54: New Universities

Photo Cred: Naazira Ahmed Carina Truyts is part of the pioneers at South Africa’s newest university, Sol Plaatje University in Kimberly. She has established the Anthropology department there. Her teaching and research is focused on contextual knowledge production, sharing and engagement. Truyts’ Masters Research was on Nourishment in the 'first thousand days' in the context of precarious livelihoods in a small Cape Winelands town. In this episode she shares with with Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu the excitement, countless opportunities and responsibilities associated with being part of this pioneering exercise. They also speak about institutional cultures and the ethical conundrums faced at such new establishments. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/349468300" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] Produced, Edited, Researched and Scheduled by: Simbarashe Honde

The Academic Citizen 31 October 2017

academics

45: Season 4 Roundup

From the left: Prof Mehita Iqani, Simbarashe Honde and Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu. The Academic Citizen this year, since its relaunch in March 2017 has produced 14 episodes. In this episode, Prof Mehita Iqani and Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu reflect and look back on some of the interesting and topical conversations exploring diversity of topics and opinions relating to higher education in South Africa, today and into the future. We also bid farewell and good wishes to Prof Iqani who is going on Sabbatical from next semester. The episodes sought to explore different themes and issues affecting Higher Education in South Africa. The themes ranged from decolonization of Higher education and curriculum, women in science, medical aids, the role of universities in societies, wage gaps, issues of gender inequalities in universities. These shows have featured prominent academics and student voices from various […]

The Academic Citizen 6 July 2017

#Gender

40: Gender Gap in Institutions of Higher Education

Photo Cred: Beth Tate One of the most significant worldwide transformations in education has been the drastic increase in women's access to institutions of higher learning. But the question is, has this addressed the gender gap in institutions of higher learning in South Africa? In this episode, Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu and Dr Asanda Benya look into factors which influence the Gender Gap. They also reflect on why it is important to take gender concerns into account and how institutions of higher education can respond to the gap. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/325360408" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] Selected publications by Dr Benya: Benya, Asanda. 2015, South Africa’s 21 Years of Democracy: Reflections on Living Conditions in Marikana. Benya, Asanda. 2015. “Marikana: The Absence of Justice, Dignity and Freedom?”. Rodriguez-Garavito, C. Human Rights in Minefields: Extractive Economies, Environmental Conflicts and Social Justice in the Global […]

The Academic Citizen 31 May 2017

academics

35: Student Resistance in India

Photo Cred: Biswarup Ganguly The fight for access to public universities is also taking place in India, where much unrest and protest has been experienced in its universities. At the root of the protests in India, despite student unions being banned in a majority of colleges and universities, is an unprecedented mobilization against discrimination in higher education because of economic status or gender. In this episode, Dr Mehita Iqani had a discussion with Jigisha Bhattacharya, a postgraduate student at Jawaharlal University about the issues facing university students in India. Join us to gain further insight into the reasons for the ongoing protests in India. Globally, the top-down model of a university driven by history and by external funding, particularly government funding, is shifting, as fiscal resources diminish. This leads to concerns about rights, access and economics. These challenges are being […]

The Academic Citizen 26 April 2017

Global