| 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> |
| Social Work Department celebrates World Social Work Day | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4356 | | Social Work Department celebrates World Social Work Day | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;">Earlier this year, the Social Work Department celebrated World Social Work Day 2016 (WSWD) along with a number of institutions across the world who also focus on the social work profession. WSWD is celebrated annually on the second Tuesday of March. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">By participating in this event, social workers are able to express international solidarity and bring common messages to governments, regional bodies and to the communities they serve. The theme for this and last year's WSWD was selected from the <a href="http://ifsw.org/get-involved/agenda-for-social-work/">Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development</a>. The Agenda was formulated in 2010 by social worker practitioners, educators and development workers at a meeting in Hong Kong in 2010 and reaffirmed "the need [for persons working within this profession] to organise around major and relevant social issues that connect within and across" their professions. The Agenda consists of four themes which are focused on promoting social and economic equalities; promoting the dignity and worth of peoples; working towards environmental sustainability; and strengthening recognition of the importance of human relationships. Each theme is focused on for two consecutive years, with 2016 marking the second year that WSWD has centered its activities on Promoting the Dignity and Worth of Peoples.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"As staff members of the Social Work Department we take great pride in being social workers ourselves and even more so being an integral part of training and shaping the minds of our students to become excellent social workers. At our university we are in the privileged position be able to allow our students to make a social work impact on real clients, with real needs in real communities, from the first year of their studies in a manner that promotes the dignity and worth of people," said Ms Tasneemah Cornelissen-Nordien, a lecturer in the Social Work Department. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Department celebrated the day with a number of activities, amongst them a talk for first-year students which was presented by International Master's degree student, Sever Altunay, from Gothenburg University in Sweden and focused on the Impact of the Global Agenda for Social Work. Fourth-year students were also able to participate in an academic discussion with students in a postgraduate social work class from Coventry University in the United Kingdom through a video-conferencing session via Skype and shared their experiences of social work in the two countries. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Dr Gary Spolander, a guest lecturer from Conventry University, presented a lecture to all social work students and staff based at Stellenbosch University. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"This lecture stimulated insightful self-reflection and debates with others and aimed to motivate the social workers to continue to achieve great things within society, to not only make a difference in the lives of the individuals to whom services are rendered, but to work towards making an impact on government policy, to having the voices of social workers heard in parliament, and to striving towards making a difference on the political front in our country. WSWD 2016 yet again reminded the social work profession of its ethical responsibility to make politicians and government aware of the apparent ethical unawareness by which our country is currently being governed. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">On the day, the top achievers for 2015 were also recognised and were presented with certificates for their academic achievement in Social Work. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"This day allowed our department to unite for human dignity and reminded us of our courage, strength, passion and will to make a difference in the lives of others," said Mr Zibonele Zimba, a lecturer in the Social Work Department.</p> |
| Genetic make-up plays hidden role in our development | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=4695 | | Genetic make-up plays hidden role in our development | Xanthe Hunt and Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;">While we are all well aware of how our genetic make-up influences a host of individual characteristics, a study conducted by Prof Mark Tomlinson of the Psychology Department at Stellenbosch University, has now revealed a large, hidden role that a child's genetic make-up can play in intervention efforts to maximise his or her development.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The study, which will be published on 28 February in <em>PLoS Medicine, </em>was funded by the Government of Canada through Grand Challenges Canada's Saving Brains programme and sheds new light on why some children benefit more than others from interventions. It also raises complex questions about psychosocial intervention programmes in future. </p><p>Grand Challenges Canada is dedicated to supporting Bold Ideas with Big Impact® in global health and is funded by the Government of Canada and supports innovators in low- and middle-income countries and in Canada.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"These findings provide the tantalising possibility of being able to better focus intervention efforts to ensure that everybody receives the appropriate interventions that they need to optimise the development of their children," says Principal Investigator Tomlinson who conducted the study in collaboration with other colleagues from Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of Reading (UK), the University College London, and Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">In the original study an intervention was implemented between 1999 and 2003 in which expectant mothers received a home-visiting parenting intervention to improve attachment with their children. Attachment was used as a measure of a child's psychological security and is predictive of future well-being. In that study Tomlinson, together with colleagues from the University of Reading, the University of Cape Town and the Parent Centre, found that the intervention had a small-to-moderate effect on mother-child attachment, which was evaluated once the child reached 18 months of age. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The follow-up study, conducted nine years later, re-examined the original attachment results and revealed something surprising.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"The intervention had in fact worked well for toddlers who had a particular genetic characteristic," says Tomlinson. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">In the follow-up study, caregivers and their children were re-enrolled and the original attachment results were re-analysed based on whether the child had the short or long form of gene SLC6A4. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"This enabled the investigators to test whether the original attachment outcomes were influenced by a gene-intervention interaction," says Tomlinson. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The researchers factored in whether the child had the short or long form of gene SLC6A4 — the serotonin transporter gene, which is involved in nerve signalling, and which other studies have linked to anxiety and depression. Serotonin is popularly thought to contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness. Previous studies have also shown that individuals with the short form of SLC6A4 are generally more sensitive or 'susceptible' to psychosocial interventions, in other words, they benefit when they get it, and do not benefit or actively suffer harm when they do not get it. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The attachment of children with the short form of the gene, and whose pregnant mothers received the intervention, were almost four times more likely to be securely attached to their mothers at 18 months old (84%) than children carrying the short form whose mothers did not receive home visits (58%). </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Meanwhile, children with the long form of the gene were apparently unaffected by their mother's training or lack thereof: in both cases, the children's rates of secure attachment were almost identical (70 and 71% percent). According to lead author Dr Barak Morgan this "may mean that this group of children appear less susceptible and derived little benefit from the same intervention, and little detriment from not getting it". </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Our findings are subject to further validation," says Tomlinson "but the insight has important implications for scientists designing and evaluating interventions to benefit as many people as possible in South Africa and worldwide. Without taking genetics into account, it is possible that other studies have underestimated the impact of their interventions, as we originally did." </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"This is an enormously important insight because, in this case, the subgroup with the short form of the SLC6A4 gene is also the one with the most to lose if not helped," says Morgan.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Indeed, separating the effects of an intervention on different subgroups will allow researchers to better detect when interventions work, and for whom.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Adds Professor Tomlinson: "In the original study, we did not see such a big impact from this intervention because only those with the short gene improved, and this improvement was 'diluted' by the large number of children with the long gene who did not improve."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Tomlinson cautions that, among other limitations, this study involved a relatively small sample and only measured one gene and one outcome – in this case, attachment. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Going forward, the implications are therefore two-fold. Firstly, measuring genetic differences will allow for proper assessment of the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of an intervention for a particular outcome in different individuals. Secondly, this information can then be used to find out how to intervene effectively for all – to guide what might be done to improve outcomes for a non-responsive gene-intervention interaction while continuing to optimise outcomes for the responsive one."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Commenting on the findings, Dr Karlee Silver, Vice President: Programs at Grand Challenges Canada says: "This work is fundamentally about better understanding the impact of interventions and shows that some outreach efforts may be much more effective than we thought, especially for those for which it matters most — for children most susceptible to harm from poverty, poor nutrition and other adverse conditions."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"This is an important step forward to creating a world where every child can survive and thrive."</p> |
| Call for applications: Full-time PhD scholarships in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5092 | | Call for applications: Full-time PhD scholarships in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;"><span>T</span><span>h</span><span>e </span><span>Graduate School for Arts and Social Sciences </span><span>is a HOPE Project initiative in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University to strengthen and advance doctoral training and scholarship in Africa.</span><span> </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">More than 180 doctoral students from 18 African countries, including South Africa, have enrolled in this scholarship programme since 2010. A total of 93 have successfully graduated, of which 78% completed in three years or less.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Suitable candidates who are citizens of any sub-Saharan African country are invited to apply for three-year full-time doctoral scholarships in the research programmes of the Faculty to commence studies in January 2018. Scholarships are available to the value of R 420 000.00 over three years.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Collaborative research, supervision and exchange will be encouraged through the Partnership for Africa's Next Generation of Academics (PANGeA) involving leading universities across Africa.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Further information on the partially structured doctoral scholarship programme, eligibility and selection criteria, and application process is available online at <a href="/graduateschool">www.sun.ac.za/graduateschool</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS 25 AUGUST 2017.</strong></p> |
| International journal allocates entire volume to research by African scholars | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5083 | | International journal allocates entire volume to research by African scholars | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;">An entire volume of the<strong> </strong>highly regarded internationally - and South African Department of Higher Education and Training-accredited - <em>Taiwan Journal of Democracy</em> has been dedicated to promoting the work of African scholars. Articles in Volume 13 (2017) of the journal were all penned by members of the Stellenbosch University-based Transformation Research Unit (TRU): Democracy Globally. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">TRU, which is based in the Political Science Department in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, focuses on comparing South Africa with other democracies in the region and globally from a political, economic and social perspective. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“This is major achievement, because not only are all the contributors African, they are also all members of TRU and all their contributions are focused on South Africa in the southern African context. It is not very often that a highly regarded, international journal dedicates its entire issue exclusively to this part of the world. There are many interesting analyses and new data-based hypotheses presented in the journal's pages, along with insights on the impact of history on today's South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. A worthwhile read, in short, that might interest many people," said Prof Ursula van Beek, the Head of the TRU.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The journal itself is “devoted to the study of democratic politics, in general, and democratic development in Taiwan and in other Asian democracies, in particular" and is published bi-annually. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The collection of essays appearing in the journal represents the culmination of a two-year research project, which brought together academics from all four of the southern African countries. The articles explore a variety of topics, among them the commonalities shared by three of the examined governments that emerged from the former liberation movements, as opposed to the one in Botswana, which comes from a different historical path. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">“The essays also consider the consequences for socio-economic development of poor quality governance; map socio-political changes over time; discuss political culture; touch upon the impact of religion and culture; ponder the problem of xenophobia; and review the dominance by the executive of the public purse. Jointly, the essays bring to the attention of the local and international reader the specific problems democracy faces on the southern tip of the African continent," explained Van Beek. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">To view all the articles in the journal, visit: <a href="http://www.tfd.org.tw/opencms/english/publication/journal/data/Journal0026.html">http://www.tfd.org.tw/opencms/english/publication/journal/data/Journal0026.html</a></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><em>PHOTO: A photo of the TRU Southern Africa group was taken in November 2015 when the first drafts of the articles were first discussed. Barring Dr Krige Siebert (SU Economics Department) the photo includes all the other contributors whose essays appeared in the journal. In front from the left are Dr Catherine Musuva (AU, contributor); Ms Terushka Naidoo (SU, former Honours student); Prof Henning Melber (</em><em>The Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, and contributor on Namibia</em>); <em>Ms Lovelyn Nwadeyi (Former SU PhD candidate); </em><em>Prof Ursula van Beek (SU, contributor); Dr Cindy Steenekamp (SU, contributor); Dr Nicola de Jager (SU, contributor). In the back from the left are Mr Barend Lutz (Former SU PhD candidate); Prof Hennie Kotzé (SU, contributor); Mr George Ott (SU, contributor); Prof David Sebudubudu (University of Botswana, contributor); Prof Stan du Plessis (SU); Prof Lloyd Sachikonye (University of Zimbabwe, contributor); Ms Helen Kroes (SU MA student); Dr Marisa von Fintel (SU, contributor).</em><em> </em></p> |
| Professor makes contribution to UNESCO's declaration on climate change ethics | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5312 | | Professor makes contribution to UNESCO's declaration on climate change ethics | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;">Recently the 195 member states of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change at its 39<sup>th</sup> session in Paris, France. Central to that process was one of Stellenbosch University's philosophy professors and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof Johan Hattingh.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Hattingh was invited by the Director General of UNESCO to be part of the Ad Hoc Expert Group that was tasked to formulate the draft text for the declaration. He was subsequently elected as the President of the Expert Group at its first meeting in Rabat, Morocco, in September 2016.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">According to UNESCO the “declaration aims to help governments, businesses, and civil society mobilize people around shared values on climate change" and “sounds the alarm that, unless ethical principles become the basis of climate action, both climate change and responses to it could create unacceptable damage and injustice".</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Since the Rabat meeting, the draft text was refined “in light of literally thousands of comments from member states". A second draft was distributed for further comments by Member States of UNESCO at an Intergovernmental Meeting in Paris.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"As President of the Expert Group consisting of 24 people representing different languages, cultures, nationalities and disciplinary fields ranging from international environmental law and climate science to social sciences, philosophy and ethics, my role was to help facilitate a consensus on ethical principles in a language that is clear, to the point, and able to communicate with a world-wide audience," says Hattingh.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"At the Rabat meeting we worked in English and French, assisted by interpreters, demonstrating there already that it is indeed possible to articulate shared ethical values related to a common threat facing everyone and every natural system on earth.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"At the Intergovernmental Meeting in Paris where the ownership of the Declaration shifted from the Expert Group to Member States, delegates from different countries developed a much broader consensus through robust face to face discussions over four days, while my role changed to that of expert advisor to the meeting. This just goes to show that nations states also can mobilize around shared values when faced with a global threat such as climate change compromising all life on earth". </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Hattingh says that one of the key messages of the Declaration is that at its core climate change is an ethical problem. It also calls for global partners to mobilise around the principles of scientific knowledge and integrity in decision-making, solidarity, sustainability, justice and equity, and a precautionary approach. The Declaration builds on the previous work of UNESCO on ethical principles in relation to climate change that was undertaken over a period of a decade by the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST). </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"I was a member of COMEST for two terms from 2004 till 2011, where I was part of a group that initially worked on environmental ethics, but given the magnitude and urgency of the problem of climate change we started to work on its ethical dimensions from 2007 onwards. Our first study on <em>The Ethical Dimensions of Global Climate Change</em> was published in 2010."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">According to Hattingh the Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change reinforces and gives further momentum to the historical turning point in the response to climate change that was brought about in 2015 when the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Paris Climate Agreement, were adopted. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“By making explicit the moral platform on which these international initiatives are based, the Declaration provides much needed guidance for the numerous and difficult choices that will have to be made urgently to implement the combined goals of sustainable development world-wide in a climate that does not threaten the future of life on earth."</p><p style="text-align:justify;">"For instance, the Paris Agreement calls on nations states to substantively reduce greenhouse gas emissions so as to ensure that global warming on average does not exceed 2 degrees centigrades above pre-industrial atmospheric temperatures. These reductions need to be determined on a country-by-country basis (the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs), and within each country, reduction targets will have to be distributed between the sectors of society contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. It is at this level that reduction targets can start to require real sacrifices from people or groups, and it is in this context that many ethical issues emerge: Who will suffer, given certain reduction targets, and who will not? How should burdens and benefits be distributed? How can harm be avoided or minimized? How can we avoid to place additional burdens on the poor and vulnerable? </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“Calling upon nations states, corporations, international organisations, but also individuals, groups and local authorities, among others, the Declaration was thus formulated to promote responsible decision-making on all levels and in all sectors of society in order to promote justice, global partnership, inclusion, and solidarity with the poorest and most vulnerable people when it comes to climate change action," says Hattingh.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">"I think the most important contribution of the Declaration lies in its articulation of a broad international consensus that we seriously need to address the layers upon layers of harm and injustice flowing from the fact that those least responsibile for the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change are the most likely to become the victims of its adverse effects. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">"Following from this, the Declaration states in Article 10 that in responding to climate change priority should be given to the needs of the most vulnerable. In the Preamble the most vulnerable are specified to 'include but are not limited to displaced persons and migrants, indigenous peoples, local communities, persons with disabilities, the elderly, youth, and children'."</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0026/002601/260129e.pdf">Click here</a> for a copy of the full declaration.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><a href="http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001881/188198e.pdf">Click here</a> for a copy of the 2010 COMEST study on<em> </em><em>The Ethical Implications of Global Climate Change.</em><br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><em>Photo: Prof Johan Hattingh was closely involved in the process leading up to the adoption of UNESCO's Declaration of Ethical Principles in Relation to Climate Change.</em></p> |
| Graduate School reaches major milestone in University's centenary year | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5559 | | Graduate School reaches major milestone in University's centenary year | Lynne Rippenaar-Moses | <p style="text-align:justify;">The Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences has broken through the 100 degrees ceiling with the awarding of another 14 degrees at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences' graduation on Thursday, 22 March. This takes the overall number of degrees awarded over the last eight years to 114. The milestone also coincides with Stellenbosch University's own 100<sup>th</sup> anniversary year.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">“The Faculty is very excited to be celebrating this incredible milestone in the centenary year. What started as a HOPE Project initiative in 2010 has led to this academic milestone in the 2017 academic year and not only have we hit the 100 mark, but we have catapulted to 114 degrees delivered. What was once an ambitious HOPE Project has today become the Faculty's flagship project," said Prof Anthony Leysens, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“The Graduate School is considered to be the biggest success story for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences as we have developed and implemented a comprehensive and concerted set of measures to address the critical current and future shortages of trained academics in the arts, humanities and social sciences in South Africa and the continent at large," added Dr Cindy Steenekamp, Chair of the Graduate School Board.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">In 2012 the first 19 doctoral degrees were awarded by the School followed by 21 awarded in 2013, 20 in 2014, 13 in 2015, 20 in 2016 and 21 in 2017.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">These graduates are also completing their doctoral studies within record time. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">“We enrol an average intake of 22 students per year and are delivering an average of 19 graduates per year, which means that a vast majority (75%) of our graduates have completed their degrees in the required three years or less. In this way the School has managed to half the number of years that PhD students within the faculty complete their PhD degrees. Most students take 5 years to complete their doctoral studies, while students who are registered via the School complete their degrees in 2.5 years on average" explained Steenekamp.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Graduate School's successes over the last seven years is rather significant, especially considering that South Africa's National Development Plan calls for 5 000 new doctoral graduates to be produced by 2030. The country is still far from reaching that goal with only 2 530 PhD degrees awarded in the 2015 academic year. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Although doctoral enrolments in the Faculty have been steadily increasing, the establishment of the Graduate School in 2010 marked a major shift in doctoral education. The average increase in enrolments grew from 25% to 65% with the advent of the Graduate School's doctoral scholarship programme. The Graduate School has enrolled over 180 candidates in eight cohorts between 2010 and 2017, which represents about a quarter of the doctoral enrolments within the Faculty. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Graduate School was established as Stellenbosch University's contribution to the Partnership for Africa's Next Generation of Academics (PANGeA) in 2010. PANGeA is a “collaborative network of leading African universities developing research capacity and confidence in bringing African expertise to Africa's challenges". The network aims to strengthen higher education in Africa by creating opportunities for fully-funded doctoral study in the arts, humanities and social sciences; collaborative research projects and exchange among partner institutions; the development of research capacity on site; and in the longer term, the establishment of joint doctoral degree programmes specifically in the arts, humanities and social sciences.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The universities involved in the PANGeA network include the University of Botswana, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, the University of Ghana, Makerere University in Uganda, the University of Malawi, the University of Nairobi in Kenya, Stellenbosch University, and the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. PANGeA is therefore enriched through developing an active footprint on which to draw intellectual diversity in terms of linguistic, cultural and national backgrounds.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Of the 114 doctoral degrees awarded, of which the last 14 graduated on Thursday, 85% are BCI (diversity) candidates; 62% are male and 38% are female; and 48% are staff members within the PANGeA network that have since resumed their academic positions at their home institutions. These graduates also come from a range of countries in Africa, including Angola (2 candidates), Botswana (2), the Democratic Republic of Congo (1), Gabon (2), Ghana (6), Kenya (11), Lesotho (1), Malawi (12), Nigeria (2), Tanzania (13), Uganda (15), Zimbabwe (20) and South Africa (27).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">“A high percentage of our graduates and alumni are either retained within or enter the higher education sector in Africa. We pride ourselves in strengthening the capacity of Africa to generate new knowledge through stemming the brain drain from Africa and reversing the decline of science and scholarship in African higher education. Through the Graduate School and our involvement in PANGeA we are promoting Africa's next generation of leaders, academics and professionals" says Steenekamp. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Some of the research topics that graduates have concentrated on over the years include <em>Ethnography and the archive: Power and politics in five South African music archives</em>; <em>Appraisal and evaluation in Zimbabwean parliamentary discourse and its representation in newspaper articles</em>; <em>Ghoema van die Kaap: The life and music of Taliep Petersen (1950-2006)</em>; <em>Language and the politics of identity in South Africa: The case of Zimbabwean (Shona and Ndebele speaking) migrants in Johannesburg</em>; <em>The nature and scope of management tasks performed by volunteers on management committees of non-profit organisations</em>; and <em>Are "untouched citizens" creating their deliberative democracy online? A critical analysis of women's activist media in Zimbabwe</em>.<br><em><br>Photo: Here are some of the 114 doctoral graduates to graduate from the Graduate School over the last eight years. (Anton Jordaan, SSFD)</em></p> |
| SA’s science on the up | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5828 | | SA’s science on the up | Corporate Communication / Korporatiewe Kommunikasie [Alec Basson] | <p>It might not always seem that way, but South African science is actually doing very well especially in terms of the number of scientific papers and international collaborations. <br></p><p>This one of the major findings of a recent <a href="/english/Documents/newsclips/SciBytes@SciSTIP_02.pdf" style="text-decoration:underline;"><span class="ms-rteThemeForeColor-5-0" style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>report</strong></span></a> at Stellenbosch University (SU). </p><p>“Our report shows that South Africa's performance in terms of publication output, international collaboration and citation impact over the past seventeen years has improved significantly," says SU researchers Prof Johann Mouton and Dr Jaco Blanckenberg who compiled the brief report. Mouton is the Director of SciSTIP, a Department of Science and Technology/National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence in Scientometrics and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy in SU's Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST). Blanckenberg is a post-doctoral fellow at CREST and SciSTIP.<br></p><p>Using the Web of Science database, which consist of many collections, Mouton and Blanckenberg assessed South Africa's bibliometric (the scientific measurement of research documents) performance by looking at 'articles' and 'review articles'. They excluded books, book chapters and conference proceedings. As far as the database itself is concerned, they focused on the Web of Science Core Collection which consists of three Citation Databases: the Science Citation Index Expanded, the Social Sciences Citation Index and the Arts and Humanities Citation Index. <br></p><p>The assessment was done according to three indicators, namely publication output, international collaboration and citation visibility or impact. These three indicators are conventionally used in bibliometric analyses and do capture some of the most important aspects of scientific production. </p><p>The researchers do point out, however, that these indicators do not capture other important dimensions of scientific performance such as the relevance and quality of a country's science, the degree to which science impacts on society and the profile of the human resource base of scientific production. <br></p><p>They say their analysis showed that South Africa's publication output in the Web of Science has increased from 3 668 publications in 2000 to 15 550 in 2016.<br></p><p>“This increase translates into an average annual growth rate of 2,9%. South Africa's share of world output more than doubled from 0.4% in 2000 to 0.91% in 2016."<br></p><p>“Not surprisingly, these results have translated in an improved position when comparing SA with other countries. As far as country rank is concerned, South Africa has improved its ranking in the world from number 34 in 2000 to 28 in 2016."<br></p><p>The researchers say the growth in South Africa's publication output has coincided with an increase in the visibility of the country's scientific papers. The visibility of science is partially captured by looking at the number of times research publications are referenced ('cited') in the publications of other researchers.<br></p><p>“The citation impact of SA's scientific papers has increased steadily from 0,8 in 2000 to 1,1 in 2016. This is a very positive result as a score of above 1 means that SA's papers are on average being cited slightly higher than all the papers in the fields that we publish."<br></p><p>The researchers mention that it is important to apply appropriate normalize procedures in these types of analyses in order to make comparative assessments because citation practices differ vastly across different scientific fields.<br></p><p>They add that it is important to keep in mind that an increase in scientific output does not necessarily imply that such output is recognised by other scientists working in the same fields.<br></p><p>Another interesting finding is that South African scientists collaborate significantly more with scientists and scholars internationally than before.<br></p><p>“In 2000, about a third of SA's papers involved co-authorship with at least one foreign author. By 2016 this proportion has increased to 50%."<br></p><p>According to the researchers, this is a desirable development as increased international collaboration often translates in higher citation impact, increases in networks and access to more funding opportunities.<br></p><p>“However, the increase in international collaboration has occurred at the 'expense' of national collaboration (which declined from 47% to 34% over the same period) as well as a clear decline in single-authored publications." <br></p><p>“The good news is that there is a small, but steady, trend of increasing collaboration with scientists and scholars in the rest of Africa with this proportion having increased from a near zero-base in 2000 to 5% in 2016," add the researchers.<br></p><p><strong>FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY</strong></p><p>Prof Johann Mouton</p><p>Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST)</p><p>Stellenbosch University</p><p>Tel: 021 808 2393</p><p>E-mail: <a href="mailto:jm6@sun.ac.za">jm6@sun.ac.za</a> </p><p><strong> ISSUED BY</strong></p><p>Martin Viljoen<br></p><p>Manager: Media</p><p>Corporate Communication</p><p>Stellenbosch University</p><p>Tel: 021 808 4921</p><p>E-mail: <a href="mailto:viljoenm@sun.ac.za">viljoenm@sun.ac.za</a> <br></p><p><br></p> |
| The call for the fourth SU Woordfees Short Story collection has opened. | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5763 | | The call for the fourth SU Woordfees Short Story collection has opened. | Danie Marais/US Woordfees | <p>Writers can now submit works for the fourth SU Woordfees Short Story collection, which will be launched at the 2019 SU Woordfees. Du Toitskloof Wines are once again the sponsors of the R30 000 prize money for the winning short story. One of the published stories will be developed as a short film for the Silverskermfees with the support of kykNET.<br></p><p>“Over the last three years the Woordfees Short Story collection has grown to be one of the top literary publications in the industry,"says Saartjie Botha, director of the SU Woordfees. “The number of submissions continues to grow annually as does the quality of the writing and the diversity of themes and storylines. We are eager to see what writers will be entering for the 2019 collection."</p><p>In the past writers who were published in the collection, each received R4 000. This year our sponsor Du Toitskloof Wines has generously increased the amount to R5 000.</p><p> “Since the series was first launched in 2016 some of the best short stories in Afrikaans have been published in this manner," noted publishing editor and convenor of the competition, Suzette Kotzé-Myburgh, who has been involved with the project since its inception. “Last year the competition received a record total of 237 entries vying for the coveted first prize and the prestigious film development prize. For everyone who has ever wanted to write a short story, this is your chance!"</p><p> The 2018 winner, Clari Niemand, was also the recipient of the film prize. Her short story <em>Non (kompos) mentis</em> is being developed into a short film to be shown at the 2018 Silverskermfees. </p><p>Marius Louw, Executive Director of Du Toitskloof Wines, the sponsors of the annual short story competition calls each collection launch a highlight on the literary calendar. “We are privileged to be part of the creativity that emanates from this competition. Our involvement means that we are part of the discovery of exceptional writing, rub shoulders with the best of the arts and carry the sparkle with us for a long time afterwards. Our sponsorship inspires us to greater resourcefulness in every adventure that we tackle."</p><p>The names of the writers whose stories have been selected for the collection will be announced at the Woordfees programme launch in November 2018. The winning story, as well as the story chosen for adaptation into a short film, will be announced at the launch of the collection during the SU Woordfees which runs from 1-10 March 2019.</p><p><strong>The closing date for entries is 30 September 2018 at 16:00.</strong></p><p><strong>For more information about the competition and entry requirements, please visit </strong><a href="http://www.woordfees.co.za/"><strong>www.woordfees.co.za</strong></a><strong>. E-mails with further questions can be sent to </strong><a href="mailto:danie_marais@sun.ac.za"><strong>danie_marais@sun.ac.za</strong></a><strong> – please note that only written enquiries will be answered.</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>The SU Woordfees will run from 1-10 March 2019 in Stellenbosch.</strong><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>The festival programme will be available in November 2018. </strong></p><p><br></p> |
| “Once in a red moon” performance for the Endler | https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Lists/news/DispForm.aspx?ID=5862 | | “Once in a red moon” performance for the Endler | Dr Pieter Grobler | <p><span style="text-align:justify;">Once in a red moon, or the rare </span><em style="text-align:justify;">Great White Thunderstorm on Saturn </em><span style="text-align:justify;">(if sticking to the feast of astronomical events of late), would describe the frequency with which music lovers in Cape Town will have the chance to hear the Monteverdi </span><em style="text-align:justify;">Vespers</em><span style="text-align:justify;"> (evening prayers) performed on their own doorstep: a work considered the grandest piece of religious music before the masterpieces of J.S. Bach. Last performed in South Africa around 25 years ago, Martin Berger (head of the choral programme at Stellenbosch University) will assemble top local and international artists to do justice to a magnificent masterpiece that can only come together under extraordinary circumstances due to its rare demands and exquisite ensemble forces. </span></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Monteverdi's <em>Vespers</em> (the full title is: <em>Evening Prayers for the blessed Virgin</em>) is surrounded by the mystery and inspiration shared by all great artworks that unwittingly forged new epochs through the ages. While local audiences will certainly be familiar with the popular Rachmaninov <em>Vespers,</em> <em>this</em> ground-breaking version of “evening prayers" is a 90-minute piece for orchestra, chamber choir and vocal soloists, based on Biblical texts — among others some Psalms, two settings of the <em>Magnificat</em> (The Canticle of Mary) and two settings of love poetry from Solomon's <em>Song of</em> <em>Songs</em>. The inclusion of the latter erotic texts seem ill-fitting for a Marian Feast – it can easily be explained by the fact that the Holy Mother is often seen as the “bride" of the Church.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">For these performances, vocal soloists include Caroline Nkwe (soprano - RSA), Lente Louw (Soprano - RSA), Ulrike Malotta (Mezzo Soprano – Germany), Georg Poplutz (Tenor – Germany), Christian Rathgeber (Tenor – Germany) and Felix Rathgeber (Bass – Germany).<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The effect will further be enhanced by specialist performers of curious instruments from the Renaissance period seldom heard in a modern-day concert environment (although familiar to the growing early music fraternity in Cape Town). The <em>Vespers</em> has never been performed on period instruments in South Africa. As an example, Arno Parduch (Germany) will be performing on a rare Renaissance cornetto – a wind instrument made out of wood, covered with leather and played with a brass mouthpiece, using recorder fingerings. The resultant sound is a pleasing mix between woodwind and brass, similar to a human voice. He will be joined by three sackbut players (an early version of the trombone): Stuart Scott (Head of Music at Bishops Court in Cape Town - Tenor sackbut), Ryan Kierman (lecturer at Stellenbosch University - Alto sackbut), and David Langford (Bass trombonist of the CPO - Bass sackbut). <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">This performance is proudly sponsored by the Goethe Institute, ProCoroAfrika Foundation, and ASK Afrika.<br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">The performances take place on Saturday 1 September at 8pm and on Sunday 2 September at 4:30pm in the Endler Hall, Stellenbosch. Tickets for R140 (regular) and R100 (students and pensioners) are available now through Computicket and at the door. For more information contact Fiona Grayer at <a href="mailto:concerts@sun.ac.za">concerts@sun.ac.za</a> or 021 808 2358.<br><br></p><p><br></p> |
