Prof Lesley le Grange from Stellenbosch University's (SU) Faculty of Education recently received the prestigious South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Honours Award.
This the highest award bestowed by SAERA and is given annually to an individual or research entity for an outstanding contribution to educational research in South Africa. The award ceremony took place at the gala dinner of the annual conference of SAERA in Durban.
According to Prof Le Grange, he feels honoured to have received this award, but emphasises that ultimately he does not do his work for accolades alone.
He loves working in education and says that although the award will not impact directly on his teaching and research at SU, receiving this award will spur him on to reach even greater heights in relation to teaching and research.
“I don't do my work to receive awards, but it is a good feeling to be recognised for your contribution to research, and more so if the recognition is given by South Africa's premier education association," says Le Grange.
Earlier this year, the former Minister of Higher Education and Training, Naledi Pandor, appointed Le Grange and Prof Yusef Waghid, also from SU's Faculty of Education, to the Council of Higher Education (CHE).
One of the main functions of CHE is to contribute to the development of higher education through intellectual engagement with key national and systemic issues, including international trends.
As a council member, Le Grange will help advise the Minister of Higher Education and Training on all aspects of higher education policy and conduct research to inform and contribute to addressing the short and long-term challenges facing higher education.
“I am pleased to be of service to the higher education sector in this new capacity, particularly at a time when the sector is presented with both opportunities and challenges related to the funding of higher education, graduate employment, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the decolonisation debates," says Le Grange.
For more information on SAERA, visit http://saera.co.za/.
To find out more on the Council of Higher Education, click here.
