| Brief prevention programme could help anxious SA children | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=8652 | | Brief prevention programme could help anxious SA children | Corporate Communication & Marketing / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie & Bemarking [Alec Basson] | <p>A study at Stellenbosch University (SU) has shown that a brief mental health prevention programme can help to reduce anxiety in children from low-resourced, semi-rural communities in the Western Cape. <br></p><p>The study focused on developing an innovative programme that is suitable for these children, given that the need for accessible mental health interventions has remained unmet in a country with extreme socio-economic disparities and a shortage of mental health resources. The key findings were published recently in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13575279.2021.1902785"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">Child Care in Practice</strong></a> by Dr Naomi Myburgh and Prof Helene Loxton from SU's Department of Psychology and Prof Peter Muris from Maastrict University in The Netherlands.<br></p><p><strong>I am BRAVE Programme</strong><br></p><p>Called <strong><em>I am BRAVE</em></strong>, the brief programme consists of eight 45-minute sessions that could be completed in only two weeks. It was designed to develop specific Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-based skills in children between the ages of 9 and 13. </p><p>The first four sessions teach children to identify anxious feelings, unhelpful thoughts, and unhelpful behaviours when they feel threatened. Children are then taught relaxation skills, cognitive restructuring techniques like coping-self-talk and problem-solving skills to help them overcome anxiety. The programme includes four more sessions that help children practise their new skills to empower them to deal with anxiety.<br></p><p>According to the researchers, “the programme has the potential to assist children in distinguishing between the avoidance of unrealistic fears and the everyday, protective and necessary avoidance of dangers associated with many South African contexts."</p><p><strong>Results </strong></p><p>They say the results showed a promising downward trend in anxiety to what is considered normal levels after participation in the <strong><em>I am BRAVE</em></strong> programme. </p><p>“We found that the programme helped the children to become more resilient and taught them how to relax when they became anxious. It also improved their coping and communication, and problem-solving skills. <br></p><p>“The children reported that the intervention helped them to manage challenging interpersonal relationships, particularly conflict associated with those relationships. They also reported that they gained core CBT knowledge regarding thoughts, feelings and behaviour, as well as skills to manage their emotions, thoughts and unhelpful behaviour." <br></p><p>The researchers say that it was particularly encouraging that the children used skills learnt in the programme months later in threatening situations, such as being fearful of criminals at night, specific fears of animals, bullying, speaking in front of others, making friends, and dealing with conflict to name a few. They add that the children also taught their siblings and parents these skills to manage anxiety and felt brave enough to try things that had made them anxious. <br></p><p>According to the researchers, the intervention is quite versatile. “Not only is it possible to integrate the short programme into schools, after-school or community centre programmes, but it also offers the possibility of using trained community members to deliver it." <br></p><p>They say brief CBT-based interventions, like the <strong><em>I am BRAVE</em></strong> programme, may help to overcome existing barriers to accessing mental health services faced by many South African children and reduce the burden placed on under-resourced mental health care services.</p><p>“These types of interventions are crucial because the World Health Organisation states that childhood is critical to lifelong mental health and that 50% of mental health conditions develop by the age of 14 years."<br></p><p>According to the researchers, the <strong><em>I am BRAVE</em></strong> intervention programme indicates the potential of such an approach in addressing anxiety amongst vulnerable children in low-resourced, semi-rural communities in South Africa.</p><ul><li><strong>SOURCE:</strong> Myburgh, N; Muris, P & Loxton, H 2021: Promoting Braveness in Children: A Pilot Study on the Effects of a Brief, Intensive CBT-based Anxiety Prevention Programme Conducted in the South African Context, <em>Child Care in Practice</em>, DOI: <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13575279.2021.1902785"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">10.1080/13575279.2021.1902785</strong></a><br></li></ul><p><br></p> |
| Two Arts Faculty students selected for prestigious SA-Washington leadership programme | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=3964 | | Two Arts Faculty students selected for prestigious SA-Washington leadership programme | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;">Busiswa Sobahle and Shane Sass are on a mission to find funding to further develop their leadership skills and contribute to South Africa's future despite having faced various obstacles on the path to realising their own dreams.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Two students completing their undergraduate degrees at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) were recently selected to participate in a prestigious international leadership development programme "to inspire, develop and support a new generation of ethical South African servant leaders". </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Busiswa Sobahle from Gugulethu and Shane Sass from Kuils River will form part of 20 students from South Africa, and five in total from SU who will depart for Washington in the United States on 12 June to participate in six weeks of professional exposure to various leaders in this capital and complete an intense leadership curriculum.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Busiswa and Shane are respectively completing their final year and third year of a BA degree in International Studies via the Extended Degree Programme (EDP). </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The South Africa-Washington International Program (SAWIP) is an initiative of the Washington-Ireland Program for Service and Leadership (WIP) which has spent the last twenty years helping to develop the next generation of leaders in Ireland after decades of violent conflict. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"More than 400 university students from Ireland, both North and South, have graduated from WIP and many of them are now part of a rising generation of leaders who are taking their place in government and society at many levels," says Ms Sally Currin, Chief Operating Officer of SAWIP.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Since then SAWIP has focused on producing emerging leaders who will actively work towards bringing about social and economic transformation and justice within a sustainable democracy for all South African citizens. Its patrons are Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and world-renowned scenario planner Mr Clem Sunter. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">In South Africa, 123 students have already graduated from the programme, which is officially endorsed by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation and by the United States government.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Except for the Washington leg of their training, Busiswa and Shane will undergo a seven-month programme that includes a series of formal and non-formal development sessions and two community service components, followed by further development and involvement in SAWIP through its alumni network. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">For now, the two students are focusing on generating the R9 000 each that they will need to participate in the trip to Washington.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"It is really important for us to participate in this part of the programme as well as we will not only be benefitting from a leadership curriculum based on a different perspective to our own ideas of leadership in South Africa, but will be exposed to professions and persons in professions that we are interested in pursuing in future and also network with leaders from all spheres of life," they explain.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Listening to the often difficult paths that both these students walked to become student leaders at SU, you would hardly believe that Busiswa is now Vice-Chair of the Huis Russel Botman House and Shane is the Metanoia House Committee member responsible for critical engagement and student development and the Metanoia Leadership course coordinator at the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute (FVZS) for Student Leadership Development at SU. The course is presented to first-years at Metanoia in the first semester of the year and has inspired FVZS to develop their own course for all SU students. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">When they first arrived at university in 2013, Busiswa and Shane were both placed on the EDP, because their matric averages of 57% did not conform to the formal access requirements of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. "The EDP which was established to deal with systemic obstacles to equity and student success, allows educationally and historically disadvantaged students to do their first academic year over two years. During this period students also do additional academic support subjects that are not available to mainstream students," explains Ms Anita Jonker, Academic Coordinator of the EDP. "Both Busiswa and Shane are assiduous and resourceful students who made use of the additional academic support that is available in the EDP. It is great that they can eventually compete with the best students in the country."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">While both students became aware of the unjustified negative perceptions about the EDP, they were resolute to achieve success by whatever means to improve their circumstances and to give back to the communities where they come from.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"I was fine with being an EDP student, because I knew I was changing my life course, so whether it would take three or five years to do that that was fine with me. When you come from a township, you tend to limit yourself subconsciously – you don't consider where you can go and what you can achieve. I was aware that someone with my frame of reference [with regards to what I could achieve in life considering what I saw around me on a daily basis] should not be at Stellenbosch University, but I was determined and committed to changing my status quo," explains Busiswa.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"I was quite excited to come to University. That in itself was a big opportunity and a privilege especially as I am a first generation university student. I was also not that strong academically in high school, so I doubted whether I would get into university in the first place, so when I did get the letter of admission I was excited to go," adds Shane.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Being able to complete his degree over a longer period of time he says, became a blessing as it would catapult him into overcoming another obstacle, a severe stutter he had developed in primary school after being teased about a limp he developed following an illness as a toddler which prevented his left leg from growing at the same pace as his right.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"As a first generation student, I was quite scared when I first came to university. This is a dynamic environment where you need to keep up with the pace to be successful and when I got here I knew I wanted a better life for myself as well as the economic and social benefits of having a degree. But I wanted more, so I started challenging myself to get involved in leadership positions. This is something I would never have done in high school because I am an introvert. I also used to sit out orals and tell the teachers I don't need the marks because I was so ashamed of my stutter."</p><p>Shane also decided to see a psychologist at the Centre for Student Counselling and Development and thanks to her support, he has stopped stuttering completely. In 2014, he was appointed class representative for Decision-Making and Value Studies and appointed to the Voting Committee of Metanoia, became a member of the Black Management Forum and the Stellenbosch chapter of the United Nations Association of South Africa (UNASA). By 2015 Shane had completed the Emerging Maties course at the FVZS and was elected to the House Committee for Metanoia. At the same time he was an academic mentor, and a member of the Constitutional Committee and Community Interaction Committee of the residence. Despite his responsibilities, he also excelled academically and attained two distinctions at the end of 2015. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"If I had a full academic timetable cramped into three years of study, I would not have been able to do all this and develop myself beyond only having a degree," says Shane. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"I never understood fully back in the day why I was being subjected to teasing about my stuttering problem on a daily basis and why this was happening to me, however, I now realise I was being prepared to become more purpose driven. The leadership development opportunities and my experiences as an individual prepared me for anything I want to achieve in my life. The stuttering and the limping actually built and developed my strength of character as an individual.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"My parents also played a big role as they have sacrificed so much for me over the years, despite not having much to give and have encouraged me to finish my degree and to go on to postgraduate studies."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Busiswa feels the same about completing her degree over a longer period of time. In her first year, she dived straight into a range of leadership courses – Democracy and Active Citizenship, Women Leadership, Leadership through Community Interaction, and Facilitative Leadership – presented by FVZS and would later be selected to live in a Listen, Live and Learn (LLL) house in 2014 and 2015 and further expand on her leadership skills. The LLL initiative is offered to a select few senior students who want to live in one of its themed houses and engage with fellow students, a house guide (a staff member with expertise/interest in the theme), and invited guests around themes like gender equality, sustainability, technology and innovation, ethical leadership, and education and community amongst others.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">As part of her degree programme, Busiswa also decided to pursue Chinese in her first year and did so well that she was selected to participate in an exchange programme to Xiamen University in China for the 15 top students in her second year of studies. She also completed her third-year of Chinese in two years. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">While living in Huis Russel Botman House, she served as the student leader responsible for the Constitution Portfolio in 2015 and in 2016 became Vice-Chair and a facilitator for the first-years' Welcoming Programme. She has also been a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society since 2014, an "academic recognition which testifies to her excellent academic results, her leadership qualities and her constructive approach to life in general" says Jonker. At the same time, she has made a difference in the lives of individuals from disadvantaged communities through the mentorship programme of Media 24's Rachel's Angels since 2014. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Asked about what they hope to gain from participating in the Washington leg of SAWIP, Busiswa says: "I think the value that I am going to take away from SAWIP is a reignited passion for deepening justice in South Africa. It will definitely empower me and equip me with the necessary knowledge and skill set to tackle or to address social justice issues in South Africa. It will give me a broadened and informed outlook on how we go about addressing the challenges of transformation, because currently when we speak of transformation in South Africa we forget that we are not only talking about race transformation, but gender and socio-economic transformation too. I definitely want to continue with postgraduate studies, either International Relations at Stellenbosch or Development and Policy Studies at Wits University, after SAWIP and finishing my undergraduate degree because at the end of the day all of this will help me to pursue a career in economic policy implementation." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Says Shane: "This opportunity will definitely assist me with improving my leadership style and as an individual. It will also help me to look at South Africa with all its complexities and all of its injustice of the past from a different perspective and to focus on creating hope and the great potential we still have to work towards the South Africa we want. My aim is to work in socio-economic policy development and implementation in future, so hopefully when I get to Washington, I will be working with people in those fields already and can learn from them and bring that expertise back to South Africa and make a contribution in that way." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Anyone who would like to support Busiswa and Shane can do so by making a contribution to SAWIP, Standard Bank, Brooklyn, 051001 (code for electronic transfers), account number: 137380917 and use their full name and surname as reference. For more details, the Chief Operating Officer of SAWIP, Ms Sally Currin can be contacted at 083 447 7909.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><em>Photo: Busiswa Sobahle (left) and Shane Sass have received an opportunity of a lifetime to participate in the prestigious international SA-Washington leadership development programme and will be departing for Washington in the United States in June to complete a part of the programme there. (Anton Jordaan, SSFD)</em></p> |
| Challenges facing SA’s women not being addressed | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5062 | | Challenges facing SA’s women not being addressed | Corporate Communication / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie | <p>On Wednesday (9 August), we celebrate National Women's Day. In opinion pieces in the media, staff at Stellenbosch University write that some of the most important challenges women in South Africa continue to face are not being addressed. Click on the links below to read the respective articles.</p><ul><li>Prof Juliana Claassens (<a href="/english/Documents/newsclips/JClaassens_CapeArgus_Aug2017.pdf"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="">Cape Argus</strong></a>)<br></li><li>Prof Amanda Gouws (<a href="/english/Documents/newsclips/AGouws_DieBurger_Aug2017.pdf"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="">Die Burger</strong></a>)<br></li><li>Prof Louise du Toit (<a href="/english/Documents/newsclips/LduToit_CapeTimes_Aug2017.pdf"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="">Cape Times</strong></a>)<br></li></ul><p><br><br></p> |
| Graduating against all odds | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=7906 | | Graduating against all odds | Corporate Communication and Marketing/Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking [Rozanne Engel] | <p><br></p><p>Naseegha Cariem always dreamed of becoming a teacher. </p><p>When she enrolled as a first-year student at Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2012, she never imagined the trials she would experience over the years that almost derailed her dreams of graduating dreams.</p><p>In 2013, Cariem was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that causes infertility. After numerous miscarriages, Cariem and her husband made the important decision to start a family immediately due to her fertility issues. </p><p>While in her final year as a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities student, Cariem fell pregnant with twin boys and unfortunately had to suspend her studies due to the high-risk pregnancy.</p><p>“Due to financial difficulty I couldn't continue my studies after the birth of the twins and instead had to find employment. In 2019, I took the bold step of resigning from my corporate job and resumed my studies to complete my final year," says Cariem.</p><p>After failing two modules in her second semester, as well as failing the concession exam that was granted by the dean of her faculty, Cariem also had to drop out of the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) programme in Further Education and Training she was already registered for.</p><p>“This year I had to complete four undergraduate modules to obtain this long-awaited degree filled with blood, sweat and tears! I am most grateful for my support structure, my parents, siblings and husband. My husband is my real-life superhero. They have always supported me in all my decisions, even when I felt like a failure. My degree does not belong to me alone, but to everyone who has watched me fall and get back up again," says Cariem.</p><p>She will be completing her PGCE course at SU in 2021 and has plans to pursue a Master's degree in the near future.</p><p>“I've definitely learned that there is no timeline or age limit set to your goals. People should recognise their potential and not settle for anything less. I knew I wanted to become an educator years ago, and I see myself completing that goal and being in the classroom teaching literature to high school learners in the future."<br><br></p><p><br></p> |
| What will the future workplace, workforce look like? | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=8206 | | What will the future workplace, workforce look like? | Natasha Winkler-Titus & Daniel le Roux | <p>Saturday 1 May was Workers' Day. In opinion pieces for the media, Drs Natasha Winkler-Titus (Stellenbosch University Business School) and Daniel le Roux (Department of Information Science) highlight important issues that could shape the workplace and the workforce of the future. Click on the links below to read the articles.<br></p><ul><li>Dr Natasha Winkler-Titus (<a href="https://theconversation.com/will-the-pandemic-really-shape-the-future-workplace-155237"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="">The Conversation</strong></a>)</li><li>Dr Daniel le Roux (<a href="https://mg.co.za/opinion/2021-04-30-lets-race-with-not-against-the-machine/"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="">Mail & Guardian</strong></a>)</li></ul><p><br></p> |
| Youth Day: Staff, students put spotlight on key youth issues | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=8338 | | Youth Day: Staff, students put spotlight on key youth issues | Corporate Communication & Marketing / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie & Bemarking | <p>Wednesday 16 June was Youth Day. In opinion pieces for the media, staff and students at Stellenbosch University call attention to key youth issues that we can no longer ignore. Click on the links below to read the articles. Prof Amanda Gouws' article published in the Afrikaans newspaper <em>Beeld </em>has been partially translated.</p><ul><li>Prof Dion Forster (<a href="https://www.counterpointknowledge.org/born-free-a-deceptive-and-dangerous-story-about-south-africas-youth/"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0"><strong>Counterpointknowledg</strong><strong>e</strong></span></a>)<br></li><li>Edward Buys (<a href="https://pclientclips.s3.af-south-1.amazonaws.com/20210611/LDP-1623383986231_13465B4.pdf#page=1"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">Cape Times</strong></a>)</li><li>Prof Mark Smith, Dr Jako Volschenk & Prof Meshach Aziakpono (<a href="https://theconversation.com/millions-of-young-south-africans-are-without-jobs-what-are-the-answers-162701"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">The Conversation</strong></a>)</li><li>Prof Amanda Gouws (<a href="/english/Documents/newsclips/Gouws_Tomorrow%20we%20celebrate%20Youth%20Day.pdf"><strong class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0">Beeld</strong></a>)</li></ul><p><br></p> |
| Stellenbosch criminologist to serve on new INTERPOL Future Council | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10687 | | Stellenbosch criminologist to serve on new INTERPOL Future Council | Article by Asanda Alex Plaatjies and Dr Guy Lamb | <p>Dr Guy Lamb of the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University has accepted an invitation to serve on the Future Council of the International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as INTERPOL. <br></p><p>This follows the passing of a resolution at INTERPOL's General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, at the end of 2023 to create a high-level expert council who could ensure that further implementation of the organisation's Vision 2030 meets the law enforcement needs of INTERPOL's member countries. The Future Council will comprise up to eight crime prevention and policing experts from across the globe. This is a significant development, considering that police organisations generally prefer to seek advice from within their own ranks rather than to engage with outside experts. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“As a South African, I am deeply honoured to have been invited to serve on the INTERPOL Future Council," says Dr Lamb. “It signals an acknowledgement by INTERPOL that South Africa has been facing complex crime problems for years, and that our country has built significant academic expertise across disciplines to devise realistic solutions to our problems in conjunction with the police and policymakers." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Over the past decades, the South African government and civil society have pursued various methodologies to combat, reduce and prevent crime and violence in the country. Government also realised that to deal with crime effectively, it needed a whole-of-society approach. This ultimately led to the compilation of the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), which Cabinet approved in 2022. Dr Lamb has been a key player in these efforts. As a member of the National Planning Commission (NPC), he is currently working with government and non-governmental organisations to establish the most appropriate way to implement the ICVPS. </p><p>Although their names have yet to be announced, the other members of the Future Council will likely include experts from the Americas, Europe and Asia. A formal public launch of the structure is anticipated to take place in July 2024. The fact that INTERPOL is including academics such as Dr Lamb in this advisory structure is a recognition that the police need to draw on the expertise of researchers and scholars who can provide evidence-based insights into crime and its prevention.</p><p>Dr Lamb's inclusion in the Future Council also presents valuable opportunities for South Africa's fight against crime. “The discussions of the Future Council and its associated networks will be extremely valuable, as the diverse perspectives I will engage with will broaden my understanding of crime prevention issues and solutions in other countries," Dr Lamb explains. “I will then be able to use those insights in my research and policy-related work back home, especially through my involvement with the NPC." </p><p>INTERPOL's vision is to connect the global law enforcement community to ensure a safer world. This includes harnessing the latest smart technologies as well as proactive policing to counter and prevent crime through international cooperation. The Future Council will offer INTERPOL advice and recommendations on how to achieve this vision as effectively as possible.<br></p><p><br></p> |
| Get your Road Map to the BA World here | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=3587 | | Get your Road Map to the BA World here | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p>Are you interested in one of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science's degree programmes but not sure where to start with the application process? If this is the case, you can <a href="/english/faculty/arts/Documents/Road%20Map%20to%20the%20BA%20World.pdf?Web=1">download</a> our user-friendly <em>Road Map to the BA World </em>here and find out more about how you can navigate the application process step-by-step. </p><p>With 18 departments offering a variety of subjects, there is a lot to choose from. So come visit our Open Day stalls on the 2nd floor of the Arts building on the corner of Merriman and Ryneveld streets from 08:30 to 16:00 today (Saturday, 27 February) to get more information. </p><p><a href="/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=3558">Click here</a> for general information on Open Day. </p> |
| Former classmates lead international theological organisations | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=3721 | | Former classmates lead international theological organisations | Alec Basson | <p>During the seventy's they were classmates in the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU) and today they are leading international theological organisations.</p><p>Proffs Johann Cook of the Department of Ancient Studies and <span style="line-height:20.8px;">Johan Cilliers of the Discipline Group Practical Theology and Missiology</span> at SU graduated together in 1979 and today they are the presidents of the International Organization for the Study of the Old Testament (IOSOT) - the biggest Old Testament organisation in the world - and Societas Homelitica respectively. <strong><span style="font-size:11pt;line-height:115%;font-family:calibri, sans-serif;"><a href="/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=874">Cook was elected in 2013</a></span></strong> and <span style="line-height:20.8px;">Cilliers </span>in 2014. Their terms end this year.</p><p>At the recent Societas Homelitica conference in Stellenbosch, which was held in Africa for the first time, Cilliers delivered the presidential address. Cook will do the same at the IOSOT conference to be held at SU from 4-9 September. Cook was instrumental in bringing the conference to Africa for the first time. It will only be the second time that the conference will take place outside of Europe.</p><p>Both Cook and Cilliers say they enjoy working with colleagues from all over the world. They add that it is an honour to lead their respective organisations.</p><p>Cilliers says he is fortunate to have a capable team helping him deal with the administrative challenges of his position.</p><p>Prof Louis Jonker, from the discipline group Old and New Testament in the Faculty of Theology, will serve as conference secretary of IOSOT 2016. </p><ul><li><strong style="line-height:1.6;">Photo</strong><span style="line-height:1.6;">: Proff Johann Cook (left) and Johan Cilliers</span><br></li></ul> |
| Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela named the 2024 Templeton Prize Laureate | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=10679 | | Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela named the 2024 Templeton Prize Laureate | Corporate Communication and Marketing / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie en Bemarking | <p>The 2024 Templeton Prize has been awarded to Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, the SARChI Chair for Violent Histories and Historical Trauma and the Founding Director of the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ) for her exemplary contributions to scholarship and advancing knowledge in the field of forgiveness and processes of repair in the aftermath of trauma violence.
<br></p><p>The
<a href="https://www.templetonprize.org/">Templeton Prize</a> is awarded annually and honours individuals whose work draws from the scholarly disciplines to explore the deepest questions about humanity and the universe, making it “the world's most interesting prize<em>." </em></p><p>In the press release, the Templeton Prize said about Gobodo-Madikizela:
<em>“</em>Her career as a scholar and a public figure is distinguished by her effort to repair ruptures created by past violence and to build a path toward healing and restoration in an ongoing process she calls 'the reparative quest.'" The president of the John Templeton Foundation, Heather Dill, added: “Her achievements mark her as a leading figure in understanding and confronting the deeply rooted psychological scars borne by those who experienced unimaginable loss."</p><p>Gobodo-Madikizela said she felt a deep sense of gratitude to receive the prize. She referred to it as a “rare gift" that offers an opportunity to fund new research projects at AVReQ, especially on questions of violent histories and repair. “I am interested in how violent histories so often play out transgenerationally in new forms, and on deepening our understanding of complex processes of repair. In my work, I have always pursued new avenues of inquiry, seeking ways of contributing to new frontiers of knowledge. I am hoping that as a team of scholars, researchers, and our network of partners affiliated with AVReQ, we will continue to rise to this critical intellectual challenge in these challenging times," Gobodo-Madikizela said. "I am excited that I can use the Templeton Prize to help fund our postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows at a time of reduced funding all-round. </p><p>Gobodo-Madikizela has pledged to donate a total of R8million to Stellenbosch University, which will be allocated as follows: R5m toward an endowment scholarship in the name of her parents, Nobantu and Tukela Gobodo; R1m to the SUNRISE (Stellenbosch University Research and Innovation Strategic Excellence programme) to support future professors; and R2m to AVReQ. She said that her hope is that the donation to AVReQ will attract additional co-funding to help postdoctoral fellows to advance to leadership in the knowledge economy, and to support postgraduate students so that they do not have to take on additional work, and can graduate within the funding period of their scholarships. </p><p>Gobodo-Madikizela explained that at its core her work is guided by humanist values and aims to address in new ways the fundamental questions about the transgenerational impact of historical trauma, and “what are the conditions of psychological and moral imagination for repair that might open the possibility for social solidarity and building new futures." </p><p>
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</p><p>Her first book,
<a href="https://bookscouter.com/book/9780618446599-a-human-being-died-that-night-a-south-african-woman-confront">
<em>A Human Being Died that Night</em></a>, was recently reprinted as a Mariner Books classic. “This book has played a big part in the trajectory my work has followed," she said. “It has certainly contributed to my winning this prize. In it I grapple with the tension between of the horror and the humanity, and I try to explain what's going on in a way that deepens the complexity." </p><p>Gobodo-Madikizela works with a global interdisciplinary network of scholars, with some of whom she has collaborated as co-author, editor, and co-editor of several books on trauma narratives, transgenerational repercussions of historical trauma, and the conditions for interrupting these traumatic repetitions of history. The Templeton Prize is the second prestigious award that Gobodo-Madikizela has won. In 2020, she was awarded the Harry Oppenheimer Fellowship award, which at the time was the most prestigious award of the Oppenheimer Trust. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Prof Wim de Villiers, SU's Rector and Vice-Chancellor, warmly congratulated Prof Gobodo-Madikizela on this exceptional award and expressed his sincere appreciation to her and the Templeton Foundation for the profound gesture of generosity towards SU which he described as deeply affirming and humbling.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">“Stellenbosch University has again shown how it can be an enabling environment and how it can contribute to world leaders in many fields," says Prof De Villiers.<br></p><p>Prof Sibu Moyo,<strong> </strong>the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Study said about Gobodo-Madikizela's prize: “I am delighted that Prof Gobodo-Madikizela's contribution has been recognised in this special way. Her plans to donate some of her prize to Stellenbosch University is really humbling and shows her passion for the work she does and dedication to support the next generation of scholars. I hope that her winning the award will inspire the next generation of scholars and set a high bar for excellence in research with the full set of values that she espouses – excellence, compassion, accountability, respect and ethics." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“I am absolutely delighted to personally, and on behalf of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, offer my heartiest congratulations to Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela," adds Prof Anthony Leysens, Dean of the SU Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. “The Templeton Price is on the level of the Nobel Prize awards, but in the sphere of significant humanist contributions at the intersection of spirituality, religion and science. The list of recipients is impressive. Prof Gobodo-Madikizela's work has inspired and continues to inspire those who, through their research, believe in the power of the humanities to bring about change with the emphasis on mutual understanding, caring, forgiveness and reconciliation. This award recognises her achievements and her contribution to the humanist ideal. As South Africans we should all be proud."<br></p><p><br></p> |
