SCHOOL BOASTS NATIONAL PRIZE WINNER

Mr Ahmed Essay.

The School of Statistics and Actuarial Science has produced a winner in a national statistics competition for Masters and PhD students for the third consecutive year.

Mr Ahmed Essay outclassed students from other South African universities to take first prize in the Postgraduate Student Paper Competition organised by the South African Statistics Association (SASA).

Registered for an MSc in Financial Mathematics under Professor John O’Hara, Mr Essay joins previous UKZN winners, Mr Nishay Vithal (2007 winner) and Mr Jordache Ramjith (2008 winner).

The annual competition is sponsored by Stats SA and forms “part of their drive to provide financial assistance to deserving students who show promise and diligence in their statistical work”.

His paper is titled: ‘Pricing a European exchange option driven by Merton’s jump diffusion model using the Esscher Transform.’

He will receive a monetary award and be sponsored to attend the 57th Session of the International Statistics Institute Conference – the biggest Statistics conference in the world – where he will deliver his winning paper.

NEW MACE FOR UKZN

Registrar Professor Jane
Meyerowitz with UKZN’s new Mace.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal boasts a Mace created and designed by local sculptor, Mr Zamokwakhe Gumede.

The wooden Mace was recently presented to the University Council by Registrar, Professor Jane Meyerowitz, bringing to fruition a process which began in 2007 when the Academic Ceremonials Committee decided to commission a Mace for UKZN.

“The request was that the Mace would be uniquely ours, reflecting both the African context and global reach of the Institution as well as having a strong local character about it. A preference was voiced for the Mace to be carved in an indigenous wood, in keeping with the African woodcarving tradition,” said Professor Meyerowitz.

A working group, comprising members of staff in the University’s Centre for Visual Art, members of the Academic Ceremonials Committee and student representatives drawn from the School of Architecture and the Centre for Visual Art, was set up to take the process further.

UKZN HOSTS 2009 SOCIETY OF LAW TEACHERS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA CONFERENCE

Professor Lesley Greenbaum.

The Faculty of Law hosted the 2009 Society of Law Teachers of Southern Africa Conference on the Pietermaritzburg campus from July 13-16.

During the more than 30 different sessions academics presented papers on different branches of law, ranging from traditional subjects such as Constitutional Law and Contracts, to newer areas such as Cyber Law and Sports Law. There was also a panel discussion on a current ‘hot topic’ in legal academia- the four-year LLB.

UKZN’s Professor Lesley Greenbaum and the Deans of the University of Cape Town Law Faculty and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Law Faculty, together with Dr Judy Backhouse, the Director of Monitoring and Advice at the Council on Higher Education in Pretoria, shared their views on issues currently facing Law Faculties across the country.

DURBAN FILM FESTIVAL 2009

Film fanatics will flock to cinemas to indulge in 11 days of film festivities at the 30th Durban International Film Festival.

Organised by UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts (CCA), the festival from 23 July-2 August brings together films and film makers from across the globe.

Despite the event’s overwhelming success and support over the years, the economic downturn has caused financial constraints for the Festival, notes CCA Director Mr Peter Rorvik.

“Due to the withdrawal of sponsors like the SABC, we had to leave out a number of superb films. We came up with a smaller and refined programme which was quite manageable,” he said.

The Festival opened with the Durban film, My Secret Sky (Izulu Lami) directed by Mr Madoda Ncayiyana.

The film features local child actors aged 9-12 years with no experience of film performance. They were selected from local schools.

“The process of choosing talented children for this movie was extremely daunting. I had a choice of going to Johannesburg and auditioning experienced children but I felt that there was a need to look for talent here in Durban. The children rehearsed on weekends and holidays and they worked very hard. I am extremely proud of the work that we did with the crew in making these children the best,” said Mr Ncayiyana.

SAVE OUR NURSES – A COMMON THEME FROM UKZN PRESENTERS AT INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN DURBAN

From left: Ms Zethu Nkosi and Miss Sajida
Ramnarain presented their research at
the ICN Congress in July.

Keeping nurses at their posts was high on the agenda when academics and students at UKZN’s School of Nursing presented their research at the International Council of Nursing (ICN) Congress held at the ICC in Durban from June 27 to July 3.

Lecturer and PhD student, Ms Zethu Nkosi; Senior Lecturer, Dr Petra Brysiewicz, and Masters of Nursing student, Ms Sajida Ramnarain, presented research papers on pertinent issues facing the nursing profession in South Africa.

The event brings together nursing professionals from around the globe annually to discuss developments within the profession.

ALCOHOL ABUSE AMONG SCHOOLCHILDREN CONCERNS UKZN AUTHOR

Professor Basil Pillay,
Head of Behavioural
Medicine at UKZN.

Professor Fanny Duckert,
University of Oslo in Norway.

Escalating levels of alcoholism in the workplace, and among women and learners in South Africa provided the inspiration for a book co-authored by the Head of Behavioural Medicine at UKZN, Professor Basil Pillay.

Titled: Early Intervention of Alcohol Abuse Problems in South Africa: A cognitive Behavioural Approach, the book will be launched by the Psychological Society of South Africa during its Congress in Cape Town in August.

The idea for the book – which offers a fresh perspective on dealing with alcohol abuse – came from associate author, Professor Fanny Duckert, a clinical psychologist at the University of Oslo in Norway.

FULBRIGHT-HAYS PROGRAMME

Second row from left: Dr Thabile Mbatha, UKZN Fulbright-Hays
Programme Co-ordinator; Dr Audrey Mbeje, Director Fulbright-Hays
Zulu Group Project Abroad(GPA) and Professor Fikile Mazibuko,
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities
with Zulu GPA students.

Fifteen students from nine universities in the United States are participating in this years’ Fulbright-Hays Zulu Group Project Abroad Program.

The Program is directed by the University of Pennsylvania, with funding from the US Department of Education. Participating universities include the University of Illinois, Columbia University, Brandeis University, New York University, University of Pennsylvania, University of California, Boston University, UCLA, and the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIPS CRITICAL FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

With VIP guest, Ms Ela Gandhi (second from left) are members
of the Organising Committee, from left, Professor Frances
Supparayen, Mauritius Nursing Organisation; Deputy
Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health
Sciences, Professor Leana Uys and Dr June Webber,
Canadian Nursing Association.

Building sustainable international health partnerships should be a key consideration for developing countries in advancing their nursing professions.

This is the view of Professor Leana Uys, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences and UKZN representative of Sigma Theta Tau International, who was one of the speakers at the recent Global Nursing Symposium at the UKZN’s Innovation Centre.

Eighty delegates from 22 countries attended the symposium aimed at strengthening international health partnerships.

In forging partnerships aimed at enhancing nursing and midwifery education, practice and research, Higher Education institutions in developing countries should focus on projects with long term benefits for the health care systems, said Professor Uys.

UKZN'S NEW IFTA BOARD MEMBER SETS OUT HER GOALS

Ms Charlotte Engelbrecht.

Promoting interdisciplinary networking of family therapists within the disciplines of nursing, social work, psychology, pastoral counselling and psychiatry will be a priority for Ms Charlotte Engelbrecht, a lecturer at UKZN's School of Nursing, who has been appointed to the Board of the International Family Therapy Association (IFTA).

Ms Engelbrecht - appointed by IFTA's president, Mr William Nichols, at a recent Conference in Slovenia - will serve on an IFTA committee and strive for improved and strengthened family therapy services around the globe.

"To me the appointment means recognition of my expertise in the field of family therapy. As a specialist in psychiatric nursing I'm in a position to participate in a world wide multi-professional team to promote and strengthen families by identifying the challenges families are facing, identifying best practice principles in dealing with challenges and continuous education to ensure that professionals are able to assist families," said Mrs Engelbrecht.

UKZN TO TAKE LEAD ROLE IN DEVELOPING AUTISM TREATMENT SKILLS

Ms Jenny Pahl.

Professor Robin Joubert.

UKZN’s School of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology is set to take the lead in the skills development of health and education professionals responsible for treating autism.

UKZN will be the first university to offer a Master’s of Medical Science Degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from next year.

The School’s plan to devise both the master’s degree and the post graduate diploma in ASD in September last year was the brainchild of Professor Leana Uys, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Health Sciences in response to an increase in the number of children diagnosed with the disorder.

Autism South Africa’s statistics show a child is born with the disorder every two hours in the country thereby increasing the demand for qualified health professionals to treat the disorder.

UKZN ACADEMICS AND STUDENTS GIVE PRESENTATIONS AT SA HISTORICAL SOCIETY CONFERENCE

Front from left: Professor Mandy Goedhals;
Dr Thembisa Waetjen; Associate Professor
Julie Parle; (centre) Ms Eva Jackson;
Ms Prinisha Badassy; (back) Ms Hannah
Carrim; Ms Kyla O’Neill; and Ms Jo-Anne Tiedt.

Nine UKZN history students and academic staff presented papers, posters or gave demonstrations at the recent 22nd biennial conference of the Southern African Historical Society titled: ‘Breaking boundaries, blurring borders: The changing shape and scope of southern African historical studies.’

The conference, held at UNISA’s Sunnyside campus, was well attended by delegates from across southern Africa, as well as from the USA, Canada, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The keynote address titled: History from Below: Potentials and Limitations was given by Rhodes Professor of Race Relations, University of Oxford, Professor William Beinart.

Professor Jane Carruthers and UNISA conference hosts actively encouraged participation by graduate students and a journal article writing workshop - sponsored by the African Studies Association of the UK was held immediately after the formal conference closed.

Professor Keith Breckenridge also gave a demonstration of Zotero, an open source research and collaboration tool.

BUSINESS SEMINAR

From left, Mr Ndumiso Mlambo, SAIBL; Ms Makhosazane Sithole,
eThekwini Municipality; Mr Pravin Gareeb, UKZN; Ms Dudu
Mahlambi, SAIBL; Mr Sanjith Arjoon, UKZN and Mrs Janet
Jikelo, SAIBL.

UKZN, the South African International Business Linkages (SAIBL) and eThekwini Municipality Business Support have hosted a successful seminar titled Business Opportunities and Procurement Policies and Procedures.

The seminar aimed to provide information to up-and-coming entrepreneurs and to establish relationships with the UKZN procurement team to access tender information and procurement opportunities.

“We are happy that the seminar went well and the participants were happy with the information provided which we hope they will use to their advantage. The engagements were very useful and we hope to have similar types of interaction in the future,” said Mr Pravin Gareeb, UKZN’s Financial Manager, Procurement.

The seminar shed light on, among other things, how to start your own business, how to get finance and the importance of networking.

GSB LECTURER ADDRESSES CONFERENCE IN COPENHAGEN

From left: Mrs and Professor Talley, Old Dominion
University in Virginia, United States; Ms M Beelen,
University of Antwerp in Belgium and Dr Mihalis
Chasomeris of the GSB at UKZN..

Dr Mihalis Chasomeris of the Graduate School of Business (GSB) represented UKZN at the International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME) conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The peer-reviewed conference was attended by more than 200 maritime specialists from 35 countries and 109 papers were presented. Dr Chasomeris presented his research on: 'The (mis) measurement of Africa’s shipping costs in a global context.' The paper was well received.

As an economist, Dr Chasomeris says he still finds it difficult to comprehend, and a little sad, how a student in Norway on a part-time summer holiday job can earn R154 an hour (120 Norwegian Kroner) whereas a friend of his in South Africa has to try to support his wife and three children on R100 per day.

THE HUMAN FACTOR AND HIV/AIDS

Professor Senyo Adjibolosoo, Fermanian School
of Business, Point Loma Nazarene University
in San Diego and Dr Kwame Owusu-Ampomah,
Researcher at HEARD.

Transformational development education in Africa which espoused the Human Factor (HF) concept was touted by visiting academic Professor Senyo Adjibolosoo at a recent Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD) seminar held on July 17 at the Westville campus.

Addressing the topic, 'Human Factor Paradigm: Its implication for HIV/AIDS and Human-Centred Development,' Professor Adjibolosoo, of the Fermanian School of Business, Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego emphasised the need for human factor qualities as the cornerstone for growth and development in Africa.

The prerequisites of resources, stable financial and educational institutions, effective leadership and the freedom to pursue self-interest were not enough in achieving sustained growth in Africa, believes Professor Adjibolosoo.

Professor Adjibolosoo, the current President and Founder of the International Institute for Human Factor Development who defines HF as “the spectrum of personality characteristics and other dimensions of human performance that enable social, economic and political institutions” said this (human factor qualities) was lacking in AIDS education.

TEXTBOOK DONATION TO BENEFIT ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Professor Stanley Mneney shakes hands while Mr Eddie
McAlone from Movius with Dr Rob Smorfitt (front left)
and staff from the School of Electrical, Electronic
and Computer Engineering look on.

Global leader in the telecommunications industry, Movius, recently donated textbooks worth R50 000 to the School of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering.

Brainwave of local entrepreneur and part-time UKZN lecturer, Dr Rob Smorfitt, the books relate specifically to the telecommunications field. They are expected to enrich the learning experiences of students in Electronic Engineering, many of whom struggle to afford the requisite textbooks for their classes.

Originally intent on sponsoring a telecommunications student, Movius was persuaded by Dr Smorfitt to put their funding into textbooks which is a more sustainable way for a small company to make an impact.

Managing Director of Movius Africa, Mr Eddie McAlone, said: “We could touch just one student but in this way we can touch many more.”

ADMISSIONS OFFICERS ENGAGE IN TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE

UKZN Admissions Officers at the workshop held
at the Pumula Beach Hotel in June.

A two-day team building workshop on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast provided UKZN Admissions Officers with the opportunity to put their heads together and come up with solutions to some of the challenges of their jobs.

Expertly co-ordinated by Ms Cathi Bond from the Faculty of Engineering, the workshop followed an informal but professional format which encourages problem solving rather than whinging or dwelling on issues.

According to Faculty of Science and Agriculture Admissions Officer, Ms Jenny van Blerk, “the spirit and enthusiasm of all the staff was very refreshing and it was great to see everybody interacting in an amiable and positive way.”

The Officers discussed the entire admissions process at length and were able to reach consensus on a number of issues including a common procedure for assessing prospective students.

ENGINEERING GRADUATE HOPES TO INSPIRE OTHERS

Ms Letsabisa Lerotholi with her
supervisor, Professor Milan
Carsky, at her graduation
in April.

Chemical Engineering MSc graduate, Ms Letsabisa Lerotholi, is determined to serve as a role model for those following in her footsteps.

“My greatest ambition is to be an example to young people growing up in hardship and coming from previously disadvantaged backgrounds,” said Ms Lerotholi.

Currently working as a research assistant in the School of Chemical Engineering, she graduated cum laude in April this year with her MSc in Engineering, an impressive achievement in a demanding field that is typically dominated by men.

She has experienced her fair share of hardship in her short life and has had to rely on perseverance and self-motivation to get through the tough times.

BOW PROJECT CONCERT AT UKZN

A dazzling young all-female string quartet from Denmark, the Nightingale String Quartet, have joined up with one of South Africa's legendary uhadi performers, Mantombi Matotiyana, for a two-week tour of concerts which includes a performance at UKZN.

The Distell Foundation is sponsoring the national tour of The Bow Project, which was conceived by Michael Blake in 2002 as part of the National Arts Festival.

This project has developed over the past six years as a platform for South African composers from many different traditions, to reinterpret or reimagine the uhadi bow songs of the great Nofinishi Dywili, in the medium of the string quartet.

The tour includes a CD recording session.