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Mr
Ross Rolfe (Director-General of the
State of Queensland), Honourable
Peter Beattie (Premier of the State
of Queensland and Minister of Trade)
and Professor Malegapuru
Makgoba (Vice-Chancellor) |
The
Premier of the State of Queensland and Minister of Trade,
in Australia, Honourable Peter Beattie, Professor Malegapuru
Makgoba and the Director-General of the State of Queensland,
Mr Ross Rolfe, signed a memorandum of understanding
on 22 March that signified the reciprocal commitment
of the State of Queensland and UKZN to collaborate on
joint resource projects in the area of ‘Modelling
Climate Change and its Impact on Various Aspects of
Agriculture’.
UKZN’s School of Bioresources Engineering and
Environmental Hydrology (BEEH) and the Department of
Primary Industries and Fisheries of the State of Queensland
will be jointly responsible for undertaking, facilitating
and coordinating the exploratory investigations.
Premier
Beattie said the accord on behalf of Queensland’s
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries was an
important initiative with benefits for both organisations.
“The
new arrangement will focus on strengthening research
collaboration between the parties which could include
modelling the impact of climate change on key agricultural
systems such as sugar cane production and pasture yields
– topics of interest to both Queensland and KwaZulu-Natal,”
Mr Beattie said.
In
his address, Professor Makgoba said that South Africa
and Australia share a number of similarities such as
climate, oceans and environment. He said that, as a
new university, UKZN has a lot of research interests
in which collaboration with the University of Queensland
can be explored. He identified water research as the
main field. “We want to enter into a global perspective
and set the tone for extending our boundaries,”
he said.
Professor
Roland Schulze of the School of BEEH, who initiated
this agreement on behalf of UKZN following a presentation
he gave at an international symposium in Queensland
last year, emphasised that climate change had become
an accepted reality among scientists. “In the
already high risk natural and climate environment in
which we find ourselves in South Africa, planning for
the future is essential in climate dominated sectors
such as water and agriculture”, he said, adding
that “collaborative research such as that foreseen
by this agreement, is the key to well founded strategies
to cope with and adapt to the vagaries of climate change”.
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Respected
academic, leading scientist and Research Fellow, Professor
Rob Gous of the School of Agricultural Sciences and
Agribusiness has been awarded the prestigious ‘A’
rating status by the National Research Foundation (NRF)
following a re-evaluation of his research progress.
This is the second time that Professor Gous has received
this rating, the first time being about 10 years ago,
and in both cases this has been in recognition of his
contribution in the field of poultry science.
Professor
Gous’ research over the past 15 years has involved
the development of simulation models that predict food
intake and growth of broilers and pigs. The simulation
models initially provided answers to ‘what-if’
scenarios, but he and his team have moved on from there
and they now optimise the way in which broilers and
pigs should be fed to maximise any one of a number of
objective functions, such as margin over feed cost or
feed conversion efficiency. These models, he says, are
being used successfully around the world. He adds that
the great advantage of modelling is that it identifies
areas of research that are useful and usually unique.
As a result he and his postgraduate students have really
interesting projects to work on, and have benefited
immensely.
Professor
Gous is particularly interested in two areas of research;
modelling and lighting. The research on lighting is
with broiler breeders. “We have turned on its
head the conventional wisdom about lighting these birds
and as a result have made a significant contribution
to knowledge in this area,” he says.
As
part of his engagement with the community, Professor
Gous is a founder member of the KwaZulu-Natal Poultry
Institute, whose purpose is to train prospective poultry
managers by providing them with the skills needed to
manage people, finances, poultry operations and even
themselves. The Poultry Institute has impressive training
facilities, including accommodation, lecture rooms,
computers and a wide range of on-going poultry operations.
These are housed on the University’s research
and training farm, Ukulinga. This Institute has been,
and continues to be, highly successful in training students
and preparing them for life.
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(L-R)
Her Excellency Dr Rawya Saud Al
Busaidi Minister of Higher Education
of Oman, Professor Malegapuru
Makgoba, Ambassador Khalid Ba
Omar and Professor Fikile Mazibuko,
Deputy Vice-Chancellor
College of Humanities. |
A
delegation from the Sultanate of Oman led by Her Excellency
Dr Rawya Saud Al Busaidi, Minister of Higher Education
of Oman, met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Malegapuru
Makgoba and senior officials of UKZN. The delegation
included Ambassador Khalid Ba Omar and Dr Amer bi Ali
Al-Rawas, Assistant Vice-President: Postgraduate and
Scientific Research.
The
exploratory visit discussed possible collaboration in
the areas of student exchange, visiting academic programmes
and research initiatives. Minister Al Busaidi said that
Oman required academic expertise in Media and Communications,
Quantity and Land Surveying, Tourism and Graphic and
Jewellery design.
In
his address, Professor Makgoba said that the University’s
strengths include the Sciences, Humanities and Health
Sciences. “UKZN is the leading provider of teacher
training in South Africa and has the pre-eminent School
of Agriculture in the country. It is one of four universities
chosen by the National Ministry of Science and Technology
to train engineers and leads the way in HIV and AIDS
research.”
The
government of South Africa and the Sultanate of Oman
have signed a co-operation agreement to establish and
develop economic relations particularly in the areas
of Science and Technology.
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In the 2006 Professional Management Review (PMR) market
research survey to identify South Africa's finest corporate
citizens, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) received
an outstanding rating on two specific Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, namely Fighting HIV/AIDS
and Educational and Skills Development. UKZN was also
rated excellent in other categories such as Social Upliftment,
Second Economy Interventions, Fighting Poverty and Fighting
Crime. As a business operation, the University was also
cited for its Corporate Governance, Employment Equity
and provision of quality service, all of which was rated
excellent.
UKZN
was rated best overall in the institutions of higher
education category with regard to its work on HIV/AIDS
and placed third when compared with all industry sectors,
government departments and NGO’s in South Africa.
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Professor
Dasarath Chetty
receives the award from
Mr Sipho Makhanda |
In
presenting the awards to Professor Dasarath Chetty at
the Professional Management Review Corporate Social
Responsibility Award Breakfast in Johannesburg, Johan
Hatting, the Chief Executive of PMR said that the University
was an undisputed industry leader.
The
survey’s aim was to identify and assess companies,
government (central, provincial and local) and NGOs
in South Africa perceived to enhance stability, growth
and economic development in SA through their corporate
social responsibility programmes and initiatives.
The
random survey was conducted telephonically with top-level
executives at financial services firms, listed and unlisted
companies, trade unions, business associations, stock
broking firms and government (national, provincial and
local) across South Africa. A total of 560 nominations
and ratings were sourced from business and government
leaders nationwide as to whom they perceived as business
leaders in a pre-defined list of 92 business or government
sectors across a range of 17 CSR initiatives.
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The Andrew Mellon Foundation has awarded UKZN a grant
of $600 000 to pilot a new programme called the LEAP
Lecturing Relief Scheme.
The Scheme aims to provide members of the academic staff,
particularly those from groups which have previously
been denied access to academic careers, with reduced
teaching loads to allow them to concentrate on developing
their research portfolios or completing their doctoral
studies, to enhance their prospects of promotion to
more senior positions.
Ms
Reena Budree, Executive Director of Equity said that
the University envisages making available three Lecturing
Relief Awards valued at approximately R57 000 each,
per annum, in each of its eight Faculties. This would
total 72 awards over three years spanning July 2007
to June 2010. All staff who are on the cusp of promotion
particularly into the professoriate, will be eligible
but preference will be given to African and women nominees.
Further
details regarding the nomination process will be circulated
in due course.
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UKZN’s Faculty of Education has received 180 full
cost bursaries from the Department of Education’s
Fundza Lushaka Bursary Scheme for aspirant teachers.
The programme is intended to promote teaching in public
schools, especially in the rural areas. A further priority
is to recruit African teachers in the Foundation Phase.
Once qualified, bursary holders are required to take
up posts offered by the provincial education department.
They are contractually obliged to work for the number
of years for which they received a bursary.
Professor
Michael Samuel of UKZN’s Faculty of Education
said that “Our goal is to resurrect and re-image
the professional status of teaching as a major contribution
to nation building. This can be achieved by providing
committed and competent professionals in education”.
He adds that it is essential that the Faculty of Education
makes a contribution to the development of rural education.
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Professor
Malegapuru Makgoba
(Vice-Chancellor) presents His
Excellency Mr RK Bhatia,
India's High Commissioner to
South Africa, with a gift
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India's
High Commissioner to South Africa, His Excellency Mr
RK Bhatia addressed the University community on “Reflections
on India and on India-South Africa relations" on
22 March.
His
Excellency, who was accompanied by the Durban-based
Consul General of India, Mr Harsh Vardhan Shringla,
presented 18 books on India to the University Library.
The eThekwini Municipality was represented by Deputy
Mayor, Councillor Logie Naidoo.
The
High Commissioner said that India is in the process
of undergoing huge transformation. India has 27 states,
each with its own language and culture. However, there
is unity in spirituality, intellectualism and religion.
Democracy has matured and is healthy and vibrant.
Focusing
on business trends, he said that economic growth is
booming and India has strong links with the rest of
the world. India’s relationship with South Africa
“is based on a unique blend of unity and freedom
through shared economic development”. He highlighted
a number of factors that mould South Africa and India
together, including the 1,2 million South Africans of
Indian origin, the ‘Gandhi factor’ and a
broadly similar approach to domestic, economic and foreign
policy. Investment relations between the two countries
have grown tremendously in the past five years.
His
Excellency emphasised that he would like to see a strategic
partnership and intellectual co-operation developing
between universities.
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(L-R)
Professor John Hilton &
Mrs Anne Gosling
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Professor
John Hilton, Associate Professor in the Classics Department,
and Research Fellow Mrs Anne Gosling, have co-edited
a new book: Alma Parens Originalis? The Receptions
of Classical Literature and Thought in Africa, Europe,
the United States, and Cuba, published by Peter
Lang.
This
original collection of articles, derived in part from
the papers presented at the 26th biennial conference
of the Classical Association of South Africa held at
Durban and Pietermaritzburg 5-7 July 2005, explores
a wide range of receptions of Classical ideas in the
fiction, drama, poetry, history, opera, and popular
culture of a number of countries from South Africa to
Cuba. There is a strong emphasis on the use of Greek
and Roman tragedy, especially Aeschylus’ Seven
against Thebes, the Electra plays of Sophocles and Euripides,
various reworkings of the figures of Antigone and Medea,
and the dramatic style of Seneca, but the compendium
also includes chapters on Platonism, Horatian Satire,
Mythology, Roman Civilization, Roman Historiography,
and Greek erotic spells. Chronologically, the scope
of reception extends from the contemporary (the problem
of HIV/AIDS in South Africa), to the 20th century (Soyinka,
Walcott, Forster, Seth, Campbell), and the Renaissance
(Daniel Heinsius). The book illustrates the depth, diversity,
and complexity of the inter-connections between the
Classical past and the present. It provides a refreshingly
different perspective on a vitally important and vibrant
field of research.
Professor
Hilton has translated the Florida of Apuleius in Stephen
J Harrison, John L Hilton, and Vincent J C Hunink, Apuleius:
Rhetorical Works (Oxford 2001). He has written a commentary
on Books 3-4 of the Ethiopian Story of Heliodorus and
articles on Latin Linguistics, the ancient novel, and
the reception of Classical Literature in South Africa.
He serves as Reviews Editor of Scholia and is currently
Chair of the Classical Association of South Africa.
Mrs
Gosling has published articles on the figure of Apollo
in Augustan poetry, the nature of the poet in Horace,
animals in Juvenal, the Romulus myth, characterization
in Plautus, and numismatics. She is currently working
on Ovid’s Fasti.
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The 2nd APSTAR Graduation ceremony and handing over
of certificates on 10 March was a memorable event. The
School of Development Studies treated graduates to a
breakfast ceremony at the Emakhosini Hotel in Morningside,
Durban.
The
APSTAR programme was initiated and implemented by the
Department of Social Development, United Nations Population
Fund (UNFPA), and UKZN. This training programme offers
short courses in Population Studies and it is situated
in the School of Development Studies. APSTAR aims to
build the capacity of government officials at all levels
of Government to understand population issues and to
integrate these into development policies, programmes
and activities
The
ceremony was attended by Professor Fikile Mazibuko,
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Humanities,
Professor Julian May Head of Department School of Development
Studies and Mr Jacques van Zuydam from the Department
of Social Development.
In
her official address, Professor Mazibuko said that as
professionals and academics associated with UKZN, we
need to ask ourselves whether we are helping and making
a difference in confronting the pressing issues of our
time.
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The Business Management Education 210 at Edgewood Campus
Department of Commerce Education under the leadership
of Dr M M Nkoane Discipline Head and Ms J Ramdhani module
co-ordinator has partnered with an NGO, Big Brothers
Big Sisters of South Africa (BBBSSA) to skill students
and children of disadvantaged communities. About 120
students are currently involved in a social responsibility
project, with entrepreneurship as the focal point. The
rationale behind this project is to apply the concepts
of social responsibility and entrepreneurship thereby
assisting in capacity building. The students while engaging
with the concepts of entrepreneurship and business planning
will be involved in teaching the children how to draw
up a business plan and become involved in the entrepreneurship
process.
Students
are interviewed and trained by staff of BBBSSA. They
are then matched with the children (referred to as littles
by BBBSSA). Some of the littles are identified from
children’s homes, such as Saint Vincent’s
Home for Children and possible community matches include
areas such as Phoenix on the north coast. The training
includes modules on self esteem development, relationship
building, values and communication. The students will
spend a minimum of one hour a week with the littles
and together will form a partnership as a form of ownership
to draw up a business plan.
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As part of a UKZN exchange agreement with the University
of Oslo in Norway, three Masters students from the School
of Development Studies on the Howard College campus
spent a fully funded semester at Oslo University.
Mehrangiz
Rahmani writes: “My experience as an exchange
student at Oslo University in Norway was the most fulfilling
journey of my life. Norway, like other Nordic countries,
enjoys a unique socio-economic pattern of development,
and being a student of Development Studies in Norway
served as a kind of laboratory because I was able to
observe theories of development in practice.”
“Norwegian
social norms respect the individual’s human rights
and particularly those of students - both in theory
and practice. The respect for knowledge, human values
and social justice is manifested not only in the attitude
of people and their way of life but also in their social
system in terms of their provision of health, education,
communication, transport and other services. These services
cover most habitable parts of the country, regardless
of its urban or rural structure. For example university
facilities for students such as the library, computer
labs, accommodation, food arrangements, child day care
and so on are designed to make the life of the students
easier.”
“Unlike
some cultures that promote leadership, competition and
superior attitudes, Norwegians are very modest, co-operative
and down to earth people who do not enjoy showing their
superiority or as one might say ‘selling their
image!’. Their feelings for justice and assistance
to the needy are genuine and are best expressed by the
“Peace Prize Centre” in Oslo.”
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Professor
Lindy Stiebel from the Department of English Studies
has recently undertaken a five year NRF project that
explores links between writers and places in KwaZulu-Natal.
Working with her on this project are colleagues Mrs
Zoe Molver (Media Studies, UKZN) and Professor Graham
Stewart (Durban University of Technology).
Literary
tourism is intended to create awareness among students
and tourists alike about the writers of KwaZulu-Natal.
The
research aims of the project include developing literary
tourism in KwaZulu-Natal through the development of
appropriate interlinked resources on literary tourism
such as a literary map on a website, a related resource
website which includes academic papers, and documentary
films on selected literary figures and landscapes.
Supervision
of postgraduate students researching theoretical issues
in relation to literary tourism and constructions of
identity as manifested through literary landscapes has
been a significant part of the project.
An
important part of the project’s work, the Literary
Map of KwaZulu-Natal (see http://www.literature.kzn.org.za
) consists of a number of author entries, each linked
to a place on the map of the province, accompanied by
photographs of the writer and places with which s/he
is associated in life or writing. It currently hosts
about 50 entries and receives approximately 3 000 hits
a week from all around the world. It has been a wonderful
resource for tourists and researchers alike. It was
developed and designed by Professor Stewart and is currently
hosted by the provincial tourism authority, Tourism
KZN. The site attracts interest from users both local
and international, including the US, Egypt, Japan and
Germany. The linked website (http://www.literarytourism.co.za),
developed by Mr Niall McNulty, research assistant to
the project in 2006, contains academic papers, references
and literary trails. This site is ranked number one
in the Google search engine for literary tourism.
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Approximately 200 alumni attended a series of road shows
organised by the Alumni Affairs Office, in Cape Town,
Pretoria and Johannesburg. Professor Dasarath Chetty
(Executive Director of Public Affairs and Corporate
Communications) and Mr Bruno van Dyk (Executive Director
of the UKZN Foundation) addressed alumni at the Cape
Town and Pretoria dinners.
The
event provided an opportunity to update alumni on developments
at UKZN and to inform them of the fundraising initiatives
of the UKZN Foundation. It also provided an opportunity
to meet fellow graduates, network and to become even
more updated on events/issues of their alma mater. Guests
included prominent academic Professor Phillip Tobias
of the Department of Anatomical Science at Wits University.
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(L-R)
Professor
Naydene de Lange with
Professor Deevia Bhana
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Professor
Naydene de Lange and Professor Deevia Bhana, of the
School of Education Studies have embarked upon an exciting
rural education project, within the first Research Niche
Area of the Faculty of Education, funded by the NRF.
A team of researchers and postgraduate students from
the Edgewood and Pietermaritzburg campuses, in the Schools
of Education and Development, Education Studies, and
Language, Literacies, Media and Drama Education, led
by Professors de Lange and Bhana, will participate in
a project called Every Voice Counts. The project will
explore how rural areas, and schools in particular can
serve as sites of community participation and partnerships
to bring about social change.
Co-researcher
Professor Claudia Mitchell of the School of Language,
Literacies, Media and Drama Education explains: “Much
of the research within the Faculty is already oriented
towards rural studies, by virtue of the fact that we
work in a province that in itself is largely rural.
What is critical about the niche area is that it offers
us an opportunity to consolidate our research interests,
and even to forge new alliances with other disciplinary
areas work in rural communities”.
The
Research Niche Area, “Teacher development and
rural education in the age of AIDS,” takes as
its broad goal the notion of drawing together several
research areas which ‘converge’ on teacher
development in rural education in the age of AIDS: Reflexive
methodologies in studying teachers’ lives, school
leadership and management, the participation of young
people in addressing HIV and AIDS, teachers and communities
tackling gender violence in and around the schools,
and partnerships and pedagogies in preparing new teachers
for new times. Other co-researchers are Professor Lebo
Moletsane, Professor Robert Balfour, Dr Volker Wedekind,
Dr Daisy Pillay and Dr Thabisile Buthelezi.
The
project, which follows from the second Teacher Development
Conference on Rural Education hosted by the Faculty
in 2006 in collaboration with the Department of Education,
will also serve as a hub in relation to several other
NRF and internationally-funded projects on youth and
teachers in the age of AIDS.
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Academics and activists from Durban, India and the USA,
as well as local facilitators resided and worked with
informal economy workers in Durban last week. The group
included block makers, a barber, bead, muthi and craft
makers and sellers, a seamstress and vegetable co-operative
members.
The
School of Development Studies was one of the organisers
of this unique experiential learning process, the Exposure
Dialogue Programme. Mr Imraan Valodia, Ms Caroline Skinner
and Professor Francie Lund participated from the School
of Development Studies. The exposure was followed by
reflection and dialogue about challenges faced by workers
in the informal economy, in order to try and bring about
policy changes to assist all informal economy workers.
International participants included visitors from Self-Employed
Women’s Association (SEWA) and National Commission
for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector, India; Harvard
University, Cornell University, and the University of
Massachusetts, and Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing
and Organizing (WIEGO), USA.
The
specific methodology used is a first for South Africa
but has been explored and tested many times in India.
Linking the micro experience of the host’s world
with the conditions of the macro is one of the purposes
of the exposure/dialogue. The key outcome was the design
of pro-poor policy strategies, which were taken forward
by the group to government representatives in Pretoria.
Local
facilitators accompanied the visitors to the homes of
hosts in parts of Durban as diverse as Warwick Junction,
St Wendolins, KwaMakutha, Ngonyameni and Umzinyathi.
The programme included a tour of Warwick Avenue Junction
in Durban.
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The
African Association for Rhetoric will be holding its first biennial
international conference from 2-6 July. The conference entitled:
Rhetoric, Protest and the Economy is being organised primarily
to examine and theorise the relationship between rhetoric, protest
and the economy, and to propose new strategies of organising protests
in order to reduce the negative impacts that these protests have
on the economy. Our opinion is that in view of the inevitability
of globalisation, the frail economies of Africa should be managed
with great care, which we think require great sensitivity on the
part of both the government and civil society.
Conference
Co-ordinator, Dr Segun Ige said, “We expect to have academics,
scholars, civil servants and activists of great stature at the
conference from different parts of the world who will deliberate
on this issue and give new insights regarding the main theme of
the conference. Protest, strikes and demonstrations have featured
in many nations’ struggle for independence, but this is
a different kind of struggle. We hope to have new perspectives
on the subject and to learn how different nations have reinvented
protest and employed it in positive ways that are understandable
to both the government and civil society.”
For further information contact:
Dr Segun Ige
Phone: +27 72 461 7415
e-mail: igejo@ukzn.ac.za
A unique set of photographs depicting life in South
Africa between 1844 and 1960 has returned home.
Two
representatives of the ‘Photographs back to South
Africa’ Project presented UKZN’s Campbell
Collections with 12 volumes of hard copy catalogues
of the photographs, a CD of the catalogues and a CD
of every image that is in the catalogues.
The
Norwegian Missionary Society Archives at the School
of Mission and Theology in Stavanger, Norway houses
an important collection of more than 20 000 photographs.
These were produced and collected by Norwegian Missionary
Society missionaries in South Africa between 1844 and
1960.
Due
to interest from South Africans the Norwegian Missionary
Society and the Centre for Intercultural Communication
created the ‘Photographs back to South Africa’
Project. Professor Jeff Guy, Research Fellow at the
Campbell Collections and Dr Vivian Msomi from the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of South Africa were invited to Norway
to select the photographs for the catalogues.
The
catalogues and CDs at the Killie Campbell Africana Library
are available to researchers.
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The Health Economics and Research Division (HEARD) hosted
a seminar at which Dr Sarah Flicker presented her investigative
work in adolescent health, community-based participatory
research, HIV/AIDS, and community development.
Dr
Flicker, a sociologist, is Assistant Professor in Environmental
Studies at York University in Toronto, Canada. Her presentation
covered three studies related to youth and HIV/AIDS:
"From Research to Action: Working Collaboratively
with Canadian HIV-Positive Youth", "Thinking
Through Colonialism: Widening the Circle of Aboriginal
HIV Prevention in Canada", and "Gendering
Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP): Youth Producing Images
that Challenge" (using the 'photo-voice' methodology).
The
seminar offered a multi-faceted perspective on HIV research
with youth, gleaned through her research engagement
as a specialist in public health, epidemiology and medical
anthropology. Her community-based participatory research
results from her strong interest in engaging with teenagers
in relation to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The
seminar attracted researchers from various disciplines,
mainstream and community journalists, and representatives
of local NGOs.
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The second Institutional Climate Audit will be undertaken
by the Equity Support Office this year. The first audit
which was completed in 2004 measured issues of equity
and diversity in the then merged UKZN. The 2007 audit
will essentially measure the changes since 2004 but
include other issues of transformation contained in
the policies of the UKZN since 2004. These policies
include employment equity, sexual harassment, disability,
discrimination, gender and cultural diversity.
The 2004 audit received community-wide support which
provided much credibility to the findings. The Equity
Office calls upon all staff and stakeholders to once
again support the audit by participating in the planned
web-based survey and focus groups towards a comprehensive
analysis of the work environment post-2004.
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Through collaboration between UKZN’s School of
Social Work and Community Development, and the Centre
for Public Participation (CPP), five students have made
a unique contribution in the NGO sector. They compiled
an evaluation report to assess progress, impact and
obstacles faced by community based organisations in
KwaZulu-Natal. The students are: Philisiwe Ndlela, Khanyisile
Khuzwayo, Nomsa Khwela, Nompumelelo Blose and Nompumelelo
Ngubane.
The
CPP is a local NGO focusing on strengthening public
participation in governance.
Community
Development Course Co-ordinator, Mr Oliver Zambuko says
that “we are trying to link with various NGOs
that work with community development to equip our students
with knowledge and train them to stand on their own
feet.” He is impressed that students have made
a serious endeavour to produce a report that will have
a tremendous impact on the community. The programme
deals with realities in the communities and trains students
to write reports. Students are provided with mentorship
and academic support throughout their study period.
Considering its significance, Mr Zambuko says that the
report will be compiled into a publication.
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Shamima Timol, Reevan Balmahoon, Samista Jugwanth, Sarah
Westergreen and Megan Blore are the five young women
who are the recipients of the prestigious Women in Science,
Agriculture and Engineering (WOSA) Scholarship for 2007.
Rebecca Burne and Sarisha Harrychund proceed to the
second year of their scholarship, awarded in 2006.
The
WOSA Scholarship, which is worth R45 000, is awarded
to women who are the cream of the crop in the fields
of Engineering and Agriculture. To qualify for the scholarship
the student must be a high achiever, with the minimum
requirement of an overall average of 80 percent or more
in her Matric subjects.
On
Friday 20 March, the students had an opportunity to
meet with Ms Andrea Johnson of the New York-based Carnegie
Corporation, is the main funder of the scholarship programme.
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Human Resources and the Equity Support Unit will be
jointly hosting a series of campus dialogues to allow
staff to raise issues and obtain clarity regarding policy
and procedure in an informal setting. The panel will
comprise the Executive Director, Equity and Acting Director
of Human Resources, the Deputy Directors, Human Resource
Administration, Employment Relations and Staff Development,
the Diversity Manager and the LEAP Manager. The first
campus dialogues will take place at the Senate Chamber,
Westville Campus on 2 May between 12h30-14h00 and at
Lieb Du Toit Council Chamber, Pietermaritzburg Campus
on 7 May from 12h00-4h00.
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In
January and February this year, UKZN International
formalized international linkages with Universities
in Madagascar, Canada, Germany, Netherlands and the
USA.
Strategic
Memoranda of Understanding have been signed with the
Universities of Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa in Madagascar
formalizing the research collaboration which already
exists between the School of Biological and Conservation
Sciences and the University of Antananarivo especially
in the field of Wildlife Conservation.
A
Memoranda of Understanding was signed with Roma Tre
University, Italy thus initiating discussions between
Roma Tre and UKZN School of Biochemistry, Genetics,
Microbiology and Plant Pathology about the areas of
activity that would lead to the exchange of academic
staff and students. A Memorandum of Understanding
was also signed with Roosevelt University, USA and
discussions around potential areas of collaboration
are currently taking place.
The
student exchange programme is a dynamic programme
aimed at exchanging UKZN students for a semester with
Universities abroad. Student exchange agreements have
been signed with Concordia University in Canada, Bremen
University of Applied Sciences in Germany, Vrije University
in the Netherlands and Millersville University of
Pennsylvania and Drake University in the USA. Representatives
from these Universities have visited UKZN over the
past year, met with key academics and administrators
and have identified strategic areas for collaboration.
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Dr Akbar Muhammed, founder of Youth for Africa, recently
visited the Pietermaritzburg campus and delivered
talks on democracy and liberation in the new South
Africa. The visit was at the invitation of the Muslim
Students Association on the Pietermaritzburg campus.
Having
lived in Ghana for 12 years, Dr Muhammed traveled
to 37 African countries, and studied under Malcolm
X.
He
says that as a nation we should not forget Apartheid,
which was a “barbaric, insensitive, inhumane
system”. He believes that people are trying
to soften the effect of Apartheid, thinking that what
is in the past should be forgotten. He used the example
of the Sharpeville Massacre, euphemistically called
“Human Rights Day”.
He
urged people to heal the wounds of the past –
the TRC was a good start he said.
He
likened the experiences of blacks in this country
to Muslims in America. “As an entity, we [Muslims]
have survived in America for 77 years,” he said,
relating their journey from second class citizens
to an established sector of American society today.
“We
stood firm in our belief… and faith in Islam,”
“you’ve got to hold up your [religious]
flag and that will be your survival,” advised
Dr Muhammed.
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Meandering through the beautiful KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Janet Fröhlich, Site Director of the CAPRISA Vulindlela
Clinical Research Site visited Rosewood Embroidery and
met Rose Kenyon.
Whilst
working as a hospice nurse in Howick, Rose discovered
she had a passion for embroidery and what started as
a hobby has grown into a thriving business. Rosewood
Embroidery employs only local African women who have
suffered serious hardships.
As
part of the CAPRISA Community Outreach Programme Janet
invited Rose to utilise the CAPRISA Vulindlela Research
Site training facilities. Over the past two years Rose
has trained 25 unemployed women from the Mafakatini
area, surrounding the CAPRISA Vulindlela Research Site
in fine embroidery skills. At the end of 2006 Rose assisted
the Mafakatini women to apply for a grant from the Department
of Science, Arts and Technology and was thrilled when
these rural women were recently awarded a grant of R750
000 to expand their skills from embroidery to beadwork
and other African crafts. CAPRISA is deeply indebted
to Rose Kenyon for empowering these unemployed women.
If you visit Rosewood Embroidery at St Ives Farm on
the R103 Lions River, Rose will point out the work done
by the Mafakatini women as she knows each embroiderer’s
work individually.
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The UKZN Dance Club undertook a community project in
which members of the Club taught grade 10 scholars of
Chesterville Secondary School Ballroom and Latin American
Dancing.
The
project was a great success and five couples participated
in the Shall We Dance Production. This Production was
produced by the Dance Clubs coach, Neville Letard.
Throughout
the year various members of the Club participated in
the South African Amateur Dance Association dance competitions
with excellent results. The Club was placed fourth overall
at the Intervarsity Competition held at Stellenbosch
University.
UKZN
student Candice Upfold and her partner David Le Roux
entered the NEW YEAR DANCE FESTIVAL’07 and were
placed second in the Adult Bronze Ballroom category,
Adult Bronze Latin category and the Open Mambo category.
They have since been promoted to Silver Class.
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CLASSICAL COLLECTIVE 1 - UKZN's premiere performance
group featuring Bulelani Madikizela (Baritone), Hkumbuzile
Dhlamini (Soprano), Sarah Pudifin (Violin), Elizabeth
Fang (Piano) & Melissa Hoover (Flute). Programme
to be announced.
Monday
2 April
12h15 - 13h00
Howard College Theatre, UKZN
Enquiries: 031- 260 3353
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