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34: Women in Science
Photo Cred: Suvan Chowdhury Women scientists have a critical role to play in Africa’s development. They have made significant strides in Science making incredible progress across the continent. Yet, despite this advancement, the reality remains that many countries are simply not equipped, or prepared, to accommodate this growth. In a 2016 Unicef funded study looking…
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33: Universities and Medical Aids
Photo Cred: FreeStocks.Org Despite policy initiatives aimed at structuring affordable low cost health care funding products, medical schemes have remained unaffordable, and therefore inaccessible, to the majority of South Africans. Universities, through insurance companies, provide medical aid with high premiums to their staff. Coupled with high tuition, international students attending South African universities also have…
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32:The Intellectualization Of African Languages
Photo Cred: Samantha Sophia African scholarship wears a linguistic mask, making it invisible to the majority in Africa, accessible only to those with keys manufactured in Europe” Ngugi wa Thiong’o (2017). In this episode “Intellectualization of African Languages”, Dr Nosipho Mngomezulu reflects with Associate Prof Brenda Mhlambi , Head of Department of African Languages (University…
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31: Disseminating Research
Many people are of the view that academics only write for academics. They conduct and carry out research into complicated issues where the findings often end up confined to journals. As a result, most people do not have access to some of these important research findings and if they do, their use is often beyond the…
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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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