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30: Queering Universities
In the final episode of The Academic Citizen for 2016, Dr Mary Hames joins us to discuss issues of gender and sexuality within spaces of higher learning. Heteronormativity and patriarchy are still dominant within South African society, which makes it important to analyse how our universities respond to questions of sexuality and the rights of queer community members. This […]
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29: Decarbonising Universities
Prof Vishwas Satgar discusses the importance of increasing awareness about environmental issues and transforming energy and renewable energy policy. In this week’s episode, Prof Satgar reflects on the current state of multilateral efforts towards climate justice and how this relates to socio-economic disparities, particularly in developing countries like South Africa. Some ways in which university […]
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28: Plagiarism and Pedagogy
Dr Roger Davis joins The Academic Citizen to discuss plagiarism and its impact. The problem of plagiarism is complicated by students’ lack of knowledge about appropriate citation methods and the importance of enhancing critical thinking while still encouraging creative thought. Davis delves into the nuances of sharing ideas and knowledge versus repeating the academic research […]
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27: Policing Protest
Professor Jane Duncan of the University of Johannesburg, discusses the various ways in which protest has been ‘policed’ at university campuses around South Africa. From interdicts and suspensions to the deployment of private security and police units, Duncan explains why students have started to feel unsafe and, in some cases, under attack. This conversation explores […]
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26: Why Basic Education Matters
Parliamentary Liaison Officer for Equal Education, Andile Cele, joins the podcast to highlight the importance of primary and secondary education in the transformation of the higher education sector. Problems stemming from access and resources, to racial and socio-economic differences define the space of education and the experience of the learner. Cele explains how this creates academic challenges, financial difficulties or total barriers to entry in higher […]
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25: Protest – A View from UKZN
Dr Lubna Nadvi shares some insight into the #FeesMustFall student protests at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal (UKZN). Speaking from Howard College campus, where she is based, Nadvi expands on some of the grievances of students, the recent surges in violence and clashes with campus and private security, and the university shutdown. Nadvi places emphasis on the importance of university communities coming together and […]
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24: Wits SRC Speaks
In our special episode for this week, the incoming President of the Student Representative Council, Kefentse Mkhari, joins the podcast to discuss the wave of national protests against the current fee system. Mkhari explains the demand of the #FeesMustFall movement: free, quality and decolonised education.
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23: Academic Freedom in Turkey
Prof Serdar Değirmencioğlu joins The Academic Citizen to provide some insight into the state of higher education in Turkey. This conversation follows from systematic and recurring dismissals and suspensions of thousands of academics and other government workers, including Değirmencioğlu, since July 2016. Restrictions on academics’ work and international travel have weakened Turkey’s higher education system while the Turkish government, led […]
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22: The Commission of Inquiry into HE
Professor Hlonipha Mokoena joins The Academic Citizen to discuss the fees and funding debates regarding higher education in South Africa. Mokoena explains the work of eight-member Wits Panel that delivered a report titled ‘Funding Model(s) for Higher Education in South Africa‘ to the Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training, chaired by Justice Heher. Some of the the proposed solutions […]
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21: Virtual Learning in Uganda
This week, Prof Deirdre Carabine joins the podcast to introduce the Virtual University of Uganda (VUU), Africa’s first fully-functional online education platform for postgraduate studies. Carabine discusses the online learning tools, fee structure and how technological advances can create new opportunities for the future of learning in Africa. We also chat to some students about their experiences with online learning and their opinions of VUU.
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