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

Academic Publishing

52: Politics of Academic Publishing

Photo Cred: Dustin Lee Writing for academic journals is highly competitive. The common saying in academic circles is, “get published or perish!” There’s no simple formula for getting published, expectations vary both between and within subject areas. But there are some challenges that will confront all academic writers regardless of their discipline. How should you respond to reviewer feedback and rejection? Is there a correct way to structure a paper? Why should I pay to get my article published? What is open access publishing and why must I pay for it? Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu explores these above questions and more with Oscar Masinyana, the managing editor of Taylor & Francis South Africa. Taylor & Francis publishes around 70 highly regarded academic and professional journals from the region in collaboration with learned societies, institutions and co-publishers. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/346381336" 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" […]

The Academic Citizen 11 October 2017

#Gender

49: In Conversation with SA’s Youngest Dean

Prof Thabo Msibi, is South Africa’s youngest Dean and Head of School at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Kholeka Shange caught up with him and they spoke at length on various themes ranging from transformation in Higher Education, mentorship, issues of gender and sexuality, and African scholarship. In the interview, Prof Msibi cautions against creating a narrative which implies that young academics are completely disempowered. Msibi says his achievements are proof that if given equal opportunities, young academics have much to offer in academia and can excel. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/342202112" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] Books Msibi T (2016, forthcoming). Hidden Sexualities of South African Teachers. New York: Routledge. Selected Journals Articles Msibi, T. (2014). Contextualising ‘dirty work’: A response to Janice Irvine (2014). Sexualities. http://sex.sagepub.com/content/17/5-6/669.short Msibi, T. (2014). Is current theorising on same-sex sexuality relevant to the African context?. Pambazuka News, […]

The Academic Citizen 13 September 2017

academics

48: Bullying in Academia

Photo Cred: Melanie Wasser Academic bullying is a prevalent but unexplored phenomenon in South Africa. In this week’s episode, Kholeka Shange and Dr Colette Gordon discuss how it manifests itself in the context of Higher Education and beyond. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/340153183" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] Edited, Produced, Researched and scheduled by: Simbarashe Honde

The Academic Citizen 30 August 2017

Consciousness

47: Public Intellectuals Revisited

In this episode, we continue our discussion on the role of public intellectuals and thought leaders in societies. Podcasts Hosts, Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu, Kholeka B Shange and guest Athambile Masola , a teacher, and a PhD researcher who blogs about education, feminism and politics, deliberate different forms of knowledge production and what qualifies for them to be accredited. They also engage on how cultures and institutions, through patriarchy and academic journals, for example, have become gatekeepers of knowledge and end up making certain voices privileged over others. This they argue, leaves no room for dissenting views and opinions and difference becomes a crisis normalized by gate keeping. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/339172838" params="color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /] Produced, Edited, Scheduled and Researched by: Simbarashe Honde

The Academic Citizen 23 August 2017

Consciousness

46: Welcome Back – Season 2

Photo Cred: Simbarashe Honde The Academic Citizen team is back and refreshed from the semester break. In this episode Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu introduces new cohost, Kholeka B. Shange. Shange is currently pursuing a PhD in History of Art. Her research is focused on visual representations of uMntwana Magogo kaDinuzulu. She is a Wits University graduate with a BA (Hons) in Dramatic Arts and a Master’s degree in Film and Television studies. Her Master’s research examined how spoken word poetry served as a vehicle through which young black male poets in Johannesburg reimagined stereotypical representations of black masculinities in mainstream cinema and popular media. As part of this degree, she produced and directed the short film “Rainbow’s Men”. In this episode, Mngomezulu and Shange discuss various themes which they would like to probe and deliberate on this semester. Themes ranging from the […]

The Academic Citizen 16 August 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

academics

44: Public Intellectuals

Photo Cred: Aaron Burden Public Intellectuals aim to help societies to better understand themselves and the world around them. Their writing and public talks can help create an informed citizenry and more just societies. Athambile Masola, is a teacher, and a PhD researcher who blogs about education, feminism and politics. This week’s show features a discussion with Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu about the nature and role of the public intellectual in various public spaces. According to Masola, writing can be a form of activism and often ends as being political. Is writing as a form of rioting that can be disruptive and open up public spaces for a diversity of voices? https://soundcloud.com/theacademiccitizen/44-public-intellectuals Athambile Masola's selected writings: Asinakuthula umhlab’ubolile: the poetry of Nontsizi Mgqwetho On black excellence: Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Heritage Day: What’s wrong with this picture? The things we do in […]

The Academic Citizen 28 June 2017

academics

41: Africanizing Scientific Research

Photo Cred: Drew Hayes What does it mean to decolonise science? How can African knowledge be integrated into scientific research? Does emphasising indigenous knowledge systems mean abandoning western knowledge systems? In this week’s episode we explore these questions with Dr Nosiphiwe Ngqwala, a lecturer at Rhodes University in the Faculty of Pharmacy. The discussion touches on questions of research into medicines and health, water purity and biotechnology and how African and western forms of knowledge can be integrated. [soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/327004878" 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: Tandlich R, Ngqwala NP, Tandlichova E (2014). Formative assessment of quality assurance and safety in pharmaceutical education in South Africa, European Scientific Journal, vol.3 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 Roman Tandlich, Catherine D. Luyt and Nosiphiwe P. Ngqwala (2014). A community-based rainwater monitoring and treatment programme in Grahamstown, South Africa, Journal of Hydrocarbons Mines […]

The Academic Citizen 7 June 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

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