumo