South Africa

31 August 2023

22 UFS Students Arrested Following Violent NSFAS Protests

About 22 students from the University of the Free State’s three campuses in Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses have been arrested following yesterday’s violent protests. Read more

25 Years of Internationalisation: Opportunities and Challenges

South Africa has been a backslider on commitments to increase the number of international students at its universities. And there was a ‘disconnect’ between government policy, which supported internationalisation, and a fiscus that did not fund it. Meanwhile, officialdom frustrated efforts to admit foreign students with its ‘abominable’ visa service. Read more

Academic Incentives at The Heart of Unisa’s Malaise

Academic research is crucial to a well-functioning society. It drives technological development and public policy formulation and, perhaps most importantly, it underpins teaching at the tertiary level. Read more

Academic Xenophobia has No Place in a Globalised World

In vogue during the dark days of apartheid during the 1980s were terms like ‘international hotel’, or more idiotically, ‘international toilet’. ‘International’ in the apartheid lexicon meant multiracial, multiethnic, and multinational. Read more

Africa is Home to the Oldest and Youngest Universities

The African continent is home to four of the world’s oldest universities and also to some of the planet’s youngest, first-ever universities in a given country, with some countries having established their first institutions less than 10 years ago. Read more

Africa Is Missing Out on Open-Access Publishing Opportunities

Despite the huge untapped potential for a knowledge-driven economy, the African academic and research community is missing out on the numerous opportunities that come with the open-access publishing of books. Read more

… A Global Team of Scientists and Researchers, … Have Discovered a Genetic Variant That May Explain the Naturally Lower Viral Loads of HIV Seen …

The university said that this is the first new genetic variant associated with HIV infection identified in almost 30 years and highlights the importance of conducting genetic research in diverse populations, including those of African ancestry. Read more

Agreement Boosts Academic Mobility Across BRICS Borders

BRICS countries, a grouping of emerging economies, agreed to facilitate the recognition of academic qualifications among members to ensure the mobility of skilled professionals, academics and students. Read more

Catalyse Social Mobility Through the Success of Students

South Africa is characterised by deeply embedded structural inequalities, high unemployment, and intergenerational transmission of disadvantage. However, amidst these challenges, there exists opportunity for change. Read more

CCMA Orders Sol Plaatje University to Pay up After Health Officer Snubbed

SOL PLAATJE University (SPU) has been ordered to pay a senior primary health officer, sister Danelia McCarthy, compensation to the amount of R128,521.80 for an unfair labour practice. Read more

Celebrating African Women’s Day: SA Student Shortlisted for Global Prize

Cynthia Nyongesa, a 27-year-old student at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, has been included in the top 50 shortlist for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2023. Read more

China/Wits Africa-China Reporting Project Workshop 2024 For African Journalists

China Dialogue Trust and the Wits Africa-China Reporting Project will hold a workshop on reporting on critical mineral resources for the global energy transition on 22-24 November 2023, at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa. Read more

CMG, University of Johannesburg to Further Strengthen Cooperation

During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s participation in the 15th BRICS Summit and his state visit to South Africa, China Media Group (CMG) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) reached an agreement to enhance cooperation and exchanges. Read more

 … Collaborate on a Range Of Initiatives to Provide Skills, Training and Entrepreneurship Programmes for South Africa’s Youth.

Through UJ’s Johannesburg Business School Centre for Entrepreneurship and Institute for Intelligent Systems, YES Youth will have access to UJ’s portfolio of massive open online courses (MOOCs) in the fields of entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. Read more

Council Gives Independent Panel Until End of September to Complete Probe 

The University of Cape Town’s council has given the independent panel investigation, led by retired Supreme Court of Appeal president, Judge Lex Mpati, until the end of September to complete its probe into the governance crisis at the institution. Read more

CUT Doctoral Student Shares Her Research Findings with The Globe at The 19th World Congress Of Pharmacology

The Central University of Technology researcher and doctoral student Ms Moleboheng Binyane from the Department of Health Sciences shared her doctoral research findings with the globe at the 19th World Congress of Pharmacology held in Glasgow, Scotland. Read more

DUT Hosts Career Guidance Day at Local School

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently hosted another successful Career Guidance Day at Hunt Road Secondary School. Judy Singh, the Career Day coordinator of Hunt Road Secondary School, said that the DUT Career Day was absolutely amazing  … Read more

Dut Students Vow to Continue Protest Until Their Nsfas Demands are Met

Students demonstrated near the Steve Biko Campus over the funding scheme’s monthly allowances – which they say they have not been able to use owing to a number of issues. Read more

Education in Crisis | Students Evicted Over Funding

Parliament’s committee on Higher Education has set up a meeting with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to discuss the chaos that has been playing out at universities. Read more

‘Engaged University’ Initiative Aims to Respond to SDGs

Universities are ideally positioned to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, teaching and learning as well as community engagement. Read more

Ensuring Access to Education is Our Imperative

The NWU is also committed to helping achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), of which SDG 4, namely Quality Education, is seen as indispensable. Read more

Female TUT Student Found Dead at Residence

A Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student was found dead in her residence building earlier this week. According to reports the second-year student reportedly took her own life in the Pretoria CBD, Visagie Street and was found dead on August 15. Read more

Fort Hare’s Autonomy and Academic Freedom are Under Siege

When they say the legacy of apartheid remains deeply rooted in the fabric of South Africa’s multiracial society, believe them. Three decades into a democratic dispensation and the University of Fort Hare (UFH) continues to reel from a “hostile 1950s takeover” strong-armed by the (former) National Party. Read more

From Lecturer to Professor: Initiative Develops Academia’s Brightest

Universities are “the architects of their own demise” when it comes to developing their academic talent because most do not make it an institutional priority, says Jonathan Jansen, distinguished professor of education at Stellenbosch University (SU) and president of the Academy of Science of South Africa. Read more

Governments Should Value the Teaching Profession

The education sector on the African continent faces various challenges, some of which always recur. They include funding, strikes and protests, poor education systems (the leading challenge), weak education policies and socio-economic issues. Read more

Green Buildings: A Sustainable Path to Student Housing?

The increase in African urbanisation and shortage of campus accommodation due to the growth of the student population are making the adoption of green building practices an environmentally friendly and sustainable path to resilient, affordable housing. Read more

Her Professorship a ‘Pivotal Moment’, Says Black Academic

An academic from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s school of built environment and development studies has become the first black woman in South Africa to obtain a full professorship in the discipline of town and regional planning. Read more

Higher Education Committee Concerned by State of Affairs at NSFAS

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation is greatly concerned about the current state of affairs at the National Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Read more

Higher Education Minister Condemns Violent Protests

The Minister of Higher Education met with the board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme in order to iron out the issues that have been causing havoc in KZN. Read more

High Praise for Future Professors Initiative From its Fellows

The Future Professors Programme (FPP), is a national, collaborative initiative with the goal of developing excellence and leadership in a select pool of academic staff, and one of the South African Department of Higher Education and Training’s staff development programmes. Read more

How to Approach Donors if You Fundraise for Your University

Student protests don’t put donors off, unless students burn down a building the donor has funded. They will not invest unless they feel the new building will hold. Read more

Industry Involvement Needed in TVET Curriculum Review Process

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has underscored the need for additional industry involvement in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college curriculum review process. Read more

Leaders Agree to Develop Human Capital to Stop Crisis

African leaders have agreed to prioritise investing in people as a core driver of productivity, resilience, and economic growth through raising the quality of education, enhancing skills development and strengthening research and innovation as well as promoting job creation, among other measures. Read more

Maladministration Crippling TVET Colleges in Province

Eastern Cape technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges have been crippled by maladministration, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) provincial leadership says. Read more

Massive Musical Boost for Three Eastern Cape Universities

The musical departments of three Eastern Cape universities are set to benefit from a multi-million-rand funding initiative sponsored by the Mzansi National Philharmonic Orchestra. Read more

NSFAS Payment Delays Due to Sabotage by Universities

Sabotage, misinformation; lack of access to technology and tech illiteracy are barriers to the effective implementation of the national student financial aid scheme’s (nsfas) new direct payment system. Read more

Nearly 46,000 Students Defunded by NSFAS for ‘Faking It’ 

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has defunded 45,927 students nationally, including some who submitted false information and supporting documents when applying for financial aid. Read more

Nightmarish Living Conditions at a Rural University

As I sit down in my office to write this article, I am struck by the silence. There are no student voices, no taxis racing up and down. The lecture halls and campus roads are empty. The rural-based South African University of Zululand, situated in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, has temporarily ceased all academic activities. Why? Read more

NWU Suspends Face-to-Face Learning Over NSFAS Impasse

The management of the North West University (NWU) has immediately suspended face-to-face classes until further notice. This comes after the majority of students who are funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) didn’t receive their monthly allowance from a third party… Read more

Nzimande Announces Intention to Place UNISA Under Administration

Higher Education has announced its intention to place the University of South Africa under full administration. The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande has written to the University of South Africa Council Chairperson, … Read more

Paying for Publications is at Odds with Knowledge Creation

The South African system of paying public universities for academic publications has had the unintended consequence of positioning research in instrumentalist and performative ways, which are at odds with the ideals of knowledge creation. Read more

Prof Bismark Tyobeka Looks at SA’s Nuclear Future 

You do not have to be able to split the atom to know that South Africa – and the world – is facing an energy crisis and that urgent answers are needed to address this pressing problem. Read more

NMU, Rhodes Sign International Partnership Agreements 

Two of the Eastern Cape’s leading universities will soon be applying their minds to a host of international partnerships and research projects. Delegations of Russian, Brazilian and Chinese ministerial officials recently visited Nelson Mandela University (NMU)… Read more

Qualified Nurses is a Priority at the North-West University

The lack of qualified nurses is placing a stranglehold on the public health sector, but through its commitment to bettering the lives of all South Africans, the North-West University (NWU) is helping to loosen this suffocating grip. Read more

Rhodes University Students ‘Attending Classes On Empty Stomachs’ Due to NSFAS Meal Allowance Issues

Rhodes University students relying on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme for financial support are attending lectures on empty stomachs, as a service provider appointed by NSFAS to disburse monthly meal allowances is allegedly failing to do the job. Read more

Rhodes University Forges Dynamic Partnership with eLearnAfrica 

Recognized as a premier business school for sustainability and ethical leadership, Rhodes Business School has partnered with eLearnAfrica to create a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Read more

Richest Universities in South Africa

The University of Pretoria tops the list of South African institutions with the largest funds, followed by the University of South Africa and Stellenbosch University. Read more

SADC’s Charter Aimed at Women and STEM is Eventually Active

The charter that establishes the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Women in Science, Engineering, and Technology Organisation has come into force to pave the way for more girls and women to study and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the region. Read more

SA Universities at Risk of Losing 10% of Academics as They Near Retirement 

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has cast the spotlight on investing in young scholars, as a number of academics in public universities are nearing retirement. Read more

Scheme Helps Women Scientists to Juggle Work and Family

Phoebe Kalelwa Murunga, a masters student in environmental studies at Kenyatta University in Kenya, had to interrupt her postgraduate studies for about a year after she fell pregnant and had her baby. Read more

Six Books, Two Prizes: See 2023 UJ Prize for South African Writing Shortlist

The University of Johannesburg Prize (UJ Prize) for South African Writing has announced the shortlist of books up for the prize in 2023. They were all published in 2022. Read more

Slow Start for Government’s Ambitious Student Housing Project

Ambitious moves towards creating a vibrant student housing infrastructure with 300,000 beds at South Africa’s 26 public universities and 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges by 2030 have had an inauspicious start. Read more

South Africa’s Science, Innovation Pipeline Nears Retirement 

South Africa’s science, technology, and innovation (STI) landscape is faced with the conundrum of an aging workforce. Read more

South Africa’s Universities Swamped by Corruption, Organised Crime 

Universities in South Africa are plagued with illegal, even murderous, practices. The decay at Fort Hare mirrors a deepening ‘university capture’. After a hitman tried to assassinate the vice-chancellor of Fort Hare University but ended up gunning down the academic’s bodyguard, … Read more

South Africa’s Higher Education Sector is Not Doing Enough on Gender Dynamics, …

Changing the mindset of men and boys within the post-school education and training sector concerning GBV is destined to be a complex mission, exacerbated by the patriarchal attitudes and practices that persist within South African higher education. Read more

Stellenbosch University Testing South Africa’s First ELECTRIC Minibus Taxi 

A team from Stellenbosch University has worked with Rham Equipment to retrofit a taxi with electric propulsion. They are aiming to retrofit 250 000 minibus taxis in this way to create a cheaper and more environmentally friendly mode of transport. Read more

Student Housing Set to Become One of Biggest Challenges in HE

The shortage of quality and affordable housing units to accommodate university students has become one of the major challenges facing the higher education sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to Adamou Labara, the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) country manager in South Africa. Read more

Sub-Saharan Africa Leads Enrolments in Professional Courses

The Sub-Saharan African region has the highest year-on-year average growth rate in the world in the number of people enrolling for professional certificate courses, a new study by a global trainer has found. Read more

Supervisor Enhancement Programme Strengthens Research

Postgraduate supervision is crucial for enhancing research output. The supervisor is, therefore, a key component of the graduate student’s success, yet academics, in particular early-career researchers, do not necessarily receive training to be effective study leaders. Read more

These Are The 8 Top-Ranked Universities in South Africa

The ShanghaiRanking Consultancy has published its 2023 Academic Ranking of World Universities, highlighting what it deems to be the best 1,000 universities in the world – including eight located in South Africa. Read more

Top Executive at University of Zululand Linked to R30m Kickbacks 

A University of Zululand executive has allegedly benefited from R30-million in kickbacks paid out by a moribund construction company rendering services to the institution. Read more 

Tuks Ranked Among 200 Most Innovative Universities in The World

The University of Pretoria (UP) is among the top 200 most innovative universities in the world according to the 2023 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI). Read more

Ubuntu Can Advance the Global Citizenship Education Paradigm

Universities in Africa seemed to have succumbed to neoliberalism by focusing on managerialist practices that enhance performativity, or work for profit, at these institutions. Considering that performativity became associated with universities’ performance on the African continent, it is not surprising that they nowadays focus on increased outputs that can ensure monetary gains. Read more

UCT Online High School Offers 500 Scholarships 

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT’s) online high school is working with corporates and philanthropic partners, to offer the UCT Online High School Learning Liberated Scholarship programme to underprivileged learners. Read more

UCT Professor Working on Radical Technology for Testing Bacterial Vaginosis, a Key Agent of HIV

University of Cape Town (UCT) Professor Jo-Ann Passmore is working on developing a technology that can rapidly detect bacterial vaginosis (BV) and associated genital tract inflammation even in asymptomatic cases. Read more

UKZN Professor Makes History as First Black Woman With Full Professorship … 

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) academic Professor Hangwelani Hope Magidimisha-Chipungu has made history as the first Black woman in South Africa to obtain full professorship in the discipline of town and regional planning. Read more

Unisa Breaks New Ground in Construction Project For Students with Disabilities

Unisa yesterday broke new ground in a construction project that will cater for students with disabilities. The development project will be built at the university’s Sunnyside campus from this week. Read more

Unisa Council Given 7 Days to Make Written Representations to Nzimande

The University of South Africa’s (Unisa) council was given seven days to make written representations to Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande, who informed the university that he intended to place it under administration. Read more

Universities Called to Collaborate with NSFAS to Address Students’ Issues

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has called on institutions of higher learning and student leadership to come on board and make constructive inputs on how to address issues facing students. Read more

Universities SA’s World of Work Strategy Group Commits to an Ambitious Multi-Year Programme of Action

Significant stakeholder engagements in the first half of 2023 sparked numerous project considerations in Universities South Africa’s World of Work Strategy Group (WSG) if the university sector is to improve graduates’ employability in the changing and rapidly digitizing world of work. Read more

University of Pretoria Research Shows Police-Community Partnerships Can Reduce Crime…

Research by the University of Pretoria (UP) has demonstrated the importance of community policing forums (CPFs) in fighting crime in high-risk environments, such as in Johannesburg.” Read more

University of Pretoria’s Immersive Learning Exhibition Receives Innovation Excellence Award

The University of Pretoria’s (UP) innovative teaching and learning initiatives have been disrupting the norm for several years. A significant milestone in its journey of navigating disruption in higher education has been the Innovation Excellence Award its immersive learning exhibition received. Read more

Universities to Progress Human Trials of What Could Be Groundbreaking TB Vaccine

The universities of Walter Sisulu and North-West have announced some astounding results from preclinical trials for a combination vaccine against tuberculosis (TB) and Covid-19, with more trials to follow. Read more

UP engineering students prepare learners for STEM careers through Tuks Robot School programme 

As part of the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Tuks Robot School programme, students from the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (EBIT) have been teaching learners from underprivileged township and rural schools about robotics, computer programming and sensor technology… Read more

USAF’s Three Groups Congregate at Stellenbosch University This Thursday to Explore Multilingual Mathematics Education in Higher Education

These are members of three Universities South Africa’s communities of practice, speakers and policymakers meeting at a joint colloquium to explore Multilingualism in the teaching and learning of Mathematics in Higher Education. Read more

Vehicle Donation for UKZN Students with Disabilities 

Blind, Partially-Sighted and Students with Disabilities at The University of Kwazulu-Natal Have Received A Boost With The Donation Of Of A New Set Of A Mitsubishi Xpander Vehicle From The UKZN Foundation. Read more

Vice-Chancellors Need to be Out There’

The advancement portfolio at universities is undervalued by the executive management. It is viewed as a secondary function and tends to have inappropriate reporting lines, while staff in this portfolio are usually not involved in strategic planning at the highest levels. Read more

War of the Vcs: Tuks Says Habib Dishonest About Sexual Harassment, But He Says UP is Duplicitous

A war of words has erupted between the University of Pretoria and Professor Adam Habib, former vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, over Habib’s alleged failure to inform Tuks of a sexual harassment verdict against Professor Tawana Kupe. Read more

‘We Live in Fear,’ Tells UFS Student After Assault on Campus

“The campus is a place where you are supposed to feel safe, but we are currently living in fear.” This is what a PhD student at the University of the Free State (UF) says, who does not dare to set foot on the main campus in Bloemfontein again after she was assaulted by a group of protesters on Wednesday Read more

Western Cape Universities Continue to Pledge Safety for Women on Campus This Woman’s Month

This Women’s Month Western Cape universities have pledged their continued commitment to ensure women safety on campus. This as a research report, by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) found that female students being are at a higher risk of sexual victimisation. Read more

What About an Integrated System?

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) sets an enrolment target of 1.62 million students in universities by 2030, of which there are 1,068,046 in the system, … Read more

Wits Lecturer Wins the Silver Jubilee Medal from the South African Institute of Physics

Wits physics lecturer Dr Isaac Nape has won the Silver Jubilee Medal from the South African Institute of Physics for 2023. Nape, who graduated with his PhD from Wits in 2021 and joined Wits as a lecturer in 2022 won the award for his outstanding contributions in the field of quantum and classical structured light, Read more

Women Still ‘Grossly’ Under-Represented as Academic Leaders

Despite making great strides in various spheres of socio-economic life, African women remain grossly under-represented in academic leadership positions. Less than three out of every 100 universities are led by women vice-chancellors. Read more

Women Student Leaders Plead for Mentorship Opportunities

Women university student union leaders in Africa are pleading for mentorship opportunities from successful women leaders inside and outside academia, lamenting that they were playing second fiddle to their male colleagues, despite more of them getting elected to lead the unions. Read more

Workshop Empowers Women Students at University with Self-Defense Skills to Ward off Predators

Woman students at the University of Pretoria, Hatfield Campus, are committed to promoting their safety and empowerment. They are doing so by learning self-defense skills during the ongoing Adoozy INPowered Personal Protection workshop, spearheaded by Adoozy Power. Read more

 

31 July 2023

Activities Still Suspended at Some TUT Campuses Over Rejection of Banking System for NSFAS 

Classes remain suspended at three Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) campuses after student demonstrations against the new National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) direct payment system called “eZaga”. The affected campuses are Pretoria main campus, Garankuwa and Soshanguve. Read more

Africa’s HIV Research Output Not Matching Infection Burden

Despite Africa’s contribution to the global Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) research output, which has increased over the past 35 years since the epidemic first became a cause for concern, only a modest improvement in scholarly work compared to the continent’s burden of infection has been seen, a study has found. Read more

A High-Level Panel Explores Ph.D. Production and Support from Various Perspectives

A report on the first large-scale national Tracer Study of PhD and Post-doctoral Graduates was released last week creating a platform for experts to debate on the dwindling number of graduates in South Africa. Read more

Another Accreditation Accolade for NWU’s School of Accounting Sciences

The School of Accounting Sciences at the North-West University (NWU) has once again distinguished itself as an indisputable leader in its field, the university says, with the recent announcement by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) … Read more

An Urgent Need for More Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral Graduates Emerges from Tracer Study 

A comprehensive strategy to massively increase the number of PhD and post-doctoral graduates in South Africa, given the pivotal role they play in the country’s socio-economic development, needs to be given urgent attention. Read more

Cape Town Learners Embrace Fun & Innovative Mandela Day Coding Event

Cape Town learners who participated in a Mandela Day coding event welcomed the initiative, saying it was a fun and innovative way to learn new skills. Nelson Mandela University’s Computing Sciences Department, the Leva Foundation and Amazon Web Services collaborated to host the Coding4Mandela event… Read more

Centre to Build Solutions for Socio-Environmental Challenges

The establishment of the Mandela Institute for Sustainable Futures (MISF) by Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa, is set to contribute towards building a strong pipeline of early-career researchers, critical in providing transformative interventions to the wave of planetary health challenges in South Africa and across the African region. Read more

Cyber Excellence Academy Launched in Collaboration With CSIR 

Take Note IT, a leading provider of innovative IT solutions, has launched the Cyber Excellence Academy, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Read more

DA Decries Delay in Pronouncing on Fate of Unisa

The DA has decried Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande’s delay in pronouncing on the future of Unisa. According to DA spokesperson on education, Chantel King, Nzimande was supposed to have made his announcement on July 3. Read more

Decolonisation: Admit Weaknesses, Forge Home-Grown Solutions

With the current conditions of weakened institutions of care, research and higher education, Africa needs to ‘self-decolonise’ and mutually reinforce ‘egalitarian and inclusive’ partnership models for capacity-building that best fit the African context. Read more

Defunding by NSFAS Leaves University Students in Dilemma 

The recent defunding of students by the National Financial Aid Student Scheme (NSFAS) has sent shockwaves across universities, leaving many students facing a dire situation. Read more

Doctoral Training Needs Attention in South Africa

South Africa’s first study to track what becomes of PhD graduates has identified a growing mismatch between doctoral training in the country and postdoctoral employment opportunities. Read more

Dr. Anshu Padayachee: Tributes pour in for HE trailblazer

The death of Dr. Anshu Padayachee, a former colleague and confidante of South African Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Dr. Blade Nzimande, has deprived the tertiary education landscape of an outspoken teacher, researcher, and administrator who has been involved in the sector for decades. Read more

Durban University of Technology to Host Inspiring Lecture for Mandela Day

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) International Education and Partnerships Directorate will commemorate the life and legacy of the late President Nelson Mandela, on Tuesday, July 18 at 14:00.  Read more

DUT Gives Back to Local School 

HUMAN Capital Services (HCS) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) visited Carrington Primary School in Umbilo to donate schoolbooks and to paint the school’s guardhouse and kitchen, on Monday, July 17. Read more

Engagement: Universities Should ‘Get Their Hands Dirty’

What does entrepreneurship, unemployment, the impact of poverty on health and education, the water and food crisis or fires in informal settlements have to do with our universities? Everything. Read more

Food Insecurity Inspires Innovation

Chronic food insecurity and the growing demand to provide for the increasing low-income population in South Africa has inspired another innovation to develop nutritious products at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein. Read more

Former Wits VC Adam Habib Rubbishes Claims He Turned a Blind Eye to Tawana Kupe’s Sexual Harassment Charges

The former vice-chancellor (VC) of the University of the Witwatersrand, Professor Adam Habib, rubbished claims that he turned a “blind eye” to complaints of sexual harassment against Professor Tawana Kupe. Read more

Higher Education Experts in Sub-Saharan Africa Sought for THE’s Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings Advisory Board

Times Higher Education (THE) is looking for people passionately committed to improving higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa to join its newly created Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings advisory board. Read more

Higher Education Minister in Process of Developing Sign Language Program at Tertiary Level 

The College of Cape Town officially launched the opening of the TVET (CCT) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Skills Center on Friday. Read more

Higher Learning Institutions Urged to Consider Civic Education 

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has called upon students and staff members in higher learning institutions, to consider the value proposition that HIGHER HEALTH’s co-curriculum is bringing to the development of the country. Read more

How Infighting, Corruption Overshadow Tertiary Education in South Africa

Some of the world’s most renowned universities and coming out tops in Africa, find themselves in the news – not for academic achievement but for in-fighting, corruption and even murder. Read more

Managing Its Own Solar Plants Has Given the University of the Free State Lots of Research Data

The University of the Free State (UFS) has adopted diverse measures to ensure energy efficiency. Not only do all campuses have solar plants, but one even boasts its own microgrid – the energy-saving LED lighting on its sport fields. Read more

Motheo TVET College Ranks 2^nd Amongst 50 TVET Colleges in Engineering Studies 

According to a press statement by Motheo TVET College, the college has received a second position ranking in the national Engineering Studies (Report 191) through the Department of Higher Education and Training Rankings. Read more

National School of Government Hosts Three-Day BRICS Conference at University of Pretoria

Weeks before the BRICS summit takes place in Durban next month, the National School of Government (NSG) kicked off the build-up event at the University of Pretoria (UP) yesterday. Read more

Nelson Mandela University’s Experience of Setting Up a Solar Energy Plant Through a Power Purchase Agreement  

Had Nelson Mandela University opted to use its own resources to set up the solar energy plant on its main campus, it would have cost about R16m.  Read more

Nelson Mandela University to Host Thousands of Youths in a Coding Tournament on Mandela Day 

As the country takes steps to boost Math, Science and Technology in schools, Nelson Mandela University, Tangible Africa and the Leva Foundation are set to host thousands of young people in a coding tournament on Mandela Day. Approximately 10,000 learners from across Africa and abroad will participate in the event, … Read more

NMU’s New Science Centre is a Destination for All

The new Science Centre, with its iconic dome on Ocean Sciences Campus, is an asset from which the entire University and the public at large will benefit. Read more

NMU Vice-Chancellor Leads Fundraising Drive

Nelson Mandela University is on a quest to raise R30m to support four projects focused on empowerment and social redress. The university launched the multi-year global Giving Campaign last week,… Read more

One in 10 Older Adults in SA are Subjected to Abuse, Research Finds

One in 10 people aged 65 years and older reported having experienced some form of abuse, new UCT research has found. Financial and emotional abuse were the most common types of reported abuse, according to the study by UCT PhD graduand Roxanne Jacobs. Read more

Rhodes Students in Chaotic Financial Crisis

A tapestry of enraged emotions has erupted amongst Rhodes University students after the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) outsourced the payment of living allowances to a private financial intermediary. Read more

SA Universities Must Heed How US Counterparts Handle Admissions in Wake of Supreme Court Ruling

Thinking about “race” in the US has long influenced thinking in South Africa. This is most recently evident in the way contemporary American antiracism has become popular in the South African academy. The US Supreme Court has just struck down race-based university admissions policies. Read more

SAUS, Higher Education Reach Agreement on NSFAS Allowances

The South African Union of Students (SAUS) says it has reached an agreement with the Higher Education authorities on issues of NSFAS’ payment of student allowances.  Read more

Science Week Promises to Be a Big Blast with Unizulu 

Schools and science fans are invited to celebrate National Science Week with the Unizulu Science Centre. National Science Week is an initiative by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to promote science and technology among South African pupils and communities. Read more

Second South African Professor, After Tim Noakes, to Be Recognised by Prestigious American College of Sports Medicine

Professor Kathy Myburgh is only the second South African scientist to have been recognised by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for her important contributions to exercise science. Read more

Sexual Harassers Should be Named by Universities – Prof. Joel Quirk & Karmini Pillay

Over the past two weeks, members of the higher education community in South Africa have been speculating about the true reasons behind the abrupt resignation of vice-chancellor Prof. Tawana Kupe from the University of Pretoria (UP). Read more

Sign Language’s Inclusion In Tertiary Institutions’ Curricula Now A Must…

Stellenbosch University has called for urgent transformation regarding the deaf community, citing a need for more of their inclusion into academic spaces. The institution welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent announcement recognising sign language as the country’s 12^th official language. Read more

Skills for the Changing World Crucial for Sustainable Economic Growth, Nzimande

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, says skills for the Changing World is crucial for Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS) to remain on the path for sustainable economic growth. Read more

South Africa Targeting More Than 20 Medals at Upcoming University Games in China

University Sport South Africa (USSA) president, Nomsa Mahlangu says the upcoming University Games is an opportunity for young athletes to make a name for themselves. Read more

Startling Survey Findings: SA is Graduating Fewer Doctoral Candidates 

The country is simply not producing enough PhD. graduates, and, by implication, post-doctoral fellows (post-docs). This was one of the crucial findings of a Tracer Survey that tracked the work experience, demographic attributes, career paths, and mobility of PhD graduates and post-docs… Read more

Stellenbosch University Council an Example of How to Govern Institutions Properly

With the leadership of higher education unravelling around SA, this past week the Stellenbosch University (SU) council offered a master class in how to govern our treasured institutions. Read more

Stellenbosch University Organ Donor Drive on a Mission to Reach 1million Next Month

A tech-savvy group of Stellenbosch University medical students are harnessing the power of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to raise much-needed awareness of organ donation in South Africa. Read more

Stellenbosch University’s Vice-Chancellor Cleared of Misconduct over Nepotism Scandal 

The University of Stellenbosch has confirmed that it has cleared its Vice-Chancellor Wim de Villiers of misconduct, following a nepotism scandal. The retired Judge Carole Lewis led a panel which was appointed to investigate allegations that De Villiers abused the Rector’s Discretionary Placement (RDP), … Read more

Strategies for Institutionalising Entrepreneurship; Building an Entrepreneurial University

Sound policies, adequate resources and identifying champions became recurring themes as past recipients of the annual Rising Star Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) and DVC of the Year Awards of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme shared insights into building an entrepreneurial university … Read more

Student Accommodation Doesn’t Constitute A ‘Home’, Says Appeal Court 

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has ruled that student accommodation does not constitute a “home”, finding that the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act (PIE) does not apply to student accommodation. Read more

Stellenbosch Students Harness Artificial Intelligence to Raise Awareness Around Organ Donation In SA

A group of Stellenbosch University (SU) medical students are harnessing the power of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) to raise much-needed awareness around organ donation in South Africa. Read more

Tshwane, University of Pretoria Collaborate to Drive Mental Health Services 

District mental health services in the City of Tshwane have strengthened considerably following a collaboration between the Tshwane District mental health services and the University of Pretoria’s Occupational Therapy Department. Read more

TUT Set to Resume Academic Activities on Monday

The Tshwane University of Technology has announced that academic and administrative activities will return to normal on Monday. This comes after students at the institution were protesting over the new direct payment system that had been implemented by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Read more

UCT Council Wants Investigation into Leaks 

UCT has refuted allegations of nepotism after it came to light that interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Daya Reddy was the brother-in-law of Registrar Royston Pillay. Read more

UKZN Academics Scoop Three Awards at SA’s ‘Science Oscars’

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science won three of the acclaimed National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF)-South32 Awards for the 2022-2023 cycle. Read more

UKZN to Show Off At Science Event 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal is bringing back its annual Science Show-Off event aimed at promoting science and technology during the institution’s celebration of National Science Week from July 31 until August 4. Read more

UKZN Walks Away with Three Awards at The ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science walked away with three awards at the ‘Science Oscars’ of South Africa. Read more

Universities are Submitting Very Few Creative Outputs in African Languages to the DHET, For Credits

At the recent meeting in June, of Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the teaching and learning of African Languages (CoPAL), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) reached out for help.  Read more

Universities Should ‘Get Their Hands Dirty’

What does entrepreneurship, unemployment, the impact of poverty on health and education, the water and food crisis or fires in informal settlements have to do with our universities? Everything. Read more

Universities Urged to Ensure Research is Used for the Development of the Country

The Minister for Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande has urged the universities to ensure that their research is used for the development of the country and to improve the lives of the people. Read more

University of Cape Town Remains the Best in Africa

In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2024, released 28 June 2023, the University of Cape Town (UCT) was ranked 173rd in the world. This is an impressive rise of 64 places from the previous year. Read more

University of Pretoria Climbs to 323rd Position in World Rankings

The University of Pretoria (UP) has made significant progress in the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings, and is now ranked at the 323rd position worldwide, a notable improvement from its previous ranking of 591-600 in the 2023 rankings. Read more

University Of Pretoria Project to Preserve, Beautify, Educate About Mamelodi Ridge

Two plant science honours students at the University of Pretoria (UP) are on a mission to establish a trail for school pupils aimed at educating city residents and preserving the natural splendour of the green mountain ridge rising above Mamelodi. Read more

USAf’s Three Communities of Practice to Explore Multilingualism…

August 17 is a very special day for Universities South Africa (USAf), the representative body of South Africa’s 26 public universities. It marks the gathering of three of its communities of practice (CoP) at a joint in-person-only colloquium at Stellenbosch University (SU) to explore Multilingualism in the teaching and learning of mathematics in higher education. Read more

UWC Awarded Staggering R537 Million in Scholarships

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Mastercard Foundation have joined forces to launch the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme at the university. Read more

UWC Launches Mobile Clinics to Serve Communities With No Access

Much needed health services are being brought closer to the farming and peri-urban areas of the Western Cape, through a multi-million-rand mobile clinic launched by the University of the Western Cape (UWC). Read more

Wits Co-Leads Urgent Climate Change Project That We Desperately Need

Wits University’s Global Change Institute has been chosen to share the lead in a new international project to help Africa -‘ and the world -‘ better cope with the ravages of climate change and extreme weather events. Read more

Wits Innovation Bridge Inspires Hope for a Better Future

A bridge to represent a concept of the ‘inner spine’ linking the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP), multiple Wits Engineering schools, and the revamped Geosciences building was unveiled on 12 July 2023. Read more

 

31 May 2023

A Transformation Strategy Group study has produced a Framework for a Student-centred Higher Education System in South Africa

The study that Universities South Africa’s (USAf’s) Transformation Strategy Group (TSG) embarked upon from 2020, titled Reshaping Universities to Create a Student-Centred Higher Education System in South Africa, has borne its first fruit. Read more

Five Suspects Accused of University of Fort Hare Killings Apply for Bail

One of the accused in the murders of two University of Fort Hare (UFH) employees, Petrus Roets and Mboneli Vesele, had called his co-accused to ask for Roets’ physical address before he was gunned down. Read more

Forensic Report Details How Prof Edwin Ijeoma Used Fake MBA to Get Ph.D. at University of Pretoria 

A chain of events that led to the University of Fort Hare finding itself engulfed in a degree scandal began in SA at the University of Pretoria where the key figure behind the Fort Hare scam, Professor Edwin Ijeoma, was conferred with a PhD degree … Read more

Institution Condemns Any and All Occurring Acts of Violence 

The Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley is aware of an incident that took place on Friday (21/04), involving two of its students. Read more

Maties Student Identifies a New Species of Medicinal Mushroom in Knysna 

A third-year microbiology and genetics student at Stellenbosch University (SU) identified a new species of medicinal mushroom in the genus Hericium. This is only the second endemic species of this highly sought-after medicinal mushroom to be discovered in Africa. Read more

South African Government Committed to Developing the Hydrogen Economy

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has highlighted the country’s determination to develop a hydrogen economy, for a low carbon-emissions future. Read more

South African Students Not Prepared for University Math

South African students transitioning from high school to university face a “significant” learning gap when tackling mathematics as part of engineering and science degrees, a study has found. Read more

Turmoil at Stellenbosch University as Convocation Battles Executive Committee …

The Stellenbosch University convocation is pushing for an extraordinary meeting in a bid to oust the executive committee over its handling of nepotism allegations against vice-chancellor and rector, Professor Wim de Villiers. Read more

Two Top Ranked Universities in Governance Issues Not a Crisis

Higher education experts and organisations said the governance issues experienced at certain universities in recent months is not a result of a governance crisis in higher education in South Africa. Read more

UCT Historic Library Rises from the Ashes

Two years after the fire destroyed parts of Table Mountain and UCT, the university said it was now in a “better position” to proceed with the reconstruction of the historic Jagger Library. Read more

University of Joburg Repays R300 Million in Unallocated Funds to NSFAS, Says SIU

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has returned R311 million to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), bringing the total repaid to R349.3 million since the Special Investigating Unit launched its investigation in September. Read more

University of Kwazulu-Natal to Step Up Safety Measures After Armed Gunmen Storm Bus, …

The University of KwaZulu-Natal has vowed to step up security measures following an armed robbery aboard a bus this week. A student told IOL that they had boarded the bus in Clark Road on the Durban Berea on Wednesday. Read more

Universities South Africa’s Student-Centredness Framework Sparks Questions Regarding Study Respondents, Operationalisation and Measurement

In 2020 the Transformation Strategy Group (TSG) of Universities South Africa (USAf) initiated a research study to create a deeper understanding on how institutional cultures could be reshaped to create a more student-centred higher education system in South Africa. Read more

UWC Students Blame University After Student is Killed Close to His Residence

Students at UWC have blamed the university for ignoring complaints about safety after the death of fellow student Kamva Dasi, 22, who was killed close to his university residence. Read more

Women Lead the Way at UKZN Graduation

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has announced that almost 65% of graduates are women and this is one of the highest percentages in the history of UKZN. This year UKZN will host a marathon of 17 graduation ceremonies between the May 3 to 12 in Pietermaritzburg and Durban. Read more

 

30 April 2023

Academics Challenged to Open Up Transformational Knowledge

Academics across the globe have been challenged to open up the discussion about transformational knowledge, which includes a holistic focus on higher education systems as well as decolonisation. Read more

A First for Africa as Ecotraining Receives CHE Accreditation

EcoTraining, the leader in Africa’s safari and wildlife training, has made history by becoming the continent’s first guide training school to receive formal accreditation from the Council for Higher Education (CHE) in South Africa. Read more

Africa Strives to Revamp Its Universities

When Victoria Afua Dautey took up studies at the prestigious University of Ghana in Accra, it was a dream come true. It has now been 10 years since she completed her studies. Read more

Africa’s Universities Are Surging in the World Rankings

Ten years ago, the then-head of the University of Cape Town, Max Price, made a powerful case for Africa to compete against the best in the world in the global university rankings. Read more

Agricultural College to be Built in Ntabankulu 

Young people from the Ntabankulu area in Ntabankulu who want to pursue their studies in agriculture will now be able to do that in their home town. According to the spokesperson for this municipality, Lungisile Mzanywa, this followed an engagement between the minister of Higher Education and Training, … Read more

A New Scientifically Tested Innovation to Boost SA’s Renewable Energy Storage 

A new indoor energy storage that the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) tested will strengthen South Africa’s ability to support local players in the battery value chain, thereby boosting the country’s capabilities in renewable energy storage. Read more

Are We Ready for Artificial Wombs?…

Vacuum-sealed bags of pink lamb foetuses floating in the fluid that moves with each breath you take attached to machines in a lab sound like a horrific scene out of a science fiction movie. Read more

A Thriving Country Requires Innovation – Minister Nzimande

Government and the private sector must work together to boost investment in research and development. Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, said this when he addressed a panel discussion on innovation and investment at the fifth South Africa Investment Conference. Read more

A UFH Education Student Takes the University to Court Over Failed Module and Wins

He is determined to be a teacher and now he has taught the university he is attending a lesson they will not soon forget.Mbali Silimela was a final year education student at the University of Fort Hare. Read more

Award-Winning Research Means Impactful Change for Young Unemployed Men

The critically important work done by Dr Hannah Dawson, Social Science Researcher at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS) at the University of the Witwatersrand, won her a trophy and R30 000 in the Emerging Researchers category. Read more 

Becoming a Professor at a Time of Decolonisation, Marketism

The term ‘professor’ implies something more than a status one receives for having spent a specific agreed-upon number of years in academia. Read more

Black Academics Programme a Proud Achievement

Vice-chancellors, university executives, academics, the heads of the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the British Council joined minister Blade Nzimande this week to celebrate a milestone in the development of black academics. Read more

Business Schools Pilot Coding App to Tackle Big Data

Tangible Africa, an engagement project of the Nelson Mandela University Computing Sciences Department and the Leva Foundation, has partnered with Henley Business School to present an interactive workshop aimed at introducing postgraduate executive students to programming concepts and Big Data. Read more

Call for Degree Seeking Mobility, Cohort III

Intra-Africa Mobility to Train Agribusiness and Food System Scientists for African Agriculture (TAFSA) is funded by the European Union (EU). The program is run by 5 African Universities…Read more

Chatgpt Makes Teachers and Lecturers Nervous, But It’s The Shake-Up We Need …

There is a revolution in artificial intelligence that is causing panic in education around the world. Read more

CHIETA’s Lesedi Youth Fund Settles University Debts for Students

The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has a funding programme that helps students in the chemicals industry to settle their university debts. Read more

CPUT Senior Staffer’s Murder Shrouded in Mystery, Six Years on

There is still no justice for the family of Cape Peninsula University of Technology’s (CPUT’s) residences head of department (HOD) Siyabulela Thwalani, killed in what was described as a “a ghastly orchestrated hit” nearly six years ago. Read more

Designing Inclusive Environments for People With Disabilities is Not Optional For Organisations 

Millions of people are classified as disabled in South Africa. After years of advocacy for the development of inclusive cultures in organisations, Dr Karen Smit, Head of the Specific Needs/Accessibility Department at Vodacom’s Commercial Business Unit, says it is disheartening to still be harping on the “why” and “how” of this issue in 2023, … Read more

Disability is Not an Excuse Says UL Graduate

Nothing can stop you from attaining goals you have set for yourself, not even disability. These are the sentiments of Dekeledi Maite Komane, a 22-year-old who recently graduated from the University of Limpopo. Read more

Eight Arrested in Connection with South Cape TVET R24 Million Corruption

The Hawks and the police in the Western Cape have arrested eight suspects who allegedly stole about R24 million from the South Cape Technical and Vocational Education and Training College in George. Read more

Fast-Forward for Project to Support ‘Agents of HE Reform’

“Higher education in South Africa is not in a good space right now, but the sector has to take responsibility for itself. We cannot wait on the government. We need to move from complaining to reforming, … Read more

Father Accepts Late Daughter’s Degree At NMU

The father of Sochuma Sande Sontiki, who was posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree, believes the heartbreaking pain at the ceremony was necessary. Read more

Global Research Integrity Statement Calls for Fairness and Equity

Bias in research and its benefits, power imbalances and other inequities has long plagued scientific collaboration. Now ethics experts from around the world have published the Cape Town Statement on Fostering Research Integrity through Fairness and Equity, with 20 recommendations to guide all stakeholders in achieving more just research practice. Read more

Gun-Wielding Thugs Terrorise Students at UKZN’s Durban Campus 

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students in Durban are under siege from gun-wielding thugs who rob them of their cellphones, laptops and money, student leaders at Howard College said on Wednesday. Read more

Here’s Which SA Universities Did Best – and Worst – in The First Qualifying Exam for Cas This Year

Saica has released the pass rates for the first of its qualifying exams for aspiring chartered accountants, revealing which institutions scored the highest and lowest pass rates. Read more

Higher Education Department Invests in the Future

The Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation is investing in infrastructure to provide quality teaching, learning, research and innovation spaces in the post-school education and training (PSET) sector. Read more

Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Ministry to Host University Capacity Development Programme

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande will host the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP), which aims to transform teaching, learning and research in public universities, leading to improved quality, success, and equity. Read more

Honorary Doctorate for First African to Head the WHO

South Africa’s University of Pretoria (UP) has conferred an honorary doctorate on the first person from Africa to head the World Health Organization (WHO) as director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in recognition of his work as a global health expert and scholar. Read more

How to Place Internationalisation at the Heart of HE

Given the myriad of challenges and changes to higher education, not least in the wake of the COVID pandemic, creating a new ecosystem for the internationalisation of higher education has become more important than ever. Read more

Humanising and Decolonising International Higher Education

Higher education internationally is seeing a decline in its commitment to humanising and decolonising the higher education environment. Read more

‘It was Hectic’: Busy Magistrate and Daughter Get Their Master’s Degrees Together

Well-known Cape Town magistrate, Vanya Botha, graduated as a Master of Laws (LLM) with her daughter, Anya-Larissa, at Stellenbosch University this week. According to the university, Botha had always wanted to tackle her LLM, but life “just happened”.  Read more

KZN Woman Goes from Street Vendor to Graduate

Street vendor Nosipho Ngidi (23), who recently graduated from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), has described her moment as a new beginning.Ngidi, from Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal, obtained her National Diploma in office management and technology… Read more

Leaders Must Transform Universities into Healthy Workspaces

Universities should make staff well-being a strategic priority in order to counter the epidemic of burnout that is on the rise in higher education, Dr. Tessie Herbst of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) told university leaders. Read more

Limpopo Government Partners with TVET Colleges to Enhance Skills

The Limpopo provincial government has partnered with technical, vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in the province to improve skills that feed into mining and industrialisation in an endeavor to create more jobs and improve the local economy after Covid. Read more 

Mangaung Metro to Address Students’ Accommodation Issues

The Mangaung Metro Municipality has accelerated stakeholders’ engagements and compliance in the student housing sector. The metro wants to solve the student accommodation demand which has increased over the years. Read more

Man Urinates in Stellenbosch Student Centre 

Almost a year after a urination scandal rocked Stellenbosch University, on Sunday a man urinated in the Neelsie Student Centre in full view of students. Read more

Martial Art Introduced at Sol Plaatje University

Taekwondo was launched as a sporting code at the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) on Tuesday, 18 April.Special guest at the event was the South Korean ambassador to South Africa, Chull-joo Park, accompanied by the premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul. Read more

Motsepe Foundation Lessening the Financial Burden for University Students

Makhanda, located in the Eastern Cape, is home to one of South Africa’s ancient and colonial universities, Rhodes University, named after British coloniser Cecil John Rhodes. Read more

National Student Financial Aid Scheme ‘is Committed to Finding Solutions’ to Accommodation Problems

Protests at universities are disturbing. It is not an occurrence we would like to see each and every year, because it has a destabilising effect on the smooth commencement of university academic programmes. Read more

Network’s Industry Partnerships Secure Jobs for Graduates

University graduates from a pan-African private higher education network have defied the odds in Africa, a continent suffering high graduate unemployment rates, by crafting partnerships involving universities as well as the private and public sectors to increase job placements which, in some instances, are securing a 90% employment rate. Read more

New Biomedical Institute a ‘Game Changer’ for Healthcare

The cutting-edge Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) unveiled by Stellenbosch University (SU) near Cape Town shows that the African continent is perfectly willing and able to help, not just itself, but the rest of humanity as well, says Professor Nico Gey van Pittius, the vice dean of research and internationalisation at SU’s faculty of medicine and health sciences (FMHS). Read more

Partnerships Help Universities to Respond to Disruptors

Universities around the world are facing widespread challenges and changes amid the uncertainty of geopolitical tensions. Global shifts in population demographics and accelerated digitalisation are among the key disruptors rapidly changing the higher education landscape. Read more

Regional Framework for Microcredentials to be Developed

Countries in Southern Africa are to develop a broad framework for microcredentials. It is expected to inform and guide individual countries and institutions to develop country-specific frameworks for the recognition of learning through microcredentials. Read more

Research at Stellenbosch University Focusing on Personalised Cancer Therapies

Personalised cancer therapy has become a key focus of research currently under way at Stellenbosch University. Scientists at the Maties campus are zooming in on existing chemotherapy drugs, particularly looking at patients’ resistance to these therapies. Read more

Research Contribution on Cardiovascular Disease Remains Low

Cardiovascular research output from African researchers over the past 50 years remains low, despite marked progress. The annual number of journal articles increased from four publications in 1971 to 3,867 in 2020, according to a study that scanned Web of Science and other sources and retrieved data of publications related to African authorship. Read more

Reseachers Devise Methods to Fine-Tune Cancer Treatment for Individual Patients 

South African researchers are assessing whether customised cancer treatment plans can offer doctors a better guide in improving medical care for patients. Read more

Researchers Whose Work Changes Human Lives Honoured with Ceos’ Prestigious Award

Social sciences and humanities research scholars whose work helps uplift the human condition were acknowledged and honoured at a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and Universities South Africa (USAf) CEO’s Awards ceremony… Read more

Rhodes University Reaffirms Decision to Boot University Ranking Systems

Lester Kiewit speaks to Professor Sioux McKenna, director at the Centre for Postgraduate Studies at Rhodes University. According to McKenna there are a number of reasons why Rhodes has decided to step away from these rankings. Read more

Salary Dispute: Professors Call Off Strike for the Moment

A strike by professors and lecturers in South Sudan’s five public universities has been called off for now after President Salva Kiir Mayardit directed the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to release unpaid salaries according to an older payment scale. Read more

Science Communication Can Help with STEM Teachers’ Training

A study on how to boost South Africa’s ailing pipeline of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) suggests the inclusion of science communication coursework in tertiary teacher training programmes. Read more

Sekafo Makgatho Health Sciences University Students Protest Over Not Receiving NSFAS Meal Allowances

Students from the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, north of Pretoria, have embarked on a protest.They say they have not received meal allowances from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) since the beginning of the year. Read more

Solar Can Alleviate Universities’ Power Woes

With industrial outputs declining and food production and security coming under threat, it could be easy to overlook the impact that loadshedding has on universities and other institutions of higher learning. Read more 

Solidarity Wants UKZN to Explain ‘Unfair’ Bursary Discrimination

Solidarity today threatened the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) with legal action if the institution cannot justify the distinction it makes in the awarding of bursaries and fellowships based on race. Read more

South African Research Links Grow with Brics Group and Nigeria

South Africa’s research collaborations with non-traditional partners like China, Russia and Nigeria grew between 2012 and 2021, even though links with Europe continue to dominate, a study has found. Read more

South Africa’s Education System in Crisis, Needs Reform

The Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) called for the dismissal of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to get the country out of the crisis that the education system is facing. Read more

South Africa to Review Flagship Academic Redress Scheme

A flagship programme to redress racial and gender imbalances among South African academics is being reviewed, the country’s minister of science and higher education has said. Read more

Stellenbosch Researcher Creates New Composite Material

A researcher at Stellenbosch University (SU), near Cape Town, in the Western Cape, has developed a new composite material, made from Port Jackson trees (Acacia saligna) and recycled low-density polyethylene plastics, and demonstrated that it can be used to make thermal and insulation boards for low-cost housing. Read more

Stellenbosch Researcher Creates New Composite Material 

A researcher at Stellenbosch University (SU), near Cape Town, in the Western Cape, has developed a new composite material, made from Port Jackson trees (Acacia saligna) and recycled low-density polyethylene plastics, and demonstrated that it can be used to make thermal and insulation boards for low-cost housing. Read more

Stellenbosch University Launches New Biomedical Research Institute

Stellenbosch University says its newly opened Biomedical Research Institute at the Tygerberg Campus in Bellville will be used to study infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted through the air and cause potentially lethal infections. Read more

Stellenbosch University ‘Nepotism’ Claims: Another Relative of VC Gets ‘Discretionary’ Placement

The dust had barely settled on Stellenbosch University rector and vice-chancellor Wim de Villers’ approving placement for a family member when it emerged that a second family member was placed to study there without him disclosing it to the council. Read more

Stellenbosch University’s New Biomedical Research Centre has a Special Focus…

Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) new R1.2-billion Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) has a particular focus on diseases found in South Africa and more widely across Africa. Read more

Stellenbosch University Prof Jonathan Jansen Will Walk in Einstein’s Footsteps

Stellenbosch University professor of education Jonathan Jansen will walk in the footsteps of intellectual and creative giants such as Martin Luther King, Georgia O’Keeffe, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill and Charles Darwin. Read more

Stellenbosch University ‘Taking Advice’ to Recoup R37m from Roux After High Court Judgment

Stellenbosch University is seeking advice on how to recover the R37 million owed by former employee Jurie Roux. Read more

Stellies Launchlab Works to Stop Valuable Academic Research from Gathering Dust 

Universities can be so much more than centres of learning. Across the world, academic institutions at the forefront of research gather vast amounts of intellectual property that could benefit humanity and shape the future. Read more

Student Accommodation ‘Mafia’ a Threat to Higher Education Sector

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) said the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) identified a student accommodation “mafia” that was threatening to destabilise the entire higher education sector. Read more

Team Winners Seek Epistemic Justice in the Gender Justice Agenda

Putting women front and centre by promoting attitudinal and social transformation through empowerment is what won a Nelson Mandela University research team the coveted Human Sciences Research Council-Universities South Africa CEOs’ award for research excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Read more

The Impact of Digital Transformation on Higher Education

Huawei Cloud, in partnership with Brainstorm magazine, hosted an executive roundtable discussion with industry professionals on 30 March at Marble restaurant in Rosebank. Read more

Transdisciplinary Approach Guides Masters in Climate Change

Transdisciplinarity is a key component of the revised Southern African climate change and sustainable development (CCSD) master’s degree programme, despite the fact that many universities in Africa are battling to offer transdisciplinary degrees due to their complex and cross-cutting nature. Read more

Two UKZN Students Sleeping in University Hallway Because of Lack of Accommodation 

Two final-year students on the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Howard College Campus have been left without accommodation since February. The self-funded students paid the required R3 500 deposit for accommodation but the university has failed to allocate them a place to live for over two months, …Read more

UCT Failed to Bargain with Employees’ Union, Says CCMA 

Wage negotiations between the University of Cape Town (UCT) and one of the largest representative unions – the UCT Employees Union – will start soon. This comes after negotiations with management deadlocked earlier this year after several referrals to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) last year. Read more

UCT Launches App to Encourage Sustainable Lifestyle Changes

The City, in partnership with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and funded by the European Union, launched Climate Campaigners – a free mobile app which offers a range of sustainability-based lifestyle changes which can help Capetonians take climate action. Read more

UCT Protests Result in Popular Mathematics Contest to be Put on Hold

Student protests at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have resulted in the postponement of the academic institution’s annual mathematics competition. The 2023 UCT Mathematics Competition was scheduled for today (25 April). Read more

UFH Researching How to Help Rural Communities with Energy Challenges

The Institute for Technology at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape has conducted research on how to assist rural communities with renewable energy. Read more

UKZN Probing Staff’s Alleged Involvement in Recent Campus Crimes 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is investigating allegations that staff may be involved in a recent spate of crime that has plagued the institution. UKZN spokesperson Normah Zondo said in recent weeks it experienced “unfortunate crime incidents on its campuses and residences”, … Read more

UKZN Students Stop Risk Management Services Staff from Leaving Residence After Student Commits Suicide

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) says it has resolved an issue with students who had allegedly prevented Risk Management Services (RMS) staff from leaving a residence after a student committed suicide. Read more

UKZN to Confer Honourary Doctorates on Seven Leaders

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will honour seven distinguished individuals for their remarkable achievements in the fields of arts, social sciences, and management. Read more

Umalusi Launches Online System to Replace Lost or Damaged Certificates 

The council for quality assurance in general and further education and training, Umalusi, has launched an online application system to replace damaged or lost certificates. Read more

Unique UCT Study Looks into Unconscious Exclusion of the Disabled in Muslim Communities

A study into the “unconscious exclusion” of the disabled in the Muslim community has found that people need to take responsibility and make a conscious or collective move towards inclusion. Read more

United States of America Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety Visits Wits University

On March 28th, 2023 U.S. Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, Ph.D., visited the University of Witwatersrand and met with Professor Gilbert Khadiagala and Dr. Asad el-Malik from the African Center for the Study of the United States (ACSUS). Read more

Universities Experiencing a Decrease in Body Donations

Academic institutions are experiencing a decline in their body donation programmes. According to Paul Pretorius of the Department of Clinical Anatomy at Stellenbosch University, before the Covid-19 pandemic, they had about 250 bodies, and currently, they have about 28 bodies. Read more

Universities in Six Countries Feature in Subject Rankings

Seventeen departments in African universities are among the world’s top-100 places to study the subjects that they offer, according to the 13^th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 that were released in March. Read more

University of Johannesburg Leads the Pack in Accounting Education 

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) reigns again in accounting education across the country. This is evidenced in the 2023 results where UJ students achieved a first-time pass rate of 95% and a total of 249 students successfully passed the ITC (initial test of competence). Read more

University Of Kwazulu-Natal Group Successfully Launches Suborbital Demonstration Rocket 

South Africa’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has announced that a research group at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has successfully launched a suborbital demonstrator rocket from the Overberg Test Range, on the south coast of the Western Cape province. Read more

University of Pretoria honours WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus 

The first African to head the World Health Organization and former minister of health of Ethiopia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Pretoria on Friday. Read more

University of Pretoria Students Top With 100% Pass in Saica Initial Test of Competence 

The University of Pretoria (UP) has continued to demonstrate it deserves the recognition and respect as the capital city’s institution of choice, with a 100% pass rate in the 2023 South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) initial test of competence. Read more

UP’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences Joins Top International Accredited Institutions

The University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) boasts high international status, after becoming accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Read more

USAF’s Teaching and Learning of Mathematics Community of Practice Must Innovate in Collaboration with Other Groups

The first meeting in 2023, of the Community of Practice (CoP) for the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics (TLM CoP), underscored the urgent need to share best practices in the ever-evolving discipline. Read more

Why Some Students’ Mental Health Did Not Deteriorate

A study has revealed that COVID-19 did not bring about a serious increase in mental health issues at two South African universities. Where increases were observed, they were before the pandemic. Read more

Wits Innovation Centre Aims to Resolve Real-World Problems

The Wits Innovation Centre (WIC) signals a new era in accelerating “innovation for societal good” in SA, says the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University). Read more

Wits University Collaboration Takes Solar Power to Shack Dwellers 

Wits University has collaborated with the Gauteng Research Triangle to launch a pilot project looking at the viability of taking solar power to informal settlements. Read more

Woman, 62, Beats the Odds to Graduate

Giving up has never been an option for 62-year-old Mbali Ngcamu, who graduated from Stellenbosch University (SU) this week with an MSc in Food Nutrition and Security. Read more

 

31 March 2023

80-Year-Old Energy Expert and Economist Graduates with Ph.D.

When Rob Jeffrey set out doing analyses of energy sources as a consultant in South Africa, obtaining a Ph.D. at the age of 80 was not what he had planned. But, as he delved into the literature on energy sources and how they interface with the economy, a PhD came as an unbudgeted-for bonus. Read more

80-Year-Old Graduates with a PhD from University of Johannesburg

Henry Ford’s famous quote “Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young” rings true for 80-year-old PhD graduate Robert Jeffrey. Read more

Academic Freedom in Decline in 22 Countries Worldwide

Over the past decade, academic freedom has declined in more than 22 countries representing more than half of the world’s population, four billion people, says the Academic Freedom Index: Update 2023 (AFI), a new study, produced by researchers at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Institute of Political Science (FAUIPS, Erlangen-Nuremberg), Germany, and the V-Dem Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden. Read more

Addressing Gender Disparities in Scientific Publication

Scientific research is a crucial component of the modern knowledge economy and societal development, and academic publications serve as essential channels for the dissemination of research findings to the global scientific community. Read more

Africa Should Take Math more Seriously, Say Researchers

Many African universities still do not acknowledge the role of mathematics as a foundation stone of modern society and a model for rational inquiry and creativity in human development. Read more

Angry Students Disrupt DUT’s Indumiso Campus Over NSFAS Allowance Payment Issues

Some lectures were disrupted at Durban University of Technology, Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg, after students blockaded the entrance to the university on Thursday. Read more

Another Campus Adopts Initiative that Supports GBV Survivors

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global public health concern. Evidence shows that women and girls are at a higher risk of experiencing GBV than men. Read more

Artificial Intelligence Institute Set Up in South Africa

This week, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Mondli Gungubele, in partnership with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Johannesburg, launched the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa (AIISA). Read more

Black History Month Kicks Off at Nelson Mandela University

Why is racism still an issue in SA after 29 years of democracy? This question set the stage for an engaging dialogue at Nelson Mandela University on Tuesday for the first seminar of the year in celebration of Black History Month… Read more

Blackouts Costs Universities R2m Per Day

South African universities are feeling the pinch of power cuts. Universities South Africa says institutions are spending as much as R2-million a day to keep the lights on. Read more

Calm Your Inner Luddite, Keep Your Inner Sceptic

“Calm your inner Luddite, hold on to your inner sceptic,” is one of the messages for educators contemplating ChatGPT and other large language models, from Dr Roze Phillips, a futurist who straddles the worlds of work and academia. “Trying to outsmart AI is not a viable strategy.” Read more

Choosing Performance Arts Pays Off for Student Slam Poet

Kwanele Nyembe, the student who was crowned South Africa’s National Poetry Slam champion during the Poetry Africa Festival in October 2022, has his eye set firmly on the first prize at the 2023 World Slam Poetry competition in Brazil later this year. In the meantime, the young man is working hard at his studies and his career as a writer, actor and podcaster. Read more

Court Orders Varsity to Give Student Pass Mark

A final year University of Fort Hare student, who sought urgent relief in court over a decision to fail him after he submitted his final practical assessments late, has been granted reprieve. Read more

Do Universities in the Sub-Sahara Serve the Public Good?

To what extent can higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa promote the public good? This was the theme that the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) chose for a special issue of the Journal of Higher Education in Africa. Read more

DUT Lecturer Wins Chinese Award

Durban University of Technology (DUT) Mandarin lecturer, Sanele Ntuli, has been named the winner in an international Chinese teaching video competition. Read more

DUT to Donate School Shoes to Needy Nkandla Pupils

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Hands of Compassion (HoC) will be donating 60 pairs of school shoes to three primary schools in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal. Read more

EDHE’s Communities of Practice at South African Universities are Gearing Themselves Up for Growth

Although the communities of practice (CoP) tasked to develop various focus areas of entrepreneurship development at public universities are doing a sterling job, it is necessary to occasionally view their work critically to spot gaps and identify areas needing attention. Read more

Education in Crisis – SAUS Says Protests are Justified

Student union SAUS says it’s disappointed by the conduct of Higher Education and its institutions. It was responding to widespread student protests at several universities and colleges. Read more

Energy Security Depends on the Development of South Africa’s Hydrogen Economy

South Africa is facing an ongoing energy crisis, and with no end in sight, it is time to consider expanding the country’s current alternative energy sources. The University of Pretoria is dedicated to researching and understanding how to address complex societal issues such as this… Read more

Entrepreneurship is not an Option but a First Choice

Even though most university graduates aspire to one day secure a job in the public or private sector, in reality, jobs are becoming scarcer. Job advertisements of large corporates should not deceive anyone into believing otherwise. Read more

Eastern Cape’s Inflated Bill for Useless University of Fort Hare Certificate

Provincial legislature paid through the nose for public servants to take apparently bogus UFH public administration course. Read more

Extreme Heat is Taking Its Toll on Students and Institutions

Extreme climatic events such as heatwaves and flash floods have resulted in major disruptions and challenges for universities across Africa. Extreme heat events, due to global warming, have been associated with low student turnout, low academic performance, and health risks for academic staff and students. Read more

Fossilised Giant Zebra Tracks Found in South Africa 

Tens of thousands of years ago, a huge horse species walked, trotted and galloped across the shifting sands of what is today South Africa’s Cape south coast.The Giant Cape Zebra (Equus capensis) weighed an estimated 450 kg. Read more

GBV Interventions at Higher Learning Institutions Yields Positive Results

Anti-gender-based violence interventions have yielded positive results at higher learning institutions with over 700 000 students currently linked to health, wellness and psychosocial support and care services. Read more

Germany Affirms Value of Green Energy Research Cooperation with South Africa 

Germany sees international cooperation as the only way to deal with the issue of climate change and views South Africa and South African research institutions as valuable partners in this regard. Read more

Global Research Integrity Statement Calls for Fairness and Equity

Biases in research and its benefits, power imbalances and other inequities have long plagued scientific collaboration. Now ethics experts from around the world have published the Cape Town Statement on Fostering Research Integrity through Fairness and Equity, with 20 recommendations to guide all stakeholders in achieving more just research practice. Read more

HE as a Public Good Demands Greater System Efficiency

Since the onset of democracy in 1994, higher education in South Africa has undergone various changes to address the systemic challenges of access, equity, democratisation, transformation and sustainability arising from the legacy of apartheid. Read more

Higher Education Dept ‘Aware’ of Student Accommodation Challenges 

The Higher Education department says it’s aware of the concerns around student accommodation at various universities around the country.Deputy Minister Buti Manamela says accommodation is being regulated because of collusion by private service providers. Read more

‘I have to Camp in My Friend’s Room’ – Wits Student on Accommodation Crisis 

A second-year Wits student who was last year afforded accommodation on campus but inexplicably rejected this year on Thursday told TimesLIVE how she had no choice but to illegally camp in her friend’s residence room. Read more

Initiative Promises Stronger Open-Science Ecosystem in Africa

The African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) in cooperation with the online open-access repository Figshare has launched a new initiative to support awareness of open science and data repositories as well as support the research and education communities in Africa. Read more

In Search of Models that Work for the Many

There seems to be wide agreement on the part of faculty and university administrators around the world about the value of student mobility when it comes to nurturing global citizens, but ensuring that the opportunity for mobility is available to everyone is still a challenge – and, at least when it comes to physical mobility, this challenge includes the very real issue of student visas. Read more

Institution’s Carbon Reporting Feeds into its Work on SDGs

Carbon reporting and developing a sustainable campus is a critical component of the University of the Free State’s Vision 130, which encompasses the university’s plans to reposition itself by 2034… Read more

Leading Academics Believe Fears Over ChatGPT are Misplaced

“AI will not replace people – but the person using AI might replace you,” says Pieter Geldenhuys, futurist and director of the Institute for Technology, Strategy and Innovation. He has teamed up with North-West University in South Africa to run a course to upskill people in new artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Read more

Leaders Must Transform Universities into Healthy Workspaces

Universities should make staff well-being a strategic priority in order to counter the epidemic of burnout that is on the rise in higher education, Dr Tessie Herbst of Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) told university leaders. Read more

Lectures Disrupted at UKZN’s Westville Campus 

Some lectures were disrupted at the Westville campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Monday after protesters asked students to leave lecture halls. About 300 students blocked the Varsity Drive entrance on Monday morning. Read more

Load Shedding is Costing South Africa’s Universities Millions …

South Africa’s tertiary education institutions are facing the same effects of load shedding as businesses and households alike across the country – an ever-increasing bill to keep the lights on. Read more

Minister Noxolo Kiviet Reported to SIU Over University Degree Fraud

South Africa’s new Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet is facing allegations of fraud, just days after assuming office in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new Cabinet. Read more

Mnquma Seals Partnership with WSU, King Hintsa TVET College

MNQUMA Local Municipality has signed a five-year partnership with Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and King Hintsa Technical, Vocational, Education and Training (KHTVET) College. Read more 

New Global Ranking of all 26 Universities in South Africa

Webometrics’ latest global ranking of universities in 2023 has ranked all of South Africa’s universities based on the quality, quantity, and access to their web content, using open data. Read more

Online Learning has Taken Root. Now, Let Us Turn to Quality

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought greater awareness of the benefits of blended tuition in Africa and beyond, the focus is turning away from the technical stability of learning management systems (LMSs) to concerns about how to support people to get the most out of these ed-tech platforms and enhance the quality of teaching and learning. Read more

Open Science Drive Gets Buy-in From University Leaders

A greater understanding of open science appears to be taking root among university leaders in North and East Africa, with many of them keen to take proactive steps to support efforts for the adoption thereof within their institutions. Read more

Overlooking Cultural Nuances Can Have Dire Implications for Startups Wishing to Trade Internationally 

Although the socio-political, economic, and legal understanding of countries is crucial for businesses aspiring to global expansion, understanding the cultural nuances of the targeted nations are an important success-determining factor. Read more

Parliamentary Committee Slams NSFAS Accommodation Cap, Calls for Sectoral Intervention

The parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education, science and innovation held an urgent meeting with the South African Union of Students and the SA TVET students’ association to unpack the challenges that have hindered the commencement of the 2023 academic year… Read more

Philanthropic Funding Can be a Risky Game for Universities

The University of Oxford’s relationship to the tainted Sackler family’s charitable trusts speaks to the challenge of donor risk management across a complex institution which is both a world-class research university and a treasured United Kingdom institution. Read more

Programme Aims to Train a Pipeline of Ocean Scientists

Universities in Africa must train a pipeline of interdisciplinary ocean scientists with the knowledge, skills and expertise to meet the growing needs of the Blue Economy and to tackle challenges emerging from global warming as well as overfishing…Read more

Project is Advancing HE Network Connectivity on Continent

The funding support that the European Union (EU) has given to creating, consolidating and interconnecting educational networks in Africa is yielding results, among others, through efforts to advance open science. Read more

R45k Accommodation Cap is Sustainable, Says NSFAS 

An annual, capped, R45,000 accommodation fee per student in public higher-learning institutions is sustainable, says the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Read more

R80m UKZN Student Accommodation Scam Exposed

UKZN staff and former SRC officials have allegedly made R80m exploiting varsity and owners. Read more

Regina Twala was a Towering Intellectual and Activist in Eswatini – But She was Erased from History

Regina Gelana Twala was a writer, anthropologist, social worker and political activist who lived in both South Africa and Eswatini (then Swaziland). She died in 1968 at the age of 60. Read more

Reimagining: New Humans, New Society, New Higher Education

I would like us to take a leaf from ancient wisdom: when in deep trouble, go back to the beginning. Humanity is being called to go back to ask the fundamental questions of what it means to be human. Read more

Report Calls for Professional Standards for TVET Lecturers

In order to professionalise technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college lecturers, South Africa needs to have a set of professional standards specifically for TVET practitioners. Read more

Round Table Dialogue Will End Varsity Strife

Crisis after crisis. The students at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits) and University of Johannesburg (UJ) have over the past few days been staging protest marches for a variety of reasons, including the lack of water, with some students not having bathed for days, if not weeks. Read more

SAHRC Finds Against Stellenbosch University Regarding Only-English Policy

Stellenbosch University violated the rights of Afrikaans-speaking students when it said they could only speak English in certain residences during their welcoming period in 2021. Read more

SA Must Invest in Education, and Training to Compete Globally

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, says by investing in education and training, the country will be able to develop the skills and expertise necessary to capitalise on new technologies, adjust to new industries, and successfully compete in a global economy. Read more

SA’s Visa Crisis Jeopardises Internationalisation Efforts of Universities, Businesses…

Skilled labour, students and visitors on business, as well as tourists, are being held up by a failing administration and bureaucracy. Businesses are struggling and losing out on not only critical skills injections, but also on broader interactions with overseas partners in terms of internships,… Read more

SA Women Academics Suffered Burn-Out While Working from Home During Lockdown …

Working from home became a nightmare for many of South Africa’s women academics during the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic-enforced lockdown in 2020. Read more

Security Audit Instituted at Universities After a Wave of Crimes

The Department of Higher Education has instituted a national security audit to ascertain the state of safety and security at institutions of higher learning. Read more

South Africa Looks Back and Looks Forward

On 4 July 2014 University World News published the findings from a series of focus group ‘conversations’ that had been held across South African universities in response to the rebranded European Union (EU) framework programme, … Read more

South Africa Signs a Joint Declaration of Intent with Germany to Promote Science, Technology and Innovation

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, hosted the German Minister of Research and Education, Bettina Stark-Watzinger and her delegated team on her two-day delegation visit to South Africa. Read more

Stellenbosch University SRC to Discuss Afrikaans Row 

Stellenbosch University’s (SU’s) Student Representative Council (SRC) says it will meet to discuss the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC’s) report which found the institution violated the rights of Afrikaans-speaking students, along with vice-chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers’ subsequent apology. Read more

Steve Biko Hospital, University of Pretoria’s Bariatric Department Recognised

The Steve Biko Academic Hospital and University of Pretoria’s Bariatric Surgery Department continues to grow in stature, adding another accolade to its belt by receiving its second international award. Read more

Student Mobility from Sub-Saharan Africa Could Double by 2050

Students from Sub-Saharan Africa are being recruited in their numbers and the competition is increasing, with indicators predicting that the region’s 430,000 outward mobile students will swell and double by 2050. Read more

Student Protests Over the Lack of Housing Spread to the University of KwaZulu-Natal

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is struggling to accommodate students at the beginning of the 2023 academic year. On 21 February, photos began circulating on social media of unhoused students being forced to sleep in university corridors, hallways, and even classrooms. Read more

Students Rethink Higher Education

University students on the African continent face enormous challenges that are not – for the most part – experienced by their peers in the Global North. Students in Africa are constrained by a lack of access to resources, and currently less than 10% of youth on this continent receive higher education. Read more

Tackling the Global North’s Bibliometric Coloniality

A new book about academic research, knowledge production and academic publishing in Ghana, titled Who Counts? Ghanaian academic publishing and global science, highlights the challenges faced by African higher education systems, institutions and academics… Read more

The Arduous Journey to Establish a Successful Journal

The International Journal of African Higher Education (IJAHE) published its first issue in 2014. A few years later, in 2018, the journal published by the International Network for Higher Education in Africa, based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, received recognition from the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and was then registered by African Journals OnLine in 2022. In March, 2023, it received recognition from Scopus – one of the most authoritative scholarly databases in the world. Read more

The Exploitation of Female Students: Be Part of the Answer

A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey found that 18% of teenagers in high school in the United States had experienced sexual assault in the previous year. A BBC documentary called #SexForGrades found widespread evidence of young women being pressured into sex by lecturers in universities in Nigeria and Ghana. Read more

The Impact of Awarding Fraudulent Qualifications on the Reputation of SA Universities…

Forged credentials can be detrimental to a university’s reputation. Those who forge credentials and present themselves as having graduated from respected universities, undermine the educational system’s credibility and integrity. Read more

The United States Announces Expansion of Vocational and Technical Education Exchange with South Africa, …

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that it will expand its partnership with South Africa on vocational and technical education by supporting a second exchange for South African educators and administrators… Read more 

Training for the Workplace: A Giant Leap Forward

The new Occupational Qualifications properly link with both the needs of Industry and the conventions required by Education and Training Institutions. Read more

Tshwane College Student Raped at Unaccredited Residence

A female technical and vocational college student was last week raped at a private unaccredited residence in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria. The student from Tshwane North TVET College in the Soshanguve campus, in Gauteng, was staying at a private accommodation that was not safe nor conducive to learning,… Read more

Tshwane University of Technology student leaders put end to protest action

While a number of student issues remain unresolved, student leaders at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have called off protests in the best interest of the academic programme. Read more

TVET Colleges Need a Radical Overhaul to Become Centres of Excellence …

After the annual pageant of the announcement of the matriculation results, learners are often urged by experts to consider acquiring practical skills rather than only thinking of graduating with a degree from a university. Read more

Two UKZN Students Arrested for Public Violence Released on Bail

The two University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students who were arrested for public violence at the Edgewood campus last month were released on R2,000 bail by the Pinetown magistrate’s court on Tuesday. Read more

UCT Protests: ‘Clearly Something has to Change; There is a Bigger Story to This’ 

Students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have been protesting over housing issues and financial exclusion at the university since Monday, although protests have been rumbling for weeks.  Read more

UCT, SRC Reach Agreement on Fee Block Issues Amid Student Protests

University of Cape Town (UCT) management and the student representative council (SRC) have resolved fee block issues after two mediation sessions this week. Read more

UKZN and DSI to Launch Two New Phoenix Test Rockets

Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation has announced a campaign to test two hybrid rockets, Phoenix-1C and Phoenix-1D. Read more

UKZN on Recess Day While Unizulu Closes After Student Robberies…

Student leaders in KwaZulu-Natal aligned to the EFF have vowed to ensure that higher education institutions in the province respect the party’s national shutdown’ planned for Monday. Read more

UKZN Senior Lecturer Scoops CIMA Teaching Excellence Award

Dr Patricia Shewell – senior lecturer in UKZN’s School of Accounting, Economics and Finance (SAEF) and academic leader for the Teaching and Learning Unit – is the recipient of a Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Teaching Excellence Award 2022. Read more

UKZN Student Embarks on Solo Run to Raise Awareness of Green Ecology 

Samkelo Nzama, from KwaMaphumulo, has embarked on a 16-day solo run to raise awareness of green ecology. The run started on March 5 in Johannesburg and is expected to end on March 20 in KwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal. Read more

UKZN Students Launch Hybrid Rocket 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) mechanical engineering students successfully test launched their Phoenix 1 D hybrid rocket demonstrator on Tuesday. Read more 

UNESCO-AU Report Places Equity at the Centre of Policy

Africa continues to suffer from wealth and gender disparities when it comes to tertiary education. This is evident from the “highly variable quality” of private tertiary education institutions along with low levels of investment. Read more

University of Johannesburg Holds Chinese Medicine Promotion Event

Students practice Baduanjin (literally meaning “eight steps to healthy living”) at the University of Johannesburg in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 17, 2023. Read more

University of Mpumalanga Hosts Seminar on Emotional Intelligence

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) hosted its first seminar for 2023 at the Mbombela Campus on Thursday February 23. The topic discussed was emotional intelligence as an essential ingredient of an effective people management strategy or strategies, … Read more

University of Pretoria Slams Hostile, Discriminatory Statements Against Jewish Students

The University of Pretoria has condemned all forms of discrimination, including racism and religious intolerance, and promises to take necessary steps against anyone found to be in breach of its anti-discrimination policies. Read more

University of Zululand Suspends Academic Activities

Academic activities have been suspended at the University of Zululand (Unizulu) following the attack and robbery of students at an off-campus residence. It reported that criminals invaded the accredited residence of the university on Tuesday night. Read more

VC Says UKZN is Working to Root Out Corruption After R80m Student Digs Scandal

The University of KwaZulu-Natal has sent an email to staff and students expressing regret and disappointment over an accommodation scandal at the university. Six suspects – including employees, a former chairperson of the SRC, and a current SRC member – have appeared in court charged with extortion related to student accommodation…Read more

Visa Crisis is Jeopardising Internationalisation Efforts

The start of the academic year always comes with its own challenges and, in South Africa, universities have been faced with student protests over finances and historical debt. Read more

Wits Agrees to Mediation with Students

Wits University management has reached an agreement with its SRC on a way forward. The campus descended into chaos last week when students protested against financial exclusions and a lack of student accommodation. Read more

Wits: Nzimande Concerned About Violent Nature of Student Protests

Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande has expressed concern about the violent nature of student protests at some of the country’s universities, including Wits. Read more

Wits Student Caught with Petrol on Campus 

One of the seven students who have been suspended from Wits University was found bringing petrol on campus. This is according to the university leadership, which has refused to accede to the demand by the student representative council (SRC) to revoke the suspension of the students, … Read more

Wits Students Vow to Continue Protests

The Wits SRC says student protest action, which began last week, will continue until their demands are met. They are demanding that students with historic debt of less than R150 000 be allowed to register. Read more

WSU ConvEX Raises Millions Towards Debt Clearance Programme

Thousands of Walter Sisulu University (WSU) graduates could potentially receive their academic certificates following a lucrative fundraising gala dinner hosted by the WSU Convocation Executive (ConvEx), in a bid to solicit funding towards clearing student debt at the university. Read more

Work on Masters Qualification in Climate Change Goes Forward

The curriculum framework for a Southern African masters degree in climate change and sustainable development (CCSD) envisages graduates who, upon completion of the qualification, are committed to making a difference in the field in their countries, Africa and globally. Read more

 

28 February 2023

Academics Discuss Violent Threats Against HE Leaders

The killings of university staff on and around South African university campuses have triggered some soul-searching among academics, which came to the fore during an Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) round-table discussion on 27 January. Read more

All Western Cape Universities Backed up for 2023

he national energy crisis of load shedding has compelled Western Cape universities to consider additional measures as back up for the success of the 2023 academic year, as lectures commence on Monday. Read more

A Study of Dysfunction in Universities in SA

According to Philip Altbach, Jonathan Jansen’s new book, Corrupted: A study of chronic dysfunction in South African universities, tells an unpleasant but very important story – not only for South Africa, but globally – about how corruption can seep into academic institutions. Read more

A University on its Way to Becoming a Net-Zero Carbon Campus

The University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa has emerged as one of the pioneering higher education institutions in the region to work towards a more environmentally sustainable campus by establishing environmentally sound policies and practices. Read more

Cape Town Man Drove Taxis to Fulfil his Dream of Becoming a Doctor

A man who lives in the gang-ridden community of Manenberg, Cape Town, drove a “pimped out” minibus taxi over weekends seven years ago, to fund part of his medical studies at Stellenbosch University. Read more

Co-creating Strategies Key to Building Equal Partnerships

Ahead of a ground-breaking summit on partnerships at the University of Pretoria’s Future Africa campus, the head of research capacity development at the University of Pretoria, Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl, said international collaboration is increasingly viewed as the key to successful development research and to meet shared global challenges. Read more

Commission for Gender Equality Seeks Talks with TUT on Campus Residence Safety…

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) wants to meet Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) management after the death of Ntokozo Xaba at a university residence. Read more

Crowdfunding Platforms Step in to Alleviate South Africa’s Student Debt Crisis

While student debt in SA remains stubbornly high with no solution to the crisis in sight, thousands of higher education students are looking to digital crowdfunding platforms to raise funds to help alleviate their debt. Read more

Demand for Student Placements Spikes at Universities

Applications to study at tertiary education institutions across the province have spiked reaching up to 360 000 at one institution which had limited study spaces available. Read more

Develop Technology-Oriented Programmes …

A Principal State Attorney at the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Jamila Jakalia, has charged universities to adopt a technologically revolutionary approach to meet the economic and social needs of the society. Read more

DUT Denies Biting off More Than it Can Chew When it Comes to New Placements

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has refuted claims that it made more placement offers for new students than it had space for. Read more

DUT Student Supplies Spar with Dishwashing Liquid 

Zondi said she was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the Spar Selgro Centre and cannot wait to supply the store with more products.  Read more

Eastern Cape Universities Provide Support for Differently Abled Students

As thousands of university’s first-year students get ready for their higher education studies, Eastern Cape universities said they have mechanisms in place to support those living with disabilities to continue furthering their studies…Read more

Education Ministry Announces TVET Admissions

The Ministry of Education and Sports has announced admissions for Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions for the national certificate and Uganda polytechnic certificate. Read more

Escaping ‘Bibliometric Coloniality’, ‘Epistemic Inequality’

Africa’s scholarly journals compete on an unequal playing field because of a lack of funding and the struggle to sustain academic credibility. Read more

Gender Equality pays Tshwane University of Technology courtesy visit…

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) Acting Chairperson Ms Nomasonto Mazibuko led a delegation on Monday which met with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Management, led by Vice -Chancellor, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke following the brutal killing of TUT student Ntokozo Xaba. Read more

Green Hydrogen Research Given R35m Boost

South Africa’s North-West University (NWU) is investing around R35-million in strategic funding to advance green hydrogen research over the next five years. Read more

High Cost of Higher Education

You’ve worked hard and done well in your matric exams, now, it’s time to study further but, one look at the schedule of fees is enough to send your head spinning. Read more

Higher Learning Institutions’ Budgets Strained as They Spend Millions to Cope with Load-Shedding 

Rolling blackouts are slowly crippling institutions of higher learning as they put a strain on their budgets. Read more

How Nelson Mandela University Plans to Lighten Its Load

Two staff members have had to be reassigned to refill generators, a situation the university hopes to change through supplying more generators, solar power and efficient means of distributing energy. Read more

International Study Led by UKZN Professor Confirms Effectiveness of PrEp in HIV…

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Professor Dhayendre Moodley has led an international study that confirms the safe use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in pregnant HIV negative women. Read more

Lessons Emerge from First University Partnership Summit

A partnership project between the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and Columbia University in the United States to support first-year students in developing their writing skills was described as an example of a success story of collaboration by Dr Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s minister of international relations and cooperation, at the first University Partnership Initiative (UPI) Summit. Read more

Millions of Rand Spent Protecting Heads of Tertiary Education Institutions, …

Parliament has expressed concern over the threats made to vice-chancellors and personnel as well as related safety and security at institutions of higher learning. Read more

Most Young South Africans Believe in Obtaining Tertiary Qualification

Most young South Africans continue to believe in obtaining a tertiary qualification, according to a recent survey by the South African College of Applied Psychology (Sacap). Read more

Nelson Mandela University Students in Lodgings Debacle 

More than 1,000 students, many from other provinces, are being forced to sleep in boardrooms and lecture rooms at Nelson Mandela University (NMU), or they will probably end up on the streets. Read more

New University of KwaZulu-Natal Students Stranded without Accommodation

Over two hundred registered students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College, have been left stranded and had to spend nights in a hall due to the unavailability of accommodation. Read more

NMU Student Accommodation Issues in Spotlight

Four students arrive at NMU as many unfunded students worry about where they are going to stay. Read more

NSFAS Says It is Willing to Grant Tuks Students Special Permission to Find Residency…

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says it is willing to grant University of Pretoria students special permission to find residency above the R45 000 accommodation allowance. Read more

Price Gouging the Reason for NSFAS Student Housing Allowance Caps

Amid the uproar over the National Student Financial Aid Scheme’s (NSFAS’s) decision to cap accommodation allowances for students, Higher Education Minister Dr Blade Nzimande pointed to alleged price gouging from accommodation providers as reasoning for the allowance caps. Read more

Programme Intends to Sharpen Technology Transfer Skills

South Africa lags behind the world in turning its scientific discoveries and research findings into commercial products. Official estimates suggest only 7% of the intellectual property-generated research is commercialised, a paltry figure compared with the international benchmark of 40%. Read more

Protesting Sol Plaatje University Students Threaten Academic Programme 

Students at Sol Plaatje University in Kimberley have vowed to prevent the university from opening its doors for the 2023 academic year. Students embarked on a protest action, demanding that their concerns over food and accommodation be addressed. Read more

Registration Hiccups at Walter Sisulu University

The Walter Sisulu University’s management says it’s all systems go for teaching when the academic year begins on Monday. But damning allegations have been leveled against the institution by would-be students who applied, were accepted and paid their deposit to secure their spot. Read more

Research Ethics Project for Benin, the Gambia, Ivory Coast

Three West African countries – Benin, the Gambia and Ivory Coast – with the support of the South Africa-based ethical research non-governmental organisation EthiXpert – have secured a €1.5 million (about US$1.62 million) grant that will be used to build the capacity of research ethics committees, or RECs, in these countries. Read more

Research Study Finds that Brewery Wastewater has the Potential to Become Bioenergy

A recent study conducted at a Durban brewery found that brewery wastewater has the potential to become bioenergy. The study, which was published in the journal “Water”, titled “Characterization of South African Brewery Wastewater: Oxidation-Reduction Potential Variation”, was co-authored… Read more 

Shutdown Rocks UCT on First Day of Study as Students Fume Over Fee Blocks, Housing

The very first day of the academic year at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has already been marked by protests and a campus shutdown.  Read more

Sol Plaatje University Management and SRC Reach Agreement Following Protests

The Sol Plaatje University management says it has reached an agreement with the Student Representative Council (SRC) following protests that led to the suspension of registration and orientation. Read more

Sol Plaatje University Students Satisfied with Concessions Made by Management

The Student Representative Council (SRC) at Sol Plaatje University in the Northern Cape said it was satisfied with the concessions made by management following protests related to issues affecting students. Read more

South Africa’s Dysfunctional Universities

What happens when those responsible for managing universities cannot trust each other to act with integrity? In a nutshell, as I discuss in my new book, Corrupted: A study of chronic dysfunction in South African universities, dysfunction is the consequence. Read more

South African University Fees on the Rise in 2023

Tertiary education is crucial, as specific jobs require you to have a form of higher education. But the reality is that attending a university is super expensive. Read more

South African Youth Leaders and UL Student Leaders Share Knowledge at Dialogue

Under the auspices of the Embassy of South Africa to Liberia, youth leaders from Pretoria, South Africa, and student leaders from the University of Liberia have participated in a fruitful interactive roundtable dialogue. Read more

Stellenbosch Student Killed in the Early Hours of the Morning

Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk confirmed to AfriNUUS that Dylan was involved in an accident at 12.30am on Saturday morning. He was transferred to hospital, but died of his injuries. Read more

Student Leaders Asked to Roll Out Entrepreneurship Programme

Student leaders are being recruited to roll out an online entrepreneurship training programme to their fellows. The programme, which uses the Telegram instant messaging app to deliver coursework, has already been piloted among a limited number of students at universities of technology in South Africa. Read more

Student Leaders Strong-Arm Top Cape Town Universities as Protests Continue

Admission is being reserved at two of the Western Cape’s top universities as protesting students have disrupted campus activities, stopped students from entering the university grounds, Read more

Students Arrested After Allegedly Torching Two UKZN Buildings 

Five people, believed to be students, were arrested after two University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) buildings at Westville Campus were petrol bombed on Monday. Read more

The 7 Best Universities in South Africa for International Students

Back in the day, studying abroad meant moving to Western nations. However, everything has been made easier today. You can get your education wherever you want. That’s why most international students are opting to study in South Africa.

The Prosperity of Indigenous Language is a Priority at the North-West University

They are the mediums through which we learn and through which we then communicate the information that we have acquired. They allow us to grow as a society. In order to use them as tools to achieve our goals, they need to be preserved and promoted. Read more

The UCT Student Representative Council (SRC) Protested at the Weekend….

The SRC said it condemned the ongoing housing crisis “where thousands of returning and first-year students are being left in the cold without food or a roof over their heads”. Read more

Transforming Education Through Multilingualism…

Every year on February 21, the world celebrates International Mother Language Day. This year’s theme is “Multilingual education – a necessity to transform education in a multilingual world”. Read more

Trying to Register with Unisa is a ‘Nightmare’, Say Many Students

University of South Africa students say they are struggling to register and battling to get support from the institution’s administration. There are reports of several obstacles standing in the way of students. Read more

TUT Student Found Stabbed to Death — Boyfriend Taken in

A man has been taken in for questioning by police after a Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) student was found stabbed to death at the campus residence. Read more

TVET Colleges are as Good as Universities

There are 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges with over 200 campuses in South Africa, each with its own focus areas and specialisation. Read more

UCT ‘Blocked Off’ by Protesting Students Over the Weekend

The UCT Student Representative Council (SRC) protested at the weekend over a lack of student accommodation due to fee blocks and other related issues. Read more

UCT Council Offers to Drop Charges Against VC…

Confusion reigned on Friday over the suspension of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa. In a new twist to a long leadership controversy, it was reported that the council offered to drop all claims against her if Phakeng agreed to early retirement – but she refused. Read more

UCT Slams ‘Unlawful’ Shutdown, Moves Lectures Online…

As University of Cape Town (UCT) students vow to continue protesting over the “housing crisis”, the university has denounced their actions as “unlawful” and shifted lectures online until further notice. Read more

UCT Suspends Student with Immediate Effect Over Rape Allegations

University of Cape Town (UCT) student and student representative council (SRC) member, Mila Zibi, was found guilty of rape by the university’s special sexual offences tribunal. Read more

UKZN Academic Gets R7.7m Grant for Her Work Aimed at Fighting Pandemics

A University of KwaZulu-Natal academic has been awarded a R7.7 million grant for her work in advancing rapid genomic surveillance to respond effectively to pandemics. Read more

UKZN Professor Recognised for his Work Gets ‘Gold Medal’ in Field of Botany

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Professor Steven Johnson, who has expertise in the ecology, evolution and chemistry of plant-animal interactions, was awarded the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) Gold Medal at the University of Limpopo. Read more

UKZN Runs Out of Students Accommodation 

There is a shortage of student accommodation at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The shortage has forced some students to sleep in campus halls at Howard College, Durban Westville and in Pietermaritzburg. Read more

Universities Need Strong Leaders to Lead the Way…

It is chaos in university leadership right now. The vice-chancellor (VC) of the Vaal University of Technology has just been placed on special leave by his council; the VC of the University of Fort Hare narrowly escaped assassination for his stand on corruption; … Read more

Universities of KwaZulu-Natal and Stellenbosch Receive R40m Research Award for Cutting-Edge HIV Study

The University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN) and Stellenbosch University were awarded a prestigious R40 million grant from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently. The study is set to commence on March 1. Read more

University of Pretoria-Led Study Finds Aloe Plant Could Impede Malaria Course

Experts at the University of Pretoria (UP) are a step closer to finding a drug that could prevent transmission of the malaria-carrying parasite Plasmodium falciparum by thwarting its life cycle. Read more

University of Pretoria Welcomes New Students in-Person for First Time Since Covid-19

Students who attended the in-person Welcome Day at the University of Pretoria, held for the first time in two years, said while they were anxious they were more than ready to tackle the next phase of their lives. Read more

Violence Against Women is not Inevitable or Natural: TUT vice-Chancellor Maluleke

The Tshwane University of Technology is looking into ways to preserve the memory and legacy of slain third-year student Ntokozo Xaba. Read more

Wrap-Around Support Key to Level Education Playing Field

“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardour and attended to with diligence.” Read more

What Can the Minister and the Department Do About Corruption?

The murder of Mboneli Vesele, the bodyguard of Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, the vice-chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, earlier in January, including the threat to the life of Buhlungu, have put the deadly nature of corruption in ‘historically black’ universities in South Africa in the spotlight. Read more

Wits and Edinburgh Announce Joint Sustainability Training

South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Edinburgh in the UK have jointly established a postgraduate training scheme targeting sustainability. Read more

What Universities Must Consider Now

The recent release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, raising questions about its impact and implications across various industries. One sector that urgently needs to consider questions around the opportunities and challenges surrounding ChatGPT in particular, but artificial intelligence in general, is higher education. Read more

Women Remain Underrepresented in STEM. Grant Conditions Aren’t Helping

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed annually on 11 February to emphasise, among others, the need for gender parity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read more

Would-be Students and Their Parents Queue for Hours, Desperate to Secure Spot at CPUT 

Hundreds of young people, some accompanied by their parents, withstood cold, windy and wet weather for hours on Monday in an attempt to register at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Read more

WSU Buffalo City Launches New Learning Centre

Walter Sisulu University in East London has officially launched its new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics centre. Read more

WSU-Samsung Innovation Campus Inculcates 4IR Skills to create Work-Ready Employable Students & Entrepreneurs

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) in conjunction with Samsung Electronics South Africa are hosted a Certificate Award Ceremony on 17 February 2023 at the Blue Lagoon Hotel & Conference Centre in East London – to certify the successful execution of its inaugural flagship partnership… Read more

 

31 January 2023

‘Accidental Administrator’ Wants Action to Halt Corruption

Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, the vice-chancellor of South Africa’s University of Fort Hare, survived an apparent assassination attempt earlier in January. He remains determined to stay at the institution, but is deeply frustrated about the lack of action from various authorities, despite evidence relating to alleged corrupt activities. Read more

African Varsities Engage in Agro-Food Systems

A grouping of major African universities, the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is set to engage governments on strengthening Africa’s agri-food systems in the Post Covid-19 era at their 18th annual meeting set for today. Read more

Although Universities Offer a Welcoming, Highly Supportive Environment, New Entrants will Need to Put in Serious Work to Succeed 

As public universities prepare to receive a new cohort of fresh school leavers on their campuses for the 2023 academic year, the Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa (USAf), Dr Phethiwe Matutu, has assured the Class of 2022 that they will be entering a welcoming, highly supportive and potentially life-changing environment. Read more

AU’s ‘Neocolonial Entanglement’ Undermines HE Policies

To regain legitimacy as a leading continental organisation, the African Union (AU) needs to decolonise itself and rely more on its member states to refocus its regional higher education policy processes towards African issues instead of excessive financial dependency on external actors which could manipulate policy processes towards donor interests. Read more

Bodyguard of University of Fort Hare Vice-Chancellor Shot Dead in ‘Assassination Attempt’

Mboneli Vesele, the bodyguard of University of Fort Hare (UFH) vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, was shot dead on Friday night in what is suspected to have been an assassination attempt. Read more

Campus Turns into Killing Fields

Tender fraud and the hiring of hit men to deal with perceived competitors and whistleblowers in South Africa’s institutions of higher learning has lifted the lid on the underhand and dodgy dealings following the execution-style and brazen killing of the University of Fort Hare (UFH) vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu’s bodyguard. Read more

Changes Coming for Science, Engineering and Technology Subjects…

Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande says that South Africa’s universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges are ready for the wave of new students entering the system in 2023. Read more

Concerns Over Bed Shortages and Space Challenges in Tertiary Institutions

There is a shortage of more than 400000 beds for student accommodation at South African universities, with rural-based tertiary institutions and TVET colleges being worst affected. Read more

Education System isn’t Equipping Learners with Right Skills for Jobs

Persistently high unemployment in South Africa is a structural problem that the central bank doesn’t have the tools to address and should be dealt with by changing the nation’s education policy, South African Reserve Bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said. Read more

Education System Must Provide Learners with More Choices

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the broadening of learner access to technical and vocational subjects in order to provide them with more choices and better guidance, as well as mitigate the dropout rate. Read more

Foundation Calls on Private Funding to Support Disadvantaged University Students

The Foundation for Education and Social Justice released a statement on Tuesday, saying students with historical debt needed to be given a chance to register for the 2023 academic year. Read more

Illegal Colleges Decrease Due to the Co-Operation with SAPS – Higher Education

The Higher Education and Training Department says co-operation between law enforcement has led to a decrease in the number of illegal colleges operating in the country. Read more 

Increase in Demand for Places, Financial Aid

Universities in South Africa are finalising first-year applications as, on 16 January, the quality assurance body, Umalusi, approved the results of the school-leaving examination written at the end of 2022. Read more

Innovation Needed from State and Varsities to Support Internationalisation in Higher Education

As universities take stock of the changes brought about by the Covid pandemic and rebuild relations with student and other stakeholder bodies, ensuring continuity, as well as growth in student enrolments, is crucial… Read more

Journalism and PR Might Soon Vie for the Same Stories

A study by Stellenbosch University and the City University of London has revealed that the relationship between South African science journalists and scientists, who are sources of information, is complex. Read more

Nzimande Warns Students, Parents Against ‘Fly-By-Night’ Colleges Offering Fake Qualifications

Higher Education, Science, and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande has warned students and parents against illegal colleges that lure and mislead future students into believing they offer qualifications recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Read more

Overqualification: A Symptom of Qualification-Job Mismatch

According to UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are severely affected by qualifications and skills mismatches, making it hard for employers to find suitable job applicants, or develop the ability to forecast potential skills imbalances. Read more

Perception of TVET Colleges Discouraging Student Enrollment

Over 900 000 learners set for the 2022 matric exams and those who progressed carry with them the prospects of getting a seat at one of the 26 universities, 50 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) or the scores of independent institutions across South Africa. Read more

Plagiarism Accused Unisa Student in Race to Clear his Name

A University of South Africa (Unisa) first-year student from Limpopo is running out of time to prove that he did not cheat during his online assessment in the June/July 2022 exam period. Picture: Henk Kruger/African News Agency (ANA). Read more

Plagiarist Academic Edward Mitole Now Claims He is a ‘Spook’ Lying Low

‘Plagiarist professor’ Edward Yusuf Mitole has threatened to slap The Citizen with a R10-million lawsuit for exposing his lies about being a University of South Africa (Unisa) professor and former president Jacob Zuma’s political advisor. Read more

Price of Knowledge Rises for Varsity Students

Unfunded students will have to dig deeper into their pockets this year as most universities have hiked tuition and hostel fees by 5.1% and 7.1% respectively, …Read more

Professor Proposes Agri, Household Waste is the Answer to More Electrification

Aprofessor from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology has identified household and agricultural waste in South Africa as a valuable source of clean energy that can be deployed in communities, complexes and individual homes at a lower cost and with a faster return on investment than solar power. Read more

Push for Universities to Have Centralised Ombuds System

The department of higher education, science and innovation is investigating the possible establishment of a university ombuds office in the university system. Read more

‘SA Not Likely to Have Covid-19 Outbreak Like China’

The University of KwaZulu-Natal bioinformatics scientist, Prof. Tulio de Oliveira, says that at this stage, “South Africans should just wait and see how the situation unfolds”. Read more

SA, Turkey Deepen Science, and Innovation Ties

South Africa and Turkey have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), agreeing to advance cooperation in science and innovation. Read more

Society-Centred Institutions Require Cultural Shift in HE

Universities must focus on equipping their students with leadership as well as technical skills and foster collaborative and experimental forms of learning and knowledge-production that can provide practical solutions to development challenges at scale, according to Arturo Condo, … Read more

Society-Centred Institutions Require Cultural Shift in HE

Universities must focus on equipping their students with leadership as well as technical skills and foster collaborative and experimental forms of learning and knowledge-production that can provide practical solutions to development challenges at scale, according to Arturo Condo,… Read more

South African Universities have been ‘Engulfed by Corruption’

The apparent assassination attempts on one of South Africa’s top university leaders, in which his bodyguard was killed, has highlighted the threat of corruption that appears to have firmed its grip on the country’s tertiary education sector. Read more

Stellenbosch Must Tackle Overprivileged Indifference to Become More Inclusive

e report on racism at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University (SU) by retired constitutional court Judge Sisi Khampepe received wide media coverage. Read more

Stellenbosch University partners with Harvard Law School’s Institute for Global Law and Policy

The aim of the GSA is to invest in the next generation of scholars by placing them in conversation with their global peers, thereby strengthening their ability to think in new ways about global issues that the world faces… Read more

Study Shows Race Bias in Employment of Science Graduates

If you are a white natural science graduate in South Africa, the chances are that you will find a job faster than your black and coloured counterparts. And if you graduate from more recognised or prestigious universities, you are likely to have easier access to internships and, ultimately, employment. Read more

Three Arrested in Connection with Missing TVET Lecturer

A woman and two men appeared in the Dzanani Magistrate’s Court on charges of kidnapping and robbery, following the disappearance of Takalani Jimmy Mukwevho (45), a lecturer at the Vhembe TVET College. Read more

Türkiye Opens Research Center at South African University

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Tuesday inaugurated the Maarif Türkiye Research Center at the University of Pretoria in South Africa’s executive capital. Read more

Two Women University Vice-Chancellors to Tackle Gender-Based Violence in Higher Education

Two women university vice-chancellors will be championing the fight against the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) within the higher education sector. Read more

UCT Says Talks are in Place to Avert Planned Staff Protest Over Wages

The employees have resolved to down tools next week over wage demands. UCT’s academic union wants at least 6%, compared to the institution’s offer of a 3% pay increase. Read more

UCT Students Lead the Way in Sectors of Green Awards Event

University of Cape Town (UCT) walked away with top honours in the property and engineering categories in the eighth annual Greenovate Awards that encourage sustainability in the SA built environment. Read more

UJ and the DSI Launch SA’s First 3d Printed Building

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has successfully launched SA’s first ever ‘printed’ building using a 3D concrete printer. Read more

UKZN Researchers ‘Sea’ Potential to Generate Electricity

A designer kite with turbines and linked to a grid which draws current from the sea is hoped to provide an alternative energy source. Read more

UKZN Warns of Scams

“These scams claim to provide help with regards to acquiring financial assistance, student accommodation, registration and places in academic programmes. The university does not charge for these services,” said UKZN executive director of corporate relations Normah Zondo. Read more

UKZN Warns Students of Registration Scams

The University of KwaZulu-Natal is warning students and parents to be on the lookout for potential scams and fraudsters targeting prospective students. Read more

UMP Student Develop Multipurpose SmartD App

The SmartD app is user-friendly and will enable people to shop in the comfort of their home. Read more

University Proud After Graduate Creates Job-Hunting App that Requires No Data

MUT said that a mobile app to help South African graduates seeking employment may just be what the doctor ordered to curb the high unemployment rate in South Africa. Read more

Universities Raising Money to Help Support Poor, Missing Middle Students 

Several universities and their students have over the past few years put the plight of those who cannot afford to study at the forefront, developing fundraising measures to help the youth realise their dreams of acquiring an academic qualification. Read more

Ushering in a Bright Future for the University of the Free State

At the University of the Free State we have a clear vision of where we want to be within the next few years, leading up to the year 2034, when the university will be 130 years old. Read more

Western Cape Universities Say Vaccination is not Mandatory…

The University of the Western Cape, along with other universities in the province, has said it no longer requires students to be vaccinated against Covid-19 for them to be allowed on to campus. Read more

 

31 December 2022

120 School Girls Benefit from Coding and Robotics Training Programme in eThekwini 

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) in collaboration with Lenovo Southern Africa is offering a Coding and Robotics Training programme to 120 schoolgirls from 15 schools in the eThekwini area. Read more

#FeesMustFall Book Captures Key Moment in Student Politics

A colourful, retrospective, celebratory, sometimes jarring, but pertinent coffee table book, which captures the violent intensity of the 2015 #FeesMustFall student movement that shook South Africa, was released by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) in November. Read more

Action Urgent to Eliminate Bottlenecks to Self-Employment

Africa needs to adopt a holistic approach if it is to build a strong culture of youth entrepreneurship and help tackle the current youth unemployment crisis gripping many countries on the continent. Read more

Are Humour Studies Emerging in African Universities?

Are humour studies emerging in African universities? I answer quickly, somehow, perhaps! But, I shall also add, not in a pronounced way. Which ‘Africa’ is implied by this question and why, one may ask? In this article, my focus is on Sub-Saharan Africa, from the Cape to the Coast, better called ‘Bantu Africa.’ Read more

Comedy in Africa Used to ‘Get Even’ with Political Elite…

In the Western academic tradition, the study of humour has developed from the time Plato (428-348 BCE) taught students in Athens how to inject irony into political debate into a subject that through the centuries has attracted the attention of scholars in anthropology, film production, literature, political science, philosophy, psychology, religion and sociology. Read more

Common Mental Disorders an ‘Enormous’ Burden on Students

To what extent are common mental disorders among university students in Sub-Saharan Africa contributing to academic failure, effectively leading to skills shortages and mismatches in human resources and capacity with the labour market needs in the region? Read more

CUT Student Develops First Sand-Cast Ceramic Art in Africa

A Master’s in Studio Art and Design student at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Free State, Sylvester Zanoxolo Mqeku, will showcase his award-winning sand-cast ceramic art at his upcoming solo exhibition titled Birth of the Alter Natural. Read more

Cutting-Edge Climate Change Curriculum Enters Phase Two

The Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) Climate Change Steering Group recently endorsed the finalised version of a climate change and sustainable development curriculum and digital ecosystem, which SARUA revised and which will be updated, under phase two, in 2023. Read more

Chinese Company Donates R1.15-Million to Fund Students at Wits University

A leading Chinese telecommunications company has donated R1.15-million (about US$65,274) to help students studying information science at Wits University in South Africa. Read more

Employability Should be a Marker of Success for TVET Colleges Says Minister

On Tuesday, Statistics South Africa revealed a morsel of good news in that the unemployment rate – both official and expanded – decreased by one percent point. Read more

If You Look, you will Find Opportunities for Further Study

I am a 44-year-old woman from Eastwood, a traditionally coloured residential area in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, one of South Africa’s nine provinces. I went to school at Eastwood Primary and Eastwood High School in the city. Read more

Internships, Job Shadowing Enhance Graduates’ Employability

Four universities in Africa are among the 250 universities globally that have been ranked by the Global Employability University Ranking and Survey 2022, or GEURS for producing employable graduates, … Read more

Lenovo, DUT Unite to Advance Coding, Robotics Skills 

PC vendor Lenovo SA, in partnership with the Durban University of Technology (DUT), has launched the Robogirl 2022 programme aimed at preparing young female learners for the fourth industrial revolution and beyond. Read more

Master’s Degree in the Bag, Despite Many Obstacles

She is a full-time radiographer as well as the primary parent to her three children, but Anelisa Moyo possessed enough discipline to see through her master’s degree in radiography. Read more

New Initiative Puts Cities at Frontline of Climate Change

A unique multi-level governance initiative that taps the research, innovation and engagement capacity of universities to help cities cope with climate change has been welcomed. However, some African experts say its success will depend on sufficient investment in universities, …Read more

Online Learning for Ambitious Entrepreneurs

A Nelson Mandela University (NMU) graduand with an eye for development has set her sights on doing her bit to launch Bay entrepreneurs to the next level. Read more

President Calls on Forum to Use Science to Improve People’s Lives, Fight Inequality 

President Cyril Ramaphosa shone a spotlight on how science can play a role in improving people’s lives and addressing the challenges facing the world including disease, climate change and food insecurity. Read more

Quality Assurance Networks Should Work Towards Harmonisation

The need to harmonise higher education systems, including quality assurance, to support the sustainability of the continent’s developmental transformation was emphasised by Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Education, … Read more

Report Shows Better Research Profiles and Ongoing Challenges

Despite making notable progress in their quest to become research-oriented institutions over the past seven years, universities allied to the African Research Universities Alliance, or ARUA, largely remain undergraduate universities, in what could be a reflection of the general state of institutions across the continent. Read more

Specialist Training of Health Workers is Urgent

Some universities in Eastern and Southern African countries have programmes for health workers offering advanced degrees that are not accredited by professional bodies, a situation that is misleading to potential candidates who would want to be recognised as specialists in their fields. Read more

Stellenbosch, Teesside to Advance Green Hydrogen 

Stellenbosch University (SU) has teamed up with Teesside University in England to advance the use of green hydrogen as an energy source. Read more

Stellenbosch University Allocates R12m for Green Hydrogen Research

Stellenbosch University has allocated R12 million for research into green hydrogen, which has been touted by the South African government as an energy source that can help lower carbon emissions in sectors such as steel and aviation. Read more

Stellenbosch University Denies Changes to Language Policy Commission Recommendations

Stellenbosch University has dismissed claims that some recommendations of the recent Justice Khampepe report have been overturned due to political intervention. Read more

Stellenbosch University’s Wim de Villiers: ‘Urination Incidents will Happen Again’ 

Steelenbosch University rector and vice-chancellor Wim de Villiers speaks to James de Villiers about why the university will not be reviewing its language policy despite a recent recommendation by Justice Sisi Khampepe, … Read more

Strong Leadership Needed to Confront Academic Xenophobia

The presence of xenophobic practices in South Africa’s higher learning institutions can be blamed on a lack of strong leadership in the universities, which has turned a blind eye on the vice by allowing expediency to prevail over merit. Read more

Students’ Low Condom Use Continues to Drive HIV Infections

Are sexual relationships with older partners, who are more likely to insist on having sex without the use of condoms, one of the high-risk drivers that promote and encourage the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, among university students across Sub-Saharan Africa? Read more

Twenty (20) Winners of RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition 2022…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2022 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition. The competition attracted 136 applications from 16 countries in Africa. Read more

UCT VC Phakeng Denies Sick-Leave Account, Student Assaults Academic…

The governance crisis at the University of Cape Town continues to spiral, with Vice-Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng and Council Chair Babalwa Ngonyama now at loggerheads over claims that Phakeng has been hospitalised due to stress. Read more

UKZN Co-led Study Shows Improvement in South African Children’s Physical Activity

Co-led by Professor Rowena Naidoo from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, the report indicates that children’s physical activity moved up to a B grade, despite the global Covid-19 pandemic – placing the country ahead of the nearly 50 other nations in the Global Matrix 4.0. Read more

UKZN Professor Karim Elected to Head World Academy of Sciences

University of KwaZulu-Natal pro vice-chancellor for African Health, professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim, has been elected president of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). Read more

UNESCO Builds the Capacity of African Journalists on Reporting Science

In the run up to the 2022 World Science Forum (WSF), the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa partnered with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Stellenbosch University, South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation to train over 100 journalists and communication professionals from across Africa … Read more

UNESCO Launches Training on a Systems Thinking Tool to Promote Inclusive Education

To UNESCO every learner matters equally. The mission of its education sector is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. Read more

Universities can Share Language Resources, Notwithstanding Their Ongoing Pursuit of a Competitive Edge

It was time to stop talking and start implementing. This was the view of speakers at the second Vice-Chancellors’ (VC) Consultative Colloquium on the revised Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Read more

University of Mpumalanga Wins Prestigious Standard Bank Award 

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) recently won the Top Women Business Icons 202: an Honorary Legends of Empowerment and Transformation Award at the 2022 Standard Bank Top Women Awards at Emperor’s Palace in Gauteng. Read more

Why Universities Need to Start Sharing Language Resources 

Even though universities thrive on competition, they need to stop competing in every single innovation. If, say Rhodes University is doing something about developing isiXhosa, and so are Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town, … Read more

Wits Mining Accredited for Another Five-Year Regular Cycle 

The high academic standard at Wits University’s School of Mining Engineering has once again been confirmed by its recent accreditation by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Read more

Wits Alumnus and Biologist Expert Sive Honored for Her Contribution to Science

Learning about the development of frogs at Wits University in the late 1970s sparked an interest in the young student Hazel Sive that led to her now being considered a world-renowned expert in the study of facial deformities as well as fundamental mechanisms underlying face and brain formation. Read more

 

30 November 2022

African, Asian, and Australian Deans’ Standpoints on Research Impact Seem to Converge

The recent Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) Summit 2022 included a session where three universities’ deans from three different time zones discussed the challenges of mid-level managers in higher education, moderated by another dean in a fourth time zone. Read more

Business Schools for Climate Leadership Initiative Launched

Six leading African business schools launched the Business Schools for Climate Leadership Africa (BS4CL Africa) initiative to build a collaborative framework for climate action that can transform business education curricula to match the needs and adapt to the realities of the African continent. Read more

Cancer Researchers Must Broaden the Focus of Their Work

Cancer research in Africa has increased over the past decade, but those gains were unevenly distributed as just 13 out of 54 countries on the continent produced 90% of the research, with Egypt and South Africa contributing two-thirds of the peer-reviewed contributions about cancer, … Read more

Climate Action is a Key HE Mandate and in Need of Funding

As the Sharm el-Sheikh climate summit, COP27, unfolds, the higher education community is grasping the opportunity to put some of their demands on the conference table in Egypt, including calls to strengthen educational and research capacities of universities and research centres to tackle the impact of climate change. Read more

Climate Change and SDG Education to Target Million Youths

An estimated million African university students are set to benefit from a digital education programme on climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2023-24. Read more

Degree Fraud, Scandals and Maladministration: What’s Happening at SA Universities?

South African universities are experiencing a legitimacy crisis, with several institutions facing allegations of fraud, maladministration and irregular appointment processes. Read more

DUT is at the Forefront of Higher Education, Technological Training, Research, and Innovation

The Durban university of technology (DUT) is a globally recognised University based in KwaZulu-Natal, comprising of seven campuses, with five in Durban and two in Pietermaritzburg, … Read more

Education Activist Calls for 50% Pass Mark for All Grades

Various organisations and education activists have been vocal about the controversial 30% pass rate to be scrapped as they believe it affects the South African educational system. Read more

Electric Buses for University of Johannesburg as Solar Power Initiative Grows

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) solar power initiative now produces 15% of the institution’s energy consumption, with electric buses now moving students around campus.Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the university, Professor Marwala congratulated the institution for its drive for clean energy. Read more 

First African Civil Engineer Inducted into Wits Wall of Fame

Dr Solomon Lefakane, the first African to obtain a Civil Engineering degree in 1961, is the first Wits alumnus to be inducted into the Engineering Wall of Fame. Read more

Forum Launches to Fight Crime in Universities

The scourge of crime and gender-based violence (GBV) in the Universities led the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, and the SAPS to launch the Campus Community Forum in Walter Sisulu University (WSU), last week. Read more

Funding of HE: Replace Monologues with Candid Conversations

In a recent article in University World News, it was reported that Zimbabwe’s minister of higher and tertiary education blamed universities for the widely bemoaned low levels of state funding. Read more

Head of University of the Free State Business School Suspended After Planning Diversity Training

On 14 October, the University of the Free State (UFS) website published a glowing article about the UFS Business School and its new strategic vision under director Dr Udesh Pillay, who had been in his position for just over a year. Read more

HELM Summit 2022 Explores Innovative Leadership Development for Higher Education…

Shifting global parameters and heightened uncertainties highlight our universally shared vulnerability and point to how interconnected we are as a society: economically, socially, politically, and culturally. A new breed of leaders and managers with a new set of skills is needed to navigate these turbulent waters. Read more

How to Develop and Nurture Academic Leaders at Our Universities

Academic leadership is one of the most important foundations for success in our universities. However, leadership and management in academia presents its own challenges with many promoted to higher positions without proper training or a clear understanding of the complexity of the roles they are expected to fulfil. Read more

Global University Leaders Exchange Leadership Attributes, Challenges and Opportunities

How can universities be a driving force for change in broader sciety and what role should their leaders play in our ever developing world? Read more

How Universities are Transforming Their Language Policies and Why This is Critical 

Language has the power to change higher education in this country and lead to better social cohesion. Read more

Initiative Elevates Women’s Key Role in Climate Adaptation

Egypt’s COP27 presidency launched the African Women’s Climate Adaptive Priorities (AWCAP) initiative for promoting the integration and involvement of women in finding smart and innovative solutions to the consequences of climate change and to ensure a green transformation in Africa. Read more

Intervarsity Social Impact Award Winner Makes Mathematics Fun, Interactive and Affordable

There are 13 million students in South Africa, 63% of them without basic mathematics. “That is why there is a shortage of critical skills in South Africa,” Ms Munashe Dzikiti, told judges at the 4th annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2022 finals… Read more

Linguists Cautiously Back ‘Official’ National Languages

African linguists have voiced support, with a need for caution, over a proposal adopted by several African countries to give their national languages the same status as official ‘colonial’ languages such as French and English. Read more

Low Climate Literacy Among Women, Youth Hampers Resilience

“The US$100 billion pledge for climate finance made about a decade ago appears to be a pipedream. Needless to say, closing finance gaps and increasing the flow of climate finance by billions of dollars per year from both public and private sector is critical,” says Joyce Kimutai, climate scientist and principal meteorologist at the Kenya Meteorological Department, … Read more

Mathematics Teacher Practice During the 4th Industrial Revolution

Teaching Practice (TP) is a vital component of teacher education and training because it provides student teachers with an opportunity to gain experience in the workplace and to apply theory to practice. Good teachers are among the most important factors contributing to student achievement in the classroom. Read more

MUT Students Call for Tight Security After Fatal Residence Stabbing 

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) students want stricter security measures at their student residences citing safety concerns.In July this year, 23-year-old student Xolile Mbatha was stabbed to death by her boyfriend Sanele Mlambo – who was granted access to her residence. Read more

Night of Drama as Deputy Chair Withdraws ‘in Protest’, Council Members Resign 

The University of Cape Town’s council has yet again failed to appoint an independent panel, led by a retired judge, to investigate allegations of misconduct against the vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, and council chair Babalwa Ngonyama. … Read more

Our universities are Caught in the Snare of a Leadership crisis – Dr Bernadette Johnson

South Africa’s universities have not suddenly arrived at where they are beset with challenges across the board. There have been many other incidents of corruption, maladministration, and violence over the past 30 years. Read more

Project Embeds SDGs in Curricula, Identifies Best Practices

Several universities in South Africa, together with a Greek institution and one in Cyprus as partners and funded by the European Union (EU) have been working on a project to embed the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into higher education curricula. Read more

Rhodes Business School Partners with eLearnAfrica to Develop a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

Recognized as one of the leading business schools for its focus on sustainability and ethical leadership, Rhodes Business School has entered into a partnership with eLearnAfrica to develop a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), … Read more

Rising Graduate Unemployment Leads to Uptake in Entrepreneurship

According to PWC, even those with tertiary education are facing an uphill battle in finding employment, with about one in ten people who are unemployed in South Africa having a tertiary education. Read more

SA’s Indigenous Languages Must all be Fully Developed and Featured in Digital Resources…

Although South Africa has 11 official languages, we may be drifting into a world of monolingualism, especially when it comes to finding information online, says Professor Vukosi Marivate. Read more

SA’s Chinese Embassy Awards 59 University Students for Tackling Socio-Economic Issues

University students from across South Africa were recognised by the People’s Republic of China embassy in SA after entering an essay contest. Read more

SA Universities are Reimagining Postgraduate Supervision in Diverse Ways

The student-supervisor relationship at universities is changing. It is no longer bound to the model where the post-graduate is the apprentice of the supervisor. Now the approach is towards group supervision, cohort training and sharing of resources. Read more

SA Universities Feature in Top 500 on World Rankings List

South African universities’ global standing has dropped slightly, but seven of the country’s universities continued flying the flag high in the 2022/23 Best Global Universities ranking. Read more

Stellenbosch University Admit ‘Much More to do’ to Combat Racism at Institution

Stellenbosch University Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Wim de Villiers has received the report of the independent Khampepe inquiry into alleged racism at the institution. Read more

Stellenbosch University to Host Race and Transformation Conference

Following the release of the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry report into racism at Stellenbosch University (SU), the university in partnership with Nelson Mandela University and Bath University will host a Race and Transformation in Higher Education Conference… Read more

The Gap Universities are Having to Fill Regarding Student Mental Health Issues 

Student mental health issues in South Africa are escalating; but who should be providing the necessary care and treatment – universities or government? Read more

The New Crisis Hitting Schools in South Africa

A study conducted by a professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) shows alarming vaping trends among matriculants of affluent schools in South Africa, with the expert calling for the speedy implementation of vaping regulations.  Read more

The Linguistic Revolution at the University of KwaZulu-Natal

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is one of the country’s pioneers in developing a language policy, a process that started in 2004 and culminated in isiZulu being given official status alongside English. Read more

The Politics of Visual Redress at Stellenbosch University

Changing the visual culture at a university that was closely associated with apartheid (Stellenbosch University in South Africa) is particularly vexatious. It is central to the institution’s attempt to grow an institutional ethos and culture based on norms of inclusiveness, restitution, and redress. Read more

The Role of PanSALB in Upholding Multilingualism in SA’s Society

In order to effectively elevate the status of South Africa’s indigenous languages, they have to be transformed into, and used as, languages of learning… Read more

Twenty (20) winners of RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition 2022…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2022 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition. The competition attracted 136 applications from 16 countries in Africa… Read more

UCT in ‘Racist’ Split over Phakeng, Ngonyama Probes 

There seems to be divided voices at UCT on the investigation against vice-chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng and UCT council chairperson, Babalwa Ngonyama. Read more

UCT Partners with German-Based Company to Decarbonise Aviation

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has partnered with Germany’s Helmholtz Centre for Materials and Energy in a three-year research project.The aim of the partnership is to develop ways of decarbonising the aviation sector by creating sustainable aviation fuels. Read more

UKZN Students Address Ocean Pollution

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), in collaboration with Ecohealth, the Department of Health and Refilwe Matlotlo non-profit organisation, hosted a beach clean-up at Durban Harbour to put to use the knowledge they acquired from the recent COP27 conference at Sharm el-Sheikh, in Egypt. Read more

UKZN ENT Registrar Awarded for Research Presentation at National Congress

A medical registrar in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal was lauded for her award-winning presentation at the South African Society of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 58th National congress recently. Read more

UKZN’s Dr Maistry Wins First Place at National Congress

Maistry scooped first place for her excellent study titled ‘Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Monitoring in Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis (RRP).’ Read more

UJ in Bold Move to Cut Carbon Footprint with New Electric Bus Service

Something significant happened in the streets of the City of Joburg on 1 November 2022. That’s when students from the University of Johannesburg boarded its newest electric bus. Read more

UNISA’s School of Business Leadership Pioneers Integrated, Future-Focused, Continental Business Model

South Africa is not a silo, and a world of business opportunities lies just beyond our borders. According to Professor Pumela Msweli, this is something that many South African entrepreneurs and business leaders must still realise. Read more

University Leaders Could Benefit from a Global  Perspective

It is imperative that leaders in higher education have a global perspective beyond their national borders and building networks and communities of leaders is one of numerous ways to achieve this. Read more

Universities need to equip leaders to deal with an unscripted future

The University of Cape Town’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, said she wondered if young people these days were smarter than in her own youth days, …Read more

University of Pretoria Improves Global Ranking in Overall Reputation

The university is now ranked 382 globally in overall reputation, compared with 514 in 2021. The rankings are based on a survey carried out between November 2021 and February 2022, which garnered 29 399 responses from 147 countries. Read more

University of Pretoria Scientist in Fight to Save Antarctic’s Southern Ocean

A University of Pretoria macro-ecologist has joined a global campaign to save the Southern Ocean around the Antarctic which scientists say needs urgent protection… Read more

University of Pretoria to launch pioneering Centre for Asian Studies in Africa 

Our current moment is often referred to as the Asian century. Whereas different meanings are attributed to this term and experts disagree as to how accurately it describes our times, there is no doubt that it touches upon a very significant global transformation… Read more

University of Limpopo Students Dance Their Way into History Books

A ballroom and Latin dance couple, Happy and Adelaide Hlungwani from the University of Limpopo, etched their dance moves in the history books of the World Dance Championships Amateur League (WDC AL) and Dutch Open Amateur Latin Championship when they won gold and bronze medals in their debut international act. Read more

University Partnership Brings joy to Nelson Mandela Bay School Playgrounds

From grey and drab to colourful and inviting – Nelson Mandela University’s human movement science and architecture departments, together with Mandela University alumnus and architect Jacques Theron, have completed enhancements to a playground and ablution facility… Read more

University Rankings are an Unscientific and Socially Damaging Billion-Dollar Game…

Yale and Harvard have both announced that they are withdrawing from the US News & World Report university rankings. Harvard Law School Dean, John Manning, said it had become “impossible to reconcile our principles and commitments with the methodology and incentives”. Read more

Universities Should be Dynamic, ‘Transformative Spaces’

Universities in Africa need to be more dynamic and open to new initiatives as they seek to deliver on their mandate of advancing the domestic, social, and economic development of their societies, according to Teboho Moja, professor of higher education at New York University, USA. Read more

UNZA Ranked 6^th Best University in Africa

The University of Zambia (UNZA) has been ranked 6th best university in Africa from 156 universities in 20 countries by the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. Meanwhile, at the global level, UNZA has been ranked in the 501-600 position out of 1,799 participating universities. Read more

UP’s Digital Lab to Develop Future-Fit, Employable Students

The University of Pretoria (UP) has unveiled the Digital Capability Laboratory, aimed at equipping the institution’s students with “future-fit” digital skills. Read more

VCs from Africa, Europe Discuss Building Scientific Capacity

Vice-chancellors and university presidents from more than 30 universities across Africa and Europe met for the first summit between the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities early in November. Read more

VUT Strengthens Ties with Kenya’s Maasai Mara University… 

On Thursday, 8 November 2022, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Maasai Mara University (MMARAU) from Kenya strengthened their ties and formalised their longstanding relationship by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two universities. Read more

We Cannot Afford not to Embrace and Implement Multilingualism Says Professor Madadzhe

Studying African languages in institutions of higher education does not mean abandoning English. It simply recognises languages as an integral part of humanity, as communication instruments… Read more

What Knowledge Matters in Health Professions Education?

Knowledge matters in education, but some kinds of knowledge matter more. And knowledge that really matters is powerful. Powerful knowledge defines a field of study and determines what is taught within that field. Read more

Wits University to Make Multimillion-Rand Upgrades to Planetariu

Wits University’s received a R75 million donation to transform Johannesburg’s 62-year-old planetarium into an upgraded digital dome. The digital dome will promote scientific research, artificial intelligence, and the digital arts… Read more

Wits Young Scientist Wins Globally for Groundbreaking Research

Tamlyn Sasha Naidu, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand, recently wowed the Falling Walls Science Summit audience in Berlin with her groundbreaking research and won the main prize in the 2022 world finals with her presentation on “Breaking the Wall of Acid Mine Drainage”. Read more

Woman Engineering Student Scoops Science Award in Berlin

Tamlyn Sasha Naidu from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, was this year’s breakthrough winner of the emerging talents at the Falling Walls Science Summit held in Berlin, Germany. Falling Walls is the unique global hub connecting science, business and society. Read more

Women Scientists Lead Way with 4IR Solutions

Women researchers are shinning the spotlight on education, health and unemployment problems besetting poor communities and how South Africa can harness the power of technology to find solutions to those challenges. Read more

WSU Receives Financial Donation to Help Clear Students’ Debt 

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) recently welcomed a donation of over R4.5 million from Steinmüller Africa to relieve the burden of student debt, which amounts to R1.5 billion. According to WSU records, 72% of the university’s registered students are on the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Read more

WSU Rocked by Plagiarism Scandal

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has been rocked by accusations that its strategic plan has been plagiarised from another university. Large sections of the university’s Vision 2030, which came into being in 2020, was allegedly copied from the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Vision 2030, … Read more

 

31 October 2022

5 UKZN Academics Named Members of the Academy of Science of SA, and 1 Admitted into South African Young Academy of Science

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has congratulated six of its top scholars who have been named in the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS). Read more

24 Students Expelled from MUT After Torching of Building During Protest

The expulsion of 24 students fingered for the recent torching of one of the buildings at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) should serve as a warning that the institution will not put up with any form of violence and destruction of property. Read more

African HE Can be More Competitive Through 4IR Technologies

Universities across Africa need to embrace the new technologies being forged under the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or 4IR, to expand their educational capacity and produce relevant new knowledge, according to Tshilidzi Marwala, outgoing vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in South Africa. Read more

ASSAf Honours Top Academics

Twenty-nine of the country’s leading scholars and scientists were inaugurated as Members of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) at the annual Awards Ceremony last night (19 October 2022). Read more

Can SA Universities be Incubators of ‘Societal Good’?

The university’s role in societal development has an ambiguous legacy. Some argue that universities have failed miserably in fulfilling their third mission, or quadruple helix task, of promoting societal impact, development, innovation, and engagement. Read more

Decolonised Education is Still a Radical Idea

The profoundly radical idea of decolonisation came to command the attention of our country’s 26 public universities in 2015 and 2016, beginning with successful student protests the presence of a prominent statue of arch-imperialist Cecil John Rhodes on the University of Cape Town campus. Read more

Durban University of Technology Celebrates Being in top 5 in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) was ranked in the top 5 of all universities in South Africa in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Read more

Fort Hare Joins Ranks of World’s Top Universities

The University of Fort Hare has received a prestigious global accolade by one of the world’s most trusted university ranking agencies. Recently, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings published its annual report of the world’s top universities for 2023, listing 15 SA institutions among them. Read more

Govt Launches National Biosecurity Hub at University of Pretoria

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) on October 11 launched the National Biosecurity Hub, at the University of Pretoria’s (UP’s) Future Africa campus, to support the prevention and reduction of crop and animal disease in South Africa. Read more

Higher Education May Face Serious Funding Challenges…

The Financial and Fiscal Commission says the Department of Higher Education is likely to face serious funding challenges for students in tertiary institutions. Read more

Higher Education Should Promote More ‘Hard-Hand Skills’ for Prosperity

Last month the department of higher education and training released a Draft Policy for the Recognition of South African Higher Education Institutional Types. In the main, the policy seeks to articulate more sharply the three different types of higher education institutions that SA has, … Read more

Holberton School: New CEO to Expand Africa Network

Bucher on October 1st took over the management of Holberton School, the network of schools specializing in the training of high-level IT developers around the world. Read more

How did we stray from the simple principle of right and wrong? – Prof Jonathan Jansen

How does a university fall apart? Our research points to a simple and consistent finding: when the leadership of an institution violates its own rules with respect to academic governance. Read more

How to Tackle Research Agreements with Industry Partners

There is an understanding and agreement among scholars, higher education institutions and industry on the importance and benefits for universities and industry to engage in collaborative research. Read more

Insubordination, Bullying and Harassment Claims Divide Varsity

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) council is divided into two opposing factions. One supports vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Dan Kgwadi. The other is behind Refilwe Buthelezi, the chair of the council, who resigned on Wednesday. Read more

Intra-Africa Mobility for Training Agribusiness and Food Systems Scientists for African Agriculture (TAFSA)… 

About TAFSA ProgramIntra-Africa Mobility to Train Agribusiness and Food System Scientists for African Agriculture (TAFSA) is funded by the European Union (EU). The program is run by 5 African Universities… Read more

Join War Against Those Who Discredit Science

The African scientific community has to be part of global efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation against science that is threatening future progress that the world can make through scientific research breakthroughs. Read more

Private Tertiary Institutions Want to be Called Universities

JSE-listed Stadio and AdvTech, which own tertiary institutions and offer courses accredited under the same system as public universities, want to be able to call themselves universities to help them compete better and assist graduates in job hunting. Read more

Medical Graduates Idling with Degrees 

They were sent to study medicine abroad with promise of work at home. After spending six years training in Russia, the last thing a group of medical students expected was to join the growing list of unemployed graduates in South Africa. Read more

MUT Study Reveals Gender Disparity in Science Research

Social, behavioural and policy interventions are needed to support women to succeed in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This was suggested in a study by Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) academics, comparing women’s disparity in science research… Read more

Nelson Mandela University First University to Legally Operate Drones 

Nelson Mandela University became the first university in South Africa to legally operate drones. This achievement brought it a step closer to realising its vision of offering a diverse range of life-changing educational experiences for a better world. Read more

New Cinematography Institution to Boost Film Industry

The first-ever tertiary training institution for cinematography in the Central Africa sub-region, the Higher Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Professionals of Central Africa (ISCAC), has opened in Cameroon. Read more

Number of Ranked Universities in Africa Increases to 97

African universities have made dramatic progress in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2023 as, for the first time, 97 universities from 17 countries, up from 71 last year, have been rated to be part of the best universities globally, with 10 of them in the top 500. Read more

Reflections on the Race Inquiry at Stellenbosch University

On Sunday morning, 23 October, I woke to the news that another Stellenbosch University student, the third male student in 2022, urinated on a fellow student’s belongings. Read more

Report on Alleged ‘Capture’ at UCT is Mischievous, Unethical and Misleading

The article under the headline “Dark days: Accusations of capture and governance instability rock UCT” (3 October 2022) contains a litany of claims that are either incorrect, misleading or unethical. Read more

SA Doctorates Get the Third Degree: On Par with Other Countries, but Room for Improvement

A review by the Council of Higher Education on the state of doctoral degrees finds that South African institutions are on par with international universities, but says there is room for improvement. Read more

SA Students Struggle to Finish Higher Education Courses…

One of the challenges facing higher education in South Africa is that many students don’t complete their degrees or take a long time to finish their studies.Professor Tawana Kupe highlighted the problem at the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in New York last week. Read more

SA Universities Advanced in Finding Solutions to Global Challenges…

South African universities were well represented at the Times Higher Education World Academic Summit in New York this past week. The summit saw hundreds of delegates from universities around the world meet up to discuss the future of higher education and its impact on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Read more

SA Varsities Embrace the Cloud

South African universities and other institutions of higher learning embrace a new Cloud-driven future of education. Among these is the University of Limpopo, which in 2018 began revamping its enterprise architecture, ushering its ailing information technology infrastructure into a new world of efficiency. Read more

Science Champion Wants to See More Young Women in STEM

A 25-year-old student from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa has been channelling her love for science into nearby communities where she is raising awareness about careers for women in science and providing information to girls about fields of study in the sciences. Read more

Skills to Tackle Climate Change Should be on Agenda at COP27

The capacity-building aspect of climate change should be addressed when climate science activists, researchers and politicians gather for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, in Egypt from 6-18 November. Read more

South Africa’s Telescope Designed to Study Birth of Universe

South Africa is home to part of one of the largest scientific endeavours in history. The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) is the world’s biggest telescope and the international project aims to probe mindboggling questions about the birth of our universe.

Stellenbosch’s R1bn Luxury Private Student Accommodation Development 

The development of a luxury new R1 billion private residence for students is on the cards for a prime site just a stone’s throw away from Stellenbosch University and will be launched to market later this month (October). Read more

Stellenbosch Theoretical Physicist Honoured with SAIP Gold Medal

In his career as a theoretical physicist, Prof Hendrik Geyer has always put up his hand for the big problems in physics – from developing a mathematical framework in the 1990s that has become fundamental to the building of quantum mechanical systems today, to building the field of physics in South Africa. Read more 

Stellenbosch Uni Hit by Yet Another Urination Scandal, the Third this year 

Stellenbosch University has been rocked by yet another urination scandal. Campus management says it’s been made aware of a severely intoxicated student who urinated in the room of fellow students at the Eendrag residence during the early hours of Saturday morning. Read more

‘Tertiary Institutions Need to Equip Future Generations with Coping Skills’

Rhodes University vice-chancellor Sizwe Mabizela says the Covid-19 pandemic taught us that we need to learn to navigate uncertainty and change… Read more

The Dire Struggles of Students from Low-Income Families

A study by a team of researchers from three universities has revealed the dire struggles South African university students from low-income families experience. This includes lack of funds to purchase electronic devices and clothing as well as being exposed to crime. Read more

The Transformation of the Knowledge Commons: Perspectives from the Global South.

The growing complexity and interdependence of multiple global development challenges call for more inter-disciplinary and forward-looking research and knowledge generation. Read more

Twenty (20) Winners of RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition…

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) is pleased to announce the 20 winners of the 2022 RUFORUM Young African Entrepreneurs Competition. The competition attracted 136 applications from 16 countries in Africa… Read more

UCT Council Split on Investigation into Allegations Against Chair, VC 

The University of Cape Town council was split right down the middle on whether to appoint a retired judge to investigate allegations of capture and misconduct against Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng,… Read more

UKZN, CPUT Students Joint Runners Up in Annual Design Competition

A University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) student was a joint runner-up with a student from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in the PG Bison 1.618 Education Initiative. Read more

UKZN Honours student to represent SA in 2023 World Slam Poetry Competition… 

A University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) student received R22 000 and will represent South Africa at the 2023 World Slam Poetry Competition in Brazil next year. Kwanele Nyembe, an Honours student in drama and performing arts, was crowned the National Poetry Slam champion during the recent Poetry Africa Festival. Read more

UKZN Hosts Climate Change Education Certificate Celebration

The School of Education’s Community Engagement and Extended Learning division hosted the Keep it Cool-Climate Change Education (KIC-CCE) certificate celebration on the Edgewood campus. Read more

UKZN Student Entrepreneurs Make Clean Sweep at Regional Competition

Four University of KwaZulu-Natal student entrepreneurs made a clean sweep at the regional round of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Challenge hosted by Mangosuthu University of Technology in Durban recently. Read more

Understanding Just What Coaching is and the Different Forms it Takes 

There are many misconceptions about what coaching is and the various forms it can take. The field of coaching is diverse and covers many different areas of development. Read more 

Unisa Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula Accused of Causing Divisions at the Higher Learning Institution

The once glorious University of South Africa (Unisa) is a shadow of its former self, and the accusations of incompetence point to vice-chancellor Puleng LenkaBula. Read more

Universities South Africa’s Fundraising Project to Help Pay for Students’ Historical Debts …

In the face of mounting student debt at universities across the country, in August 2020, Universities South Africa (USAf) pledged to raise R1 billion in 24 months to help pay off students’ historical debts;… Read more

University of Mpumalanga’s Studentpreneurs Scoop Award in Malaysia 

The University of Mpumalanga’s (UMP) studentpreneurs won the Best Pitch Award at the Start-up Entrepreneurship Programme held recently at the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Malaysia. Read more

UWN Celebrates 15 Years of Independent, In-Depth Reporting

University World News (UWN) passed another significant milestone this week – its 15th birthday – which is a moment for celebration of its achievements since its first edition on 14 October 2007. Read more

UWC Helps Teachers Make Math and Data Analytics More Exciting for Their Learners

With the growing demand for data scientists and analysts worldwide, learning subjects like maths and data analytics at school need to be more attractive and fun for pupils. Read more

Walter Sisulu University Student Wins SA-Sweden Essay Competition

Walter Sisulu University fourth year social sciences student, Philile Maseti, has used his good writing skills to earn himself a networking opportunity, after winning the SA-Sweden Essay Competition. Read more

Wits Gets R54m Funding to Put SA on Quantum Map

Wits University has secured R54 million in funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), to kick-start the South African Quantum Technologies Initiative (SA QuTI). Read more

Wits to Kick-Start a National Quantum Technologies Initiative with R54 Million Funding

Wits University has led a national consortium that secured R54 million funding from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to co-ordinate a national quantum technologies initiative. Read more

Wits University International Lightning Conference Ends with a Bang, Just in Time for ‘Lightning Season’ 

For the first time in its 71-year history, the International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), one of the most prestigious international lightning protection conferences, was hosted by an African city. Read more

WSU Moves to Upskill Academic Staff

Walter Sisulu University’s council chair, advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, has admitted that the majority of WSU lecturers fail to meet the minimum requirements for their posts but says steps are being taken to address the problem. Read more

WSU Now in a Better Place

Governance, finances better, but more focus needed on producing graduates who can find jobs, says outgoing council chair. Walter Sisulu University council chair Tembeka Ngcukaitobi is happy with the stability in the governance and finances of the university,  … Read more

Xenophobia is Threatening the Future of the SA University

One of the most serious threats facing higher education and the scientific enterprise in South Africa is the rising tide of xenophobia in the halls of academia. I did not think this was possible. Read more

 

30 September 2022

65-Year-Old PhD Gradate Doesn’t Believe in the Retirement Concept 

That was the relief and feeling of accomplishment expressed by 65-year-old Dr Mlamuli Mthembu, who graduated with a PhD in leadership studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal this week. Read more

Another Stellenbosch University Student Suspended for Urinating on Roommate’s Chair

Stellenbosch University (SU) has suspended a student who urinated on his roommate’s chair at the Helshoogte men’s residence.This is the second urination scandal to hit the university this year. Read more

ARUA to Add Seven Centres of Excellence in the Next Year

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) will increase the number of Centres of Excellence it runs from 13 to 20 in the next 12 months in response to the need for increased university-led knowledge output in priority scientific areas. Read more

A Wits Professor Wants to Save Rhinos…

South Africa’s rhino population is dwindling, with the demand for the animals’ horns fuelling rampant poaching. Read more

Big Win for UKZN Student Entrepreneurs in Regional Round of Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Challenge

Four student entrepreneurs from the University of KwaZulu-Natal have won the regional round of the Entrepreneurship Intervarsity Challenge (EDHE). Read more

‘Change the Knowledge Economy into a Knowledge Democracy’

Although the prospect of a radical transformation of higher education remains dim under neo-liberalism, there is still much that could be done to help universities fulfil their public-good mandate more effectively, according to Laura Czerniewicz, former director of the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Read more

CUT Solar Car Chasing the Sun to Cape Town

The Central University of Technology, (CUT) Free State’s solar car team “Seilatsatsi” will be competing in the 2022 Sasol Solar Car Challenge, marking the team’s second participation. Read more

Explore New Ways to Restructure Knowledge Production

As agents of social transformation, African universities should explore new ways of restructuring curricula, developing students, and producing knowledge, according to South African academic Cheryl de la Rey, who is now the vice-chancellor of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Read more

First Black SA Woman to Graduate with a PhD in Marine Geology – from UKZN 

Research conducted by the first black South African woman to graduate with a PhD in marine geology seeks to understand how coastlines respond to climate change and the consequences of future changes.Nonkululeko Dladla, received her PhD in marine geology… Read more 

Former UCT Student Named on ‘Rapist List’ Wins R300,000 in Damages

A former University of Cape Town (UCT) student has won damages claim against a woman who added his name to a widely-circulated UCT rapists list. Read more

Governance Systems Can aid Seamless Leadership Transitions

Moments of leadership transition reveal much about the governance systems and processes in an organization. The more robust the institutional arrangements are, the more seamless the transition. Read more

Harmonised Higher Education Could be a Game Changer

The implementation of the proposal by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) that seeks to harmonise higher education systems in East Africa could be a much-needed game changer. Read more 

HE in Prisons Still ‘Patchy’ Despite Expansion of E-Learning

The COVD-19 pandemic’s expansion of online learning has created new higher education opportunities to teach Africa’s prison inmates, but even the administrators of some correctional facilities and government officials have been reluctant to take advantage of these options. Read more

Higher Education and Training on Worldskills Competition 2022 Special Edition

The WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition (WSC2022SE) will see over 1,100 competitors from 57 countries and regions participate in 61 skill competitions which will be held between October and November 2022. Read more

Higher Education Department ‘Following All Cases’ of NSFAS Fraud 

Higher education minister Blade Nzimande said his department welcomes the proclamation signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to allow the Special Investigation Unit to investigate maladministration and fraud at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Read more

Industry Needs Technical Skills

To stimulate skills development, TVETSmart is shifting its focus towards more vocational and technical education.The campaign is funded through the German Ministry of Economic. Read more

It is Vital to Build Capacity in the Basic Sciences in Africa

This year is the centenary of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics of which South Africa is one of the 13 founding members, and which has 60 member countries. It is also the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. Read more

Mining and Minerals have had Limited Educational Benefits

The story of mineral discoveries and mining in Africa being a social curse for the continent is likely to persist after researchers at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank recently found no conclusive evidence of intergenerational mobility into higher education in most African countries and districts where extractions of mineral resources occur. Read more

More Than Half of South Africa’s Skilled Graduates Want to Leave the Country

About half of South Africa’s top earners and university graduates are considering emigration as citizens lose faith in the country’s future, the Social Research Foundation said, citing a survey it conducted. Read more

Network Wants to Make Impact by Providing 21^st-Century Skills

Academics have stressed the importance of ensuring African graduates secure jobs after their studies, ideally linked to the expertise they have gained during their courses. Read more

Network Will Support Implementation of Addis Convention

A group of African countries has launched the African Network of National Implementation Structures, a framework that will coordinate and campaign for the recognition of higher education qualifications, as well as facilitate academic mobility and inter-university cooperation across the continent. Read more

North West University Denies Suspending Student for Afrikaans Speech 

North West University has denied suspending a student at its Potchefstroom campus amid allegations of discrimination. The claim follows an incident where the head of one of the residences addressed an annual dining session in Afrikaans instead of English over the weekend. Read more

North-West University Enhances Access by Embracing Language Diversity

At the North-West University (NWU), language is not a barrier that impedes access to a tertiary education, but a tool that facilitates access to quality education for all university stakeholders. Read more

Nuclear Energy is Part of Our Future

South Africa is facing a myriad of energy challenges, compounded by a growing number of both external and internal forces. Answers to questions regarding our future prosperity are needed, and the North-West University (NWU) is committed to finding sustainable solutions to South Africa’s energy requirements. Read more

Outgoing UJ Vice-Chancellor Dreams Big About Africa

When outgoing University of Johannesburg (UJ) Vice-Chancellor Professor Tshilidzi Marwala relocates to Tokyo, Japan, next year, he has no intention to leave the African continent behind. Read more

Pretoria Student Murdered for Cellphone: Who was ‘Humble’ Thapelo Menwe?

Twenty-three-year-old student Thapelo Menwe was walking back to his Pretoria University residence in Hatfield in the early hours of September 10 when he was approached from behind by a man wielding a gun. Read more

Professor Unapologetic About Injecting Radioactive Material to Deter Rhino Horn Trade

University of Witwatersrand Professor James Larkin offers no apologies that his proposed experiment to inject live rhino’s horns with radioactive materials to discourage poaching may destroy the legal rhino horn trade, including rhino ranchers’ businesses. Read more

Ranking the 12 Best Universities in South Africa

Twelve universities from South Africa feature in the 2022-2023 list of the top 2,000 universities compiled by the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR). Read more

‘Rebuild the Intellectual Community on the Continent’

Neo-liberalism has devastated African universities, turning them from vibrant centres of new thinking and academic comradeship into factories churning out marketable academic products and “saleable” students, according to leading Tanzanian scholar-activist Issa Shivji. Read more

Research on Food Security in Need of More Collaboration

African universities have been conducting most of their agricultural research focused on their home countries, but mostly lacking in a transdisciplinary or multidisciplinary approach. At the same time, collaborations are formed mostly with foreign counterparts rather than with colleagues at home or from elsewhere on the continent. Most of the work is conducted by male researchers. Read more

Research Shows Voluntary Commitments by Big Food Companies on Marketing Unhealthy Foods Don’t Work

New research from Wits University’s Centre for Health Economics and Decision Sciences, just published in Nature Food, shows that voluntary commitments by major food and drinks companies to take actions in support of public health don’t work. Read more

Rethink Internationalisation from Africa’s Perspective

In May 2020, during the first COVID-19 wave in South Africa, the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA) noted in a position paper that the pandemic provided an opportunity to “critically examine traditional concepts, models and practices of internationalisation and to reimagine internationalisation from the perspective of South Africa, Africa and the Global South”. Read more

SA’s PhD Review: Its Relevance for Other Countries in Africa

Earlier in 2022, South Africa’s Council on Higher Education (CHE), which is responsible for the quality assurance of higher education qualifications, published a comprehensive review of doctoral education in South Africa. Read more

Samsung and Walter Sisulu University Power Up the Tech Skills of SA’s Youth

Samsung Innovation Campus programme aims to produce the future leaders of the fourth industrial revolution… Read more

Scientist Wants Everyone in Africa to Have Clean Water

She has spent countless days and nights in the lab, carefully analysing molecules and nanoparticles that can degrade different impurities and filter water. Her face brightens when she talks about water purification and decontamination in Africa. Read more

‘Signs of Life’: Thoughts on a ‘Not-Strange’ Postdoc Forum

The uncomfortable plight of postdoctoral research fellows (PDRFs), who are neither formally employed by their institutions nor categorised as students, and whose jobs are often open to casualisation, was highlighted during a national postdoctoral forum held in South Africa earlier this year. Read more

Skills Crisis in South Africa Can no Longer be Ignored 

The Department of Social Development says that the critical shortage of social workers in the country has hit crisis levels and can no longer be ignored.”I need to indicate that the shortage of social workers is now becoming a crisis that cannot be ignored anymore… Read more

South Africa is Facing a Deepening Student Financial Crisis and Experts Weigh in on Solutions to the Problem.

Clement Manyathela is joined by several experts on education in attendance at the AAHEFA 3rd International Conference on Financing Higher Education in Africa. Read more

South African Universities are Making a Shift – But There’s a Catch

The latest PwC Vice-Chancellor Survey for 2022 showed that universities are rapidly transforming to become more digitally aligned – making a big shift to virtual schooling- but access remains the biggest hurdle. Read more

Spoon-Feeding is Bad for Students…

The literature on higher education invariably refers to a vast majority of African universities as teaching-focused universities. This implies that African universities focus primarily on teaching rather than on research. Read more

Stellenbosch University vindicated by court ruling on pandemic language policy

Stellenbosch University (SU) has welcomed a Western Cape High Court judgment which declared that the university did not violate its language policy. Read more

Students Shut University of Mpumalanga’s Gates to Protest for Allocation of NSFAS Funds 

Enraged students took over the University of Mpumalanga’s (UMP) Mbombela Campus, demanding better services be provided by this institution and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Read more

Students Take the University of Zimbabwe to Court Over Fee Hike

Some students at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) have taken the higher learning institution and its vice-chancellor Paul Mapfumo to court challenging the recent increase in tuition fees. Read more

Testament to African Scientists’ Genomics Surveillance

The rapid expansion of genomics surveillance through a wide-ranging scientific collaborative network has enabled African scientists and public health institutions to illustrate how the SARS-CoV-2 variants reached and spread across the African continent in real time during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published in the journal Science. Read more

Thousands of Students Sign Petition to Increase National Student Financial Aid Scheme Allowance

Over 50,000 people – many of whom are university students – have signed a petition, imploring Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to increase their monthly allowance. Read more

TUT Aims to Ensure Unemployed Graduates are a Thing of the Past

If the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) had its way, there would be no such thing as an unemployed graduate. Read more

UJ’s First Neurodiversity Centre to Also Cater for Underprivileged Communities in Soweto

The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Department of Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Education will launch the first Centre for Neurodiversity at a public higher education institution this Friday. Read more

Universities and Research Institutions in Ghana Urged to Develop and Operationalise Intellectual Property Policy

Universities and research institutions across the country are being urged to develop intellectual property policies for their organisations and put in place deliberate strategies and action plans for implementing the policies developed. Read more

University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Professor Receives Fellowship Award

University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Professor David Spurrett of the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classic (SRPC) was bestowed with the university’s fellowship award to recognise his achievement as an academic and contribution to his field of philosophy,… Read more

University of Limpopo Pays Accommodation Allowances After Violent Protests

After violent protests over student accommodation allowances on the University of Limpopo campus last week, the institution has raised funds for students who rely on financial aid. Read more

University of Limpopo Students Burn Guard House During Protest for Allowance 

University of Limpopo (UL) students embarked on a violent protest on Wednesday, setting alight a security guard house, uprooting the university’s fence and blockading roads that lead to the university. Read more

Value System Failure Requires Drastic Measures…

To help confront the widespread value system failure across Africa, including ethical challenges witnessed in leadership, governance and research, universities have to introduce measures such as establishing directorates of ethics and include ethics in the curriculum to teach students as future leaders the ethical way of doing things. Read more

Varsity’s Breakthrough in Prostate Cancer Treatment

The Department of Nuclear Medicine of the University of the Free State (UFS) accomplished a breakthrough in the treatment of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (MCRPC), an advanced stage of prostate cancer, giving hope to affected patients. Read more

What can be Done About the Growth in Dissertation Mills?

Academic dishonesty is on the rise in universities in Africa – and globally – including dissertation fraud. Read more

Wits Mining Institute to Host Three-Day Technology Seminar 

The University of the Witwatersrand’s Mining Institute (WMI) is to host a three-day seminar on mining technology, from September 27 to 29, on the theme of ‘Turning research curiosity into twenty-first-century minerals industry performance, relationships and technology’. Read more

Wits to Name Landmark After a Mining Company…

Protesters say Sibanye-Stillwater is responsible for the “exploitation and destruction of communities and the murder of mine workers.” Read more

Wits University Celebrates 100 Years with Times Square Billboard in NY

Wits University has been celebrating their centenary year with many events, but this one was truly amazing. Read more

Woman Believed to be a Rhodes University Student Drowns in the Eastern Cape: NSRI

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) says a 19-year-old woman believed to be a Rhodes University student has drowned, in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape. Read more

Young South Africans Need to Build the Future They Want

“We are here because we were not only prisoners of hope; we were willing to back our hope with action. Some of those people are Beyers Naudé, who paid for my education. Some of them are Charlotte Maxeke. The Constitution is a gateway to a better future. Read more

Young Scientists Want Machine Learning Revolution in Africa

Cameroon national Loic Elnathan Tiokou Fangang concluded his masters degree in mathematical sciences at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) earlier in 2022 and, as he awaits an opportunity to pursue a PhD in machine learning, he believes the dream of the institute’s founders – of producing the next Einstein – has already been accomplished. Read more

 

31 August 2022

10% of Rape Cases Reported Nationally Stem from Higher Education Institutions

Ten percent of all rape cases reported in South Africa come from institutions of higher learning.This according to Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande. Read more

African Seed Fund for Research and Education Launched by Imperial

Imperial has launched a wide-ranging new seed fund for research and education projects with partners in Africa.The College will provide funding for collaborations with partners at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) and members of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). Read more

All 26 Universities in South Africa Listed in New Global Ranking

A new global ranking of universities, using open data, has ranked all of South Africa’s universities based on the quality, quantity, and access to their web content. Read more

A New Entrepreneurship Support Tool for SA Universities is the Result of an International Partnership

A new Student Entrepreneurship Support (SES) Self-Assessment Tool, currently under development, could be the solution to evaluating the success and effectiveness of entrepreneurship programmes… Read more

A Sustainable World Requires Women Scientists to be Heard

“Excellent science and innovation require the talents of women and men. We need the complementary skills and values of both genders to create a balanced, holistic approach to leadership.” Read more

Cost and Quality Concerns Slow the Growth of Private HE

A lack of trust in the value of the qualifications and the quality of tuition offered by private higher education institutions are among the reasons why this sector has not grown to complement public higher education in South Africa. Read more

Concern Over Time PhD Candidates Take to Complete Studies

The time taken for doctoral students in South Africa to complete their degrees is a matter for serious concern, a study by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) has revealed. Furthermore, the substantial number of students who drop out before completion is also of great worry. Read more

Council Conducts Audit on WSU Staffing and Programmes After Accreditation Issues 

The Council on Higher Education conducted an institutional audit at Walter Sisulu University this week during which, among the issues scrutinised, were challenges on staffing capacity, infrastructure and postgraduate studies…Read more

CoHU, Global Scholars Interrogate Chronic Conditions and Suffering in Africa

The University of Dar es Salaam College of Humanities (CoHU), in collaboration with the Consortium of Humanities Centres and Institutes (CHCI), has held the eminent Global Humanities Institute 2022 to discuss chronic conditions and sufferings in Africa. Read more

Diversity-Related Questions Low on Africa’s Research Agenda

With the exception of South Africa, African academics are lagging behind the Global North in conducting research and publishing work done about diversity-related topics. Read more

Failures of Land Restitution and Possibilities for the Future

The struggle for freedom – first from British imperialism and later from apartheid, was a struggle for land. These were the words of South African lawyer and author, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, who delivered the Dr Phyllis Naidoo Memorial lecture at UKZN’s Westville campus. Read more

Gender-Based Violence and Femicide at TVET Colleges Spotlighted

With more university students profiled as victims of gender-based violence and femicide, victims within TVET colleges are seldom known.The TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) College Strategic Industrial Partnership Summit drew to a close… Read more

Higher Education Encourages Youth to Take up Artisan Careers

As the country continues to face economic challenges and a high unemployment rate, young people are encouraged to contemplate becoming artisans. This follows a heritage career expo held at the University of Mpumalanga which was organised by the Department of Higher Education, … Read more

How Can Institutions Play an Anchoring Role in Communities?

The evolution of the mission of universities from purely research and teaching institutions, so-called ivory towers of knowledge, to engaged universities, cognisant of and responsive to their local context and national developmental imperatives, has been a strategic objective of South African higher education’s transformation agenda for some time. Read more

How to Advance Your University’s Advancement Office

A major challenge facing universities in Africa is supplementing government funding of higher education with other sources of income. Private philanthropy can help institutions, which is why the establishment and strengthening of advancement offices are becoming increasingly important. Read more

Knowledge Co-Production a Prerequisite in Climate Change Battle

Universities can help to initiate discussions to strengthen the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can promote the political accountability needed to attain them. Read more

Lack of Data Derails the Planning and Growth of Universities

A lack of reliable data across Africa has weakened policies to improve higher education across the continent, development experts argue. Read more

Macroalgae Project to Benefit Science and Communities

Marine farming in Mozambique and the country’s research capacity in the field of aquaculture are set to benefit from the work done by Dr Valera Dias, a senior lecturer at Eduardo Mondlane University’s department of biological sciences in Maputo and one of the 44 handpicked beneficiaries of the African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) programme. Read more

NWU Host First of Its Kind Indigenous Astronomy Conference 

The North-West University (NWU) proudly hosted the inaugural three-day International Indigenous Astronomy Conference from 27-29 July 2022 at the Royal Marang Hotel in Rustenburg.During the conference the International Indigenous Astronomy Experts Society was also launched. Read more

Pan African University Grows, but Also Faces Challenges

The African Union-run Pan African University (PAU) has been attracting a growing number of postgraduate students since its establishment in 2012, and its research and development thrust has seen the registration of patents, the publication of academic articles and the establishment of innovation and entrepreneurship hubs. Read more

Passion drives universities’ entrepreneurship project, and it is paying off…

No membership fee is required to join the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme. Read more

Plans to Build 2 New Universities and More Colleges in South Africa 

A feasibility study is underway to make way for the new University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni as well as a new crime Detection University in Hammanskraal. Read more

Questions About Math Teachers’ Training in Lockdown

A study has revealed that some first-year education students at universities did not participate in online class discussions, despite being logged on to their learning management systems. Furthermore, online assessments provided the leeway for the intensification of plagiarism and cheating. Read more

RUFORUM-MSC Business College Incubatees Perform

The YAFF award was introduced by the National Department of Agriculture Land Reform and Rural Development and forms part of the department’s strategy to develop 2500 youth owned enterprises country wide. Read more

SA Faces Research Funding Crisis

South Africa is in danger of falling behind in the fields of technology and innovation because less money is being spent on much-needed research, experts have warned. Read more

Science, Innovation Dept Envisions a Solid Hydrogen Economy by 2050

South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) views hydrogen as a key enabler of decarbonisation, particularly in the transport sector – heavy-duty trucking, shipping, aviation, and rail – and in major polluting industries such as steel, cement and chemicals manufacturing, as well as mining. Read more

SIU to Probe Alleged Corruption at University Of Fort Hare

President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the Special Investigating Unit(SIU) to probe alleged corruption and maladministration at the university and the enrollment of honours students. Read more

Solar Pilot Project to be Launched at TVET Colleges to Combat SA’s Energy Crisis

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and MEC Mireille Wenger have launched a new exciting new Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) qualification through Premier’s Council on Skills. Read more

Solution to Africa’s HE Problem Lies Beyond Campus Gates

The responsibility for producing an effective higher education system that can support Africa’s development should rest primarily with national governments and societies rather than the universities themselves, … Read more

South Africa-France Research Week Opens Up Possibilities for Stronger Research Collaboration…

The recently concluded France-South Africa Higher Education and Research Week yielded promising outcomes, given the high level of interest from both participating countries, the packed agenda and the recommendations made for ongoing mutual collaboration between French and South African universities… Read more

SA Universities Listed in New Global Ranking, UKZN’s Mining and Mineral Engineering Ranked First in the Country… 

All 26 of SA’s universities have been listed on a new global ranking of universities based on the quality, quantity, and access to their web content.Due to the web-based nature of the data collected, the “Webometrics Ranking of World Universities” ranking has covered over 31 000 higher learning institutes, … Read more

Speech Therapy Students Face Extra Year of Study…

A group of students studying speech-language therapy at the University of Fort Hare are accusing the institution of offering a low-standard course barring them from graduating. Read more

Standard Bank’s Universities’ Partnership Helps Build a New Generation of Entrepreneurs

Standard Bank’s investment in the Universities South Africa (USAf) Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme has led to the establishment of Economic Activation Offices (EAO) at 10 South African public universities. Read more

Stellenbosch University Researcher Wins Prestigious UK Scientific Award

University of Stellenbosch Biomedical Sciences Department Professor Novel Chegou has been awarded the Royal Society’s Africa Prize for 2022, the university announced on Wednesday. Read more

Stellenbosch University Student Expelled After Disciplinary Committee Finds Him Guilty of Sexual Misconduct 

A Stellenbosch University (SU) student has been expelled after the institution’s independent Central Disciplinary Committee found him guilty of sexual misconduct. Read more

Student Killed at Student Residence in Durban

A woman student at the Mangosuthu University of Technology died after being stabbed multiple times in her residence room, allegedly by someone whom she knew. Read more

Students from Africa May Soon Start to Return to China

China is preparing to welcome back students from Africa who have been unable to return to the country since they left following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Read more

Students from Africa May Soon Start to Return to China

China is preparing to welcome back students from Africa who have been unable to return to the country since they left following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. Read more

Student Says, ‘No Hard Feelings’ But Father Wants to Fight on

The Stellenbosch student whose property was urinated on by a drunk fellow student has told Times LIVE Premium he harboured no bad feelings towards Theuns du Toit, who has since been expelled. Read more

Systemic Decolonisation Needs a Pan-African Approach

Mounting pressure for the decolonisation of higher education presents progressive opportunities for epistemic freedom and the emergence of universities that are authentic African universities, according to Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni, the chair in epistemologies of the Global South at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. Read more

Talking My Language: Why African-Language Policy is Crucial in SA Universities 

UCT PhD candidate Naledi Maponopono is an expert on languages. Through her thesis research, she seeks to develop a monitoring and evaluation tool specifically targeted at government… Read more

These are the 8 Best Universities in South Africa – With one Shooting up the Global Rankings 

The ShanghaiRanking Consultancy has this week published its 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) highlighting what it deems to be the best 1,000 universities in the world – including nine located in South Africa. Read more

The University of the Western Cape Introduces an All-New Degree

The workplace is a dynamic environment. The university curriculum needs to be reevaluated in light of new employment paths. In light of this, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new BCom and IS (Bachelor of Commerce and Information Systems) degree programme. Read more

They Need ‘Extra Support’: University Students, Staff’s Mental Health Under Spotlight After Suicides 

Two suicides at a Western Cape University have thrown the spotlight on the mental health challenges experienced by students and even staff. Stellenbosch University (SU) student Ky Rowe, 20, died on Tuesday at the Simonsberg men’s residence. Read more

Three Women Found Murdered at Durban Student Residences this Week

KwaZulu-Natal has started Women’s Month on a very sad note, with three families in mourning following the gruesome deaths of their daughters. This after the young women were murdered in separate gender-based-violence cases. Read more

True Transformation of HE Requires Deep Discussion and Time

Great care must be taken in transforming South Africa’s universities if they are not to be overtaken by ruin or subject to persistent, unresolved contestation, according to leading South African higher education policy specialist Saleem Badat. Read more

TUT Launches Gender Desk to Tackle Hate Crime Against Women

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has set up a gender-based violence framework in response to rising incidents of hate crime against women and girls in the country, as well as in institutions of higher learning. Read more

Two New Specialised Universities on the Cards for Gauteng

Access to education is on top of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande’s agenda.Nzimande announced a few days ago that the department will build the University of Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni and the Crime Detection University in Hammanskraal outside Pretoria, …Read more

UCT Joint Research Project with University of Limpopo Seeks Solutions to TB

To boost drug discovery research capacity, UCT’s Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) has partnered with the University of Limpopo (UL) on a project titled “TB Drug Discovery Hit to Lead Optimization”. Read more

UCT Professor Wins Award for Her Commitment to Safe and Secure Transport at ‘Science Oscars’

UCT professor in Transport Planning and Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering, Marianne Vanderschuren, has won the Special Annual Theme Award: Basic Science and Sustainable Development at the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) South 32 Awards. Read more

UJ is SA’s First University to Use Blockchain to Safeguard Certificates Against Fraud

For students who gain their qualifications legitimately – who attend lectures, write assignments and sit for exams, often for several years – the certificates they receive at the end of their studies are proof of effort spent and knowledge gained. Read more

UKZN Ambassadors Encourage Mbizana Learners

Ambassadors from University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) visited two secondary schools in Mbizana last week, with the aim of motivating learners. They visited Marelane Senior Secondary School and OR Tambo Technical High School in Mbizana. Read more

Universities on Cannabis, Innovation Mission 

Two South African tertiary institutions have finalised partnerships in the past month that will boost research and innovation in Mzansi’s agri sector.The University of the Free State (UFS) has teamed up with ZZ2, a leading South African farming and fresh produce company, … Read more

Universities, TVET Colleges to Compete in MTN’s Campus Cup Challenge 

The 2022 edition of the MTN Business App of the Year competition aims to “reignite passion” for application development among the youth of South Africa through its standalone category…Read more

UWC Undertakes Social Responsiveness Initiative Through Health and Wellness Days

Bringing several faculties together, UWC has embarked on a community outreach initiative focusing on health and wellness in Bellville and Fisantekraal (Durbanville). Read more

Wits Business School’s Huge Turnaround

The days of false dawns for Wits Business School are over, says director Maurice Radebe. The brand image has been burnished, the school is helping shape important debates, student numbers are up and major corporates are returning to the fold for executive education. Read more

Wits Innovators Are Changing Lives with Medicine ‘ATMs’ and More

Wits University is home to a wellspring of talent from multiple disciplines, where life-changing innovation is incubated. Its students and academics are changing the world for good as they create solutions for the real issues people and communities face. Read more

Wits scientists Launch Book About Africa’s Largest and Longest Running Birth Cohort 

Over half of the women who had been part of Africa’s largest and longest-running birth cohort study felt overwhelmed by debt and reported intimate partner violence and depression compared to their mothers. Read more

‘Women in Africa are Real Climate Change Champions …’

“It is estimated that the waste sector in South Africa contributes 4.4% to the total greenhouse gas emissions. However, the nexus of waste and climate change is not explicitly quantified nor addressed in current policies at national and-or at local levels.” Read more

Women Judges and Lawyers Play an Invaluable Role in Fighting GBV… 

The South African Chapter of the International Association of Women Judges (SAC-IAWJ) will be hosting its annual Conference from 5-7 August 2022 at the University of South Africa. Read more

Young Illovu Woman- the First to Study and Graduate in Her Family 

Durban University of Technology cum laude graduate, Sinegugu Magutshwa hopes for a bright future after earning the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award for academic excellence for the degree of Bachelor of Education. Read more

 

31 July 2022

African Languages Pushed at South African Universities 

South African academics have urged institutions of higher learning to be progressive and implement the country’s Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions, which came into effect earlier this year. Read more

Africa’s New Science Diplomacy Initiative to be Launched in Pretoria 

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, will launch Africa’s new science diplomacy initiative in Pretoria on Friday. Read more

Challenges Confronting the Teaching of African Languages at South Africa’s Universities Require Dedicated Attention

The possibility of a shortage of supply of African languages teachers across South Africa’s education landscape by 2030 became a subject of fierce debate among members of Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL)… Read more

Chartered Accountant Organisation Assures Students that Unisa’s Degrees are Accredited

The SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) assured former University of South Africa (Unisa) students their qualifications would not be withdrawn. Read more

CoViD-19 has Induced Shifts in Higher Education That Necessitate New Thinking …

At the recent Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) ENGAGE #8 event, blended learning, critical thinking and leadership attributes received dedicated focus. Read more

CUT Students Urged to Stand Firm Against Management

The EFF Student Command (EFFSC) has urged Central University of Technology (CUT) students to not succumb to alleged threats by the management of the institution. Read more

DSI, CSIR Launch Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa 

The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on July 8 officially launched the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa (SDCfA) initiative… Read more

First black Dentist at UWC Celebrates 32 Years of Excellence in Medicine

The first black dentist to graduate out of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) is celebrating 32 years of excellence in medicine. Read more

Gathering of Scientists, Stakeholders Hedge Hopes for Africa on Collaboration Efforts 

Academics, scientists and education stakeholders from across Africa are hedging their hopes for a better tomorrow for the continent on the success of collaborative efforts such as the Science Diplomacy Capital for Africa initiative (SDCfA). Read more

Government to blame for youth criticism of Mandela’s legacy, says Stellenbosch University academic

SA’s youth and university students are critical of former president Nelson Mandela’s legacy mainly due to the government’s failure to improve their lives. Read more

Graduate Into Management

Equipping the youth with the tools and skills to launch their careers is a task that requires a vast network of expertise and a variety of resources, and with 22 years of experience, Wits Business School’s Postgraduate Diploma in Management gives students a real head-start into management. Read more 

Health Ministry Negotiating with Cuba for Lesser Punishment for SA Students Over Kidnapping Incident 

Deputy Health Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo says his department is in talks with the Cuban government to impose a lighter punishment for an Eastern Cape medical student who studied in Cuba. Read more

High Court Rules that Law Graduate Owing Varsity R15k can Practice Without Copy of His Degree

The MPUMALANGA Division of the High Court has declared as unconstitutional a rule that forced law graduates to produce copies of their qualifications before being admitted as attorneys or advocates. Read more

How Much It Costs to Study at South Africa’s Top Universities

South African universities could see a significant change in tuition costs with the department of higher education planning to create a new student funding model. Read more

How Universities Can Help Address Socio-Economic Challenges in South Africa

South African communities are beset by numerous problems that range from a lack of jobs to failing infrastructure. Some solutions could potentially be found if local universities were to play a greater socio-economic role in their neighbourhoods – a concept known as anchor institutions. Read more

Institutional Audit at WSU After Accreditation Issues

Walter Sisulu University is set to undergo an institutional audit by the council on higher education (CHE). A CHE representative visited the university last week to capacitate staff on accreditation issues. Read more

Japanese Universities Forum 5 Conference Echoes Mutual Trust in Collaboration for the Common Good

The opening session of the virtual South Africa-Japanese Universities (SAJU) Forum 5 Conference, yesterday, featured keynote lectures on the two countries’ perspectives towards open academic cooperation… Read more

Limpopo TVET College Lecturer Burnt to Death in Mob Attack 

A TVET college lecturer in Limpopo was on SaturMay attacked and burnt to death while transporting goats in Lebowakgomo. According to police, the 43-year-old had earlier bought the goats at Ga-Mphahlele village. Read more

Number of Students Suffering from Depression Rockets

A growing number of troubled students are seeking help from SA’s universities for mental health problems, with some institutions saying suicide-related calls have more than doubled compared with the first half of last year. Read more

NWU Principal and Vice-Chancellor Joins World Leaders in Nuclear Science for International Webinar

North-West University’s principal and vice-chancellor, Dr Bismark Tyobeka, has been invited by prominent global leaders in nuclear affairs to be a panelist in an international webinar on the role of nuclear and radiology safety in the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. Read more

Professor Glenda Gray among most visible scientist during Covid

A study has found that South African Medical Research Council president and CEO, Professor Glenda Gray, was one of the most visible female scientist in South African media coverage during the first six months of the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

Public Universities Face Tough Financial Decisions in Normalising Blended Teaching Post-COVID 

South Africa’s cash-strapped higher education system adapting to a post-pandemic blended teaching and learning model needs to rethink funding modalities. Read more

Restoring UCT’s Fire-Damaged Archives Likely to Take Years

After the flames that gutted the Jagger Library at the University of Cape Town (UCT) on 18 April 2021 were finally extinguished, the archives were thought to be lost. Read more

SA Research, Education Network Speeds Up

The South African National Research and Education Network (SA NREN) has been upgraded to help all connected South African universities, colleges, scientific councils, researchers and innovation centres to access faster connectivity quicker. Read more

Some African Cities Attractive for Studying Abroad, …

Three African cities, Cape Town, Cairo, and Johannesburg (in this order) are among the top 100 student-friendly cities for studying abroad, according to the 10th edition of the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2023. Read more

South Africa is Minerally Positioned to Lead the World in Green Hydrogen Energy Generation

South Africa is home to 80% of the world’s reserves of platinum group metals (PGMs) that play a critical role in green hydrogen power generation. Read more

South Africa Needs More Skilled Tradesmen

South Africa needs more artisans such as bricklayers, diesel mechanics, instrument technicians, riggers, auto electricians and millwrights. The department of higher education, science & innovation says there is a high demand for tradesmen who are highly skilled and who primarily work in a technical field, …Read more

South Africa’s Top-Ranked University is Moving to a Hybrid Working Model 

After more than two years of significant disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the University of Cape Town (UCT) says it putting plans in place to return to normal face-to-face teaching and adopting a hybrid working model. Read more

South Africa’s University Pledges Support to Munah-Tech

The University of South Africa has pledged collaborative support to the newly opened Munah’s Pelham Youngblood school of technical and vocational training studies or Munah Tech, South Africa’s Ambassador to Liberia Prof. M. Iqbal Jhazbhay has disclosed. Read more

Stellenbosch University – an Overview

Known colloquially as ‘Maties’, Stellenbosch University (SU) aspires to be Africa’s leading research- intensive university, globally recognised as excellent, inclusive and innovative, and advancing knowledge in service of society. Read more

Stellenbosch University Expels Theuns du Toit Over Urinating Incident 

Stellenbosch University student Theuns du Toit has been found guilty of contravening clauses of the disciplinary code for students.This follows his suspension that stemmed from a video where he urinated on the belongings of a fellow black student, Babalo Ndwayana. Read more

Stellenbosch University Opens Undergrad Financial Aid e-Applications for 2023

Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Undergraduate Bursaries and Loans (CUBL) announced that prospective undergraduate students can now apply for funding. Applications are open until 30 September 2022. Read more

Student and Staff Surveys Chart a Way for Implementing Blended Teaching and Learning at Public Universities

A blended teaching and learning environment cannot succeed if students and staff do not all have access to reliable devices, network, internet connectivity and adequate data to engage fully in teaching and learning. Read more

Teens Arrested After Body of UFS Medical Student Found in River

Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the murder of a 26-year-old University of the Free State medical student, Mpumalanga police said on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said community members discovered the body of Wiseman Mthunzi Zwane in a river…Read more

Tertiary Students Continue to Buckle Under Stress in the Wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic 

Reasearchers and analysts believe that we are only now starting to see the real impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on young people and students.Crowdfunding platform, Feenix, said its data shows that stress and anxiety are at a disturbingly high level, and something needs to be done about it. Read more

TVET Colleges Have ‘Failed to Promote Gender Equality’

The parliamentary portfolio committee on higher education, science and innovation has raised concern about the inadequate implementation of the human resources policies required to stimulate gender equality and transformation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Read more

UCT Turns Page on Jagger Library’s Future Despite Year-Long Insurance Payout Delay 

The University of Cape Town’s Jagger Library, gutted by a fire that started on 18 April 2021, is being “reimagined”, but the funds necessary to rebuild the library, in whatever form that may be, have not yet been secured. Read more

UCT Vice-Chancellor in Top 10 List of Outstanding Individuals in Africa 

University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor, professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, has joined nine other people selected for the new Africa Education Medal.The award is in recognition of amazing work by the individuals on the continent in the field of education.  Read more

UCT Vice-Chancellor Seeks ‘Maths Genius’: ‘I Want to Pay for His Studies’

University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng has offered to pay for the studies of a “maths genius”, a young boy named Sibahle Zwane. Read more

UFS Drops Mandatory Covid-19 Vaccination Policy after Solidarity Threatens Legal Challenge

After holding onto its mandatory Covid-19 vaccination policy for a while, the University of the Free State (UFS) has decided to drop it.When the government lifted Covid-19 restrictions, UFS stuck to its policy of only allowing vaccinated people on campus, Read more

UKZN Students Make 2022 Top Young South Africans List

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) applauds and congratulates four students and an alumnus of the university who have made it onto the Mail & Guardian 2022 Top Young South Africans list. Read more

UJ Students Play Their Part on Mandela Day

A group of University of Johannesburg (UJ) students donated blankets and cooked for the elderly at an old age home on Monday as their way of giving back to the community on International Mandela Day. Read more

UJ to Host Symposium on How to Improve Child Well-Being

The University of Johannesburg will host a virtual symposium to share research findings and lessons learned from a community of practice model (CoP) supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) to deliver care and support services for early grade learners in South African schools. Read more

Unisa Accounting Programme Ripped Apart

SA cohort of accounting postgraduates may find themselves battling to become chartered accountants due to the poor standard of their final assessments. Read more

Unisa Business School Goes Back to Basics

Once, its distance-learning capacity gave it a special place in the market. Now, with all business schools having gone online because of Covid, Unisa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership (GSBL) is devising new ways to create a separate identity. Read more

Unisa Docked Salaries of Workers who Were Not on Strike

The National Health Education Workers Union (Nehawu) on Friday claimed that the University of SA (Unisa) docked the salaries of non-striking workers last month.In a statement, the union claimed that deductions were made for no work no pay in 80% of the non-striking workers. Read more

Unisa Leaders Accused of Corruption, Abuse of Power

A document by a firm that is conducting an audit of Unisa for the 2021 financial year has revealed shocking allegations of corruption and maladministration at the embattled institution. Read more

Unisa Opens New Law Clinic in Parow, Plans to Open More

Unisa recently launched its first law clinic in the Western Cape to make legal services accessible to those struggling to obtain it.The Unisa Law Clinic in Parow, Cape Town… Read more

University of the Free State Shows Collaboration Can Create Real Social Impact

In a time of increasingly complex social challenges, it has become essential to join forces across a wide range of sectors and disciplines to find effective, lasting solutions.  Read more 

University of Pretoria Cannot Accommodate All 30 Religious Affiliations Due to Lack of Space 

The University of Pretoria (UP) does not have space to accommodate all 30 religious affiliations present in the institution as a result of the lack of available space on its campuses. Read more

University of Pretoria Faces Pushback Over Registration Fee Hike Proposal

The student representative council (SRC) at the University of Pretoria has rejected the institution’s proposed registration fee hike next year, calling it “harmful”. Read more

Universities Relax Covid-19 Vaccine Policies, but Students Warned to be Cautious

Students should remain cautious of universities’ relaxed Covid vaccine policies as they were not completely scrapped but “still lurking behind closed doors”, activists warned. Read more

USAf’s new Community of Practice for Postgraduate Education and Scholarship has been Hard at Work

With just over three months in existence since its inaugural meeting on 31 March, Universities South Africa’s newly founded Community of Practice for Postgraduate Education and Scholarship (CoP PGES), is starting to make its mark. Read more

UWC Honours Graduate Awarded for Research on Gentrification for Bo-Kaap Residents

Exploring the importance of place in human life, a UWC Honours graduate walked away as one of two winners in the Society of South African Geographers’ Outstanding Honours Research Award for his research around the long-term impact of gentrification for Bo-Kaap residents. Read more

UWC Sheds Light on How Food Gardeners Use Grey Water to Beat Food Insecurity

Researchers have long argued that grey water, which became popular after the slew of water restrictions introduced during previous dry winters and Day Zero periods, had the potential to contribute to food security if it was used to water domestic food gardens… Read more

Whose Responsibility is it to Inform Students They Don’t Meet the Doctoral Standard?

It is almost like an unsigned agreement that if you mark mine off well, I’ll mark yours off well. That is very disturbing. We sensed that could be happening. Read more

Wits University Appeals for Donations to Boost Research and Innovation

Wits University is appealing to former Witsies to donate money to boost its research and innovation as part of the centenary celebration. The university is celebrating hundred years of existence since formation in 1922. Read more

Wits University: How AWS Cloud Training Helped Avoid COVID Disruptions

Johannesburg’s University of Witwatersrand says that in 2020 in response to South Africa’s strict lockdown measures, it managed to move its entire learning management system (LMS), Sakai, to the cloud in just two months leveraging Amazon Web Services (AWS). Read more

 

30 June 2022

36 African Universities Represented on U-Multirank List

A total of 36 universities in Africa were among the 2,202 universities in 96 countries globally that had their performances assessed by U-Multirank, a ranking index that routinely analyses higher education institutions in terms of teaching and learning, research, knowledge transfer, international orientation and regional engagement. Read more

AAU Signs Cooperative Agreement with Nelson Mandela University of South Africa

Addis Ababa University (AAU) and Nelson Mandela University of South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work in collaboration within the areas of academic and research activities at AAU President’s Office

AU School of Public Health Organizes Research Launching Workshop

Addis Ababa University (AAU) School of Public Health organized research launching workshop for the project entitled “Engaging Adolescents in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) in Ethiopia” … Read more 

All-women UCT engineering team wins JSE Investment Challenge with sound strategy

An all-female team of UCT students has won the JSE Investment Challenge in the “Speculator portfolio for universities” category, for March and April 2022. Read more

A Review to be Commissioned on SADC Qualifications Framework

Ministers who are responsible for education, training, science, technology and innovation from the member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are to meet in Lilongwe, Malawi, on 17 June to evaluate various initiatives in the sector, including the Southern African Development Community Regional Qualifications Framework (SADCQF). Read more

Bursaries Build Health Sector Skills, but Need Monitoring

The return-of-service or bursary schemes that provincial health authorities in South Africa use to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds to obtain educational qualifications in the health sector could be improved by basing them on current and forecast health needs, a group of researchers has found. Read more

Central University of Technology Faces Maladministration Probe

The embattled Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein in the Free State is being investigated after allegations of maladministration surfaced at the institution. Read more

Central University of Technology Uncovers Admission Fraud Syndicate, Suspends 8 Students

Central University of Technology (CUT) has suspended eight students who were allegedly admitted fraudulently for this academic year. Read more

CPUT Project on a Mission to Create Technopreneurs

Taking a concept from an idea in your head to fully executed is no easy task. And for students, access to finances makes it even more difficult. Read more

CUT Student Takes Part in Translating Medical Terms to Sesotho 

A bachelor of health sciences in medical laboratory student at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Free State has participated and excelled in the national lexicon project held in Cape Town. Read more

Doctoral Study Explores the Drivers of Sexual Violence Against Women

Dr Josphine Hapazari, a part-time lecturer at the National University of Lesotho, was thrilled to graduate with a PhD in Sociology for her research that explored the drivers of sexual violence against women and the possible mitigation strategies that can be implemented to combat the scourge. Read more

DUT students in Pietermaritzburg Protest Against Writing Physical Exams 

Durban University of Technology’s Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg closed after students protested against writing physical examinations. According to the institution, the violence erupted in the Midlands campus. Read more

Education Changemakers Leadership Training Programme Launched 

The launch ceremony for the Education Changemakers leadership training programme took place on Monday morning at University of South Africa (Unisa) Graduate School of Business Leadership in Midrand. Read more

‘Face Your Shortcomings in the Workplace and Study’

Discipline and adjusting to autonomy were big obstacles to overcome. In high school, we must show up and we are monitored in all ways with punitive measures for non-compliance. This all disappears abruptly [after leaving school], which I and other teenagers simply were not prepared for. Read more

Famous Sterkfontein Caves Deposit 1 Million Years Older Than Previously Thought

Fossils found at the Sterkfontein Caves in South Africa reveal nearly four million years of hominin and environmental evolution. Since research began at the site in 1936 with the discovery, by Robert Broom, of the first adult hominin of the genus Australopithecus, … Read more

First Continental Research Integrity Network Launched

The African Research Integrity Network (ARIN), a partnership to promote ethical research practices across the continent, was officially launched on Tuesday after years of operating as an informal body of practitioners. Read more

Frustrated TUT Students Protest Over Lack of Running Water, Electricity in Pretoria West Campus

Students from Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Pretoria West campus continue with their protest action on Monday. They are demonstrating against a lack of running water and electricity. Read more

HE Should ‘Urgently’ Train Experts in Climate Change

African universities have a role to play in training graduates with the requisite skills in climate adaptation and mitigation to help entrepreneurs and policy-makers to understand what these involve in climate change. Read more

Higher Education on Track to Meet Targets but Graduates Struggle for Jobs 

Higher education minister Blade Nzimande says the sector is on track to achieve some of the crucial National Development Plan (NDP) targets, including increasing the number of university enrolments as well as graduates attaining doctorates or advanced qualifications. Read more

Invest Early in Children’s Mental Health – Or Risk a Generation

The 16th issue of the annual publication is titled “Children’s mental health: A catalyst for development”, and was launched on the eve of Youth Day in South Africa, and the Day of the African Child. Read more

Is the Emerging Open-Access Model Another Closed System?

The publishing industry is moving towards a business model of article processing charges-based open access (OA), which presents a barrier to researchers from the Global South, including those from countries in Africa. Read more

Launch of an Educational Programme for Freedom of Expression in Eastern Africa

Cartooning for Peace and Buni Media in Kenya launched a programme for civic education using press cartoons in partnership with UNESCO, the French Embassy in Kenya, the EU National Institutes of Culture (EUNIC) Kenya Network, the European Union in Kenya and select universities… Read more

MPs Reject Bill Aimed at Curtailing University Autonomy

Kenya’s parliament has rejected a legal framework that would have given the cabinet secretary for education sweeping powers in the appointment of vice-chancellors, deputy vice-chancellors, principals of university constituent colleges and members of university councils in public universities. Read more

Marshalling the Diaspora: Ethiopia’s ‘Unsung Model’

Ethiopia has a unique ‘model’ of deploying its intellectual diaspora – academics, researchers and high-level professionals – by integrating their competence, experience, knowledge and networks to help resolve societal questions in their home countries and advance knowledge-generation. Read more

Medical Community to Investigate Use of Traditional Medicine in Treatment of Covid-19

The University of Free State’s (UFS) Department of African Medicines Innovation and Technology Development Platform (AMITD) will play host to international and African visitors on Friday to look at how traditional medicine can be used to treat Covid-19. Read more

On Alienation and Agency: Language as a Double-Edged Sword

Nombulelo Shange was five years old when she learned the word ‘barbaric’. Her first-grade teacher used it to describe her on her first day at the predominantly white boarding school. Read more

Out of 100 Students, only 12 Go to University…

More and more students are dropping out of university than ever before – and the reasons are myriad, say experts.Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande said South Africa needed to produce more graduates if it was to meet its workforce needs. Read more

Protesting UKZN students arrested in Durban

Two university students were arrested on charges of public violence in Durban on Monday morning.According to eyewitnesses, there was a protest which affected traffic and businesses at the Seapoint Towers precinct, as students threw bottles and rubble from the top floors of the building. Read more

Rape, Sexual Harassment Claims ‘Fabricated’ Against UCT Professor …

A Western Cape health department probe has cleared a University of Cape Town professor who was accused of sexual harassment and rape.The department said it concluded an independent investigation after a UCT student levelled allegations against the professor, … Read more

Renowned Journal Rejects Papers That Exclude African Researchers

Respected global medical journal The Lancet will continue to reject papers with data from Africa that fail to acknowledge African collaborators, in the interest of building African research and of promoting integrity, equity and fairness in research collaboration, according to Senior Executive Editor Dr Sabine Kleinert. Read more

Researchers at UJ build RDP House in Just one Day Using 3D Concrete Printing 

The social housing backlog in South Africa is one of the biggest challenges faced by the government. Not enough houses are being built, and existing projects are not being completed fast enough, while budget constraints are a huge factor hindering the progress of social housing developments. Read more

SADC Concerned Over Implementation Delay of Women’s Charter

The Southern African Development Community, or SADC, has expressed concern over the failure by some countries in the region to fully implement the SADC Charter on Women in Science, Engineering and Technology, five years after it was approved by the regional bloc. Read more

‘SA Education System Needs a Review,’ Say Experts

Experts have called for a review of the education system after a recent study revealed that South Africa graduates are struggling to enter the workforce. This was one of the key findings published in A New Pathway 2030: Catalysing South Africa’s NSI for Urgent Scaled Social and Economic Impact. Read more

SA Scientists Jet Off to Tunisia’s Science Festival 

Two young South African scientists have been selected to compete at the International Festival of Engineering Science and Technology in Tunisia, to showcase their ground-breaking research projects, which focus on healthcare and the physics of sound. Read more

SA Universities Impress with Graduate Employability

South Africa can claim to be the home of the most successful higher education system in Africa, as seven of its 26 public universities were ranked among the top 1,000 universities globally in the 19th edition of the QS World University Rankings 2023, released on 8 June. Read more

Scholarly Writers, the Precariat, and the Right to Earn

The popular contention is that academic authors do not need royalties because they have day jobs, and possibly because their publications might be subvented by publication grants via their universities or research funders. Read more

South African Academics Push Back Against ‘Biased’ UK Visa Scheme

Academics have criticised a new visa scheme introduced by the United Kingdom which will offer work visas to people who have studied at the world’s top universities. Read more

South Africa’s Declining Mathematics Numbers a Concern

South Africa is still not addressing the root causes behind the decline in the number of learners taking mathematics or the decrease in the pass rate of those who do choose the subject, says professor Rashied Small, SAIPA executive… Read more

South Africa’s MeerKAT Radio Telescope Makes Unprecedented Discovery Yet Again

South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope array has again proven its worth with yet another unprecedented discovery: what appears to be an unusually slowly rotating radio-emitting neutron star. Read more

South African Robotic Telescope to Begin Search for the Afterglow of Cosmic Events 

A new optical telescope in South Africa that will measure the brightness of transient sources will begin operation in mid-July. Read more

South African Universities Rule Roost in Africa

South Africa can claim to be the home of the most successful higher education system in Africa, as seven of its 26 public universities were ranked among the top 1 000 universities globally in the QS World University Rankings 2023, released earlier this month. Read more

Spain Plans to Recruit More Students from Sub-Saharan Africa

Spain has embarked on an ambitious plan to attract international students and highly skilled workers from Africa as part of its new strategy, Focus Africa 2023, which aims to establish stronger academic, economic and diplomatic ties with African countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

Stellenbosch University Choir Rakes in Millions of Views for Two Stunning Renditions

The Stellenbosch University Choir is raking in millions of views, those of which extend long past the Stellenbosch Mountain and the quaint town of winery wonders, past the Cape and Her beauty and even the Rainbow Nation’s borders. Read more

Stellenbosch University’s Novel TB Diagnostic Test Boosts Rhino Conservation in Kruger Park 

About one in every seven rhinos in the Kruger National Park (KNP) showed evidence that they had been infected with Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) – the pathogen that causes bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Read more

Student Protest Costs University R2 Million in Damages

The Mangosuthu University of Technology has blamed “hired hands” for the student protest that took place at the institution on Thursday, costing it R2 million in damages. Read more

Sustainability Research Needs Applied and Social Sciences

There is a need for dialogue between mainstream applied sciences on the one hand and the social sciences and humanities on the other if sustainability research is to come up with solutions to inspire the behavioural change needed to build future sustainable societies. Read more

Transdisciplinary Collaboration Critical for Future of Science

Calls for investment in transdisciplinary research in Africa in order to achieve progress in science and innovation as tools to tackle challenges impeding social and economic transformation of the continent have dominated proceedings at the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress (SRI2022). Read more

Tanzania to Open Agriculture Colleges in Major Universities to Groom Experts 

The government of Tanzania has announced plans to open agriculture colleges in some of the country’s major universities to train experts in the field. Read more

Tax the Rich to Fund Free Higher Education

Central to the student protests was a call for a free-fee decolonised and Afro-centric, and inter-sectional higher education. Read more

Teacher Misconduct and Poor Performance Need Tough Laws

SA’s education legislation lacks teeth in regulating teacher misconduct and incompetence in the public basic education system, a Stellenbosch University study suggests. Read more

Tertiary Education Costs in South Africa on the Rise

In South Africa, the cost of tertiary education has been a hot topic of debate for many years. There have been numerous protests by students, who argue that the prices are too high and are preventing them from getting a higher education. Read more

The Lancet’ Journal Rejects Papers that Don’t Acknowledge African Researchers

Respected global medical journal The Lancet will continue to reject papers with data from Africa that fail to acknowledge African collaborators, in the interest of building African research and of promoting integrity, equity and fairness in research collaboration, … Read more

These are the 9 Best Universities in South Africa …

Quacquarelli Symonds has published its latest QS World University Ranking for 2023, showing that the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg has given way to a new number-two in South Africa. Read more

The University of the Witwatersrand Injects Entrepreneurial Thinking into Doctoral Training

The University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) is introducing a training programme in which doctoral students will, while pursuing their core programme, also undergo rigorous training to inculcate entrepreneurial thinking. Read more

TVET College Principals Called to Promote Work Placement 

Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has warned that any college principal who does not promote work placement has no place in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college system. Read more

UCT Acts Quickly to Prevent Further Disruptions and Ensure Safety of All Students

After the disruptions of exams on Monday, UCT put strict measures in place to safeguard students and staff against any future disruptions.The disruptions were not an official protest and the disrupters were neither staff nor students of the institution, … Read more

UCT Beefs Up Security After Mid-Year Exams Disrupted

The University of Cape Town on Tuesday said that its security guards have their eyes peeled for any more intruders on campus.Monday’s mid-year exams were disrupted by workers whom UCT claimed were not students or employed at the university. Read more

UCT CFO Vincent Motholo Reappointed as Saica chairperson 

University of Cape Town (UCT) CFO Vincent Motholo has been reappointed as chairperson of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica). Read more

UCT’s Famed Library is Recovering After Being Devastated by a Fire

Even as they watched the flames in the Jagger Library being subdued, Nikki Crowster and her colleagues were not overwhelmed by a future that was suddenly unknown. “We were determined to get our library back,” she says today of the veld fire that swept down the slopes of Devil’s Peak and onto the upper campus of the University of Cape Town… Read more

UCT Offers Digital Bootcamp to Create Job Opportunities

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has introduced the UCT Digital Bootcamp, which will offer an additional pathway to employment for determined young people and help them unleash their digital potential. Read more

UCT Professor Amir Patel Combines Power of Robotics and AI to Doctor SA Wildlife 

A UCT professor is developing a method that combines robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) that will essentially conduct health check-ups on wildlife.This project, presented by associate professor Amir Patel, is set to be a trailblazer for ecology and conservation management in South Africa. Read more

UCT Still Ranked Best African University – But Its Score Keeps Dropping While UJ Climbs

The University of Cape Town is still ranked as the best in Africa, according to the latest QS World University Rankings, but its overall score continues to decline while the University of Johannesburg makes gains. Read more

Ugandan Epidemiologist Appointed to UN University Council

Dr Catherine Kyobutungi is a Ugandan epidemiologist who mainly works in healthcare systems research and capacity-building. She began her career journey as a medical officer in rural Uganda before becoming a lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Read more

UKZN Medical Student Attends World Health Organization’s High-Level Meeting …

A University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) fourth-year medical student was one of only three medical students globally for the Changemaker Scholarship to attend the Youth Pre-World Health Assembly (Pre-WHA) and World Health Assembly (WHA) held at the World Health Organization’s (WHO)… Read more

UKZN Medical Student Represents South Africa at WHO Headquarters

A University of KwaZulu-Natal fourth year student, Mohamed Hoosen Suleman is flying the institution’s flag high on the global stage. He was selected for a prestigious changemaker scholarship in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more

UKZN OptometrySstudents Need Your Help

The University of KwaZulu-Natal is on a mission to assist the optometry students who say they cannot afford some of the expensive equipment required by the faculty. Read more

UKZN Scientist Gets Prestigious International Appointment Working Towards an HIV Cure 

A top scientist from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has been appointed by the International Aids Society (IAS) as co-chair of its ‘Towards an HIV Cure’ advisory board. Read more

UKZN Students Protest the Suspension of Cleaning Staff 

Classes have been disrupted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus after students protested against the suspension of 300 campus cleaners by the university management. Read more

UKZN Warns of New Admissions Scam, with Scam Artists Posing as University Staff

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) says it has been alerted to a new scam in which potential students are offered enrolment at the university in exchange for a payment. Read more

UKZN Webinar to Explore Link Between Unemployment and Drugs in Era of Whoonga 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal College of Humanities is set to host a webinar looking at the connection between work/unemployment and drugs. Read more

Universities Must Think More Creatively About Future Employability of Their Graduates

The Dean of Science at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Professor Nithaya Chetty, says although it is laudable that the South African higher education produces 3000 PhDs, annually, and that Government has set targets to double that output to 6000 by 2025, … Read more

University of Zululand student beaten to death by ‘vigilante mob’ on university premises 

A 27-year-old University of Zululand (UniZulu) student died after he was assaulted by an angry ‘vigilante mob’ at the tertiary institutions’ premises… Read more

(Un)Remembering Intergenerational Youth Struggles at Stellenbosch University…

A poster at a recent rally against racism at Stellenbosch University read “Still fighting the same fight you fought MAMA.” This poster signaled an exclamation worth pausing for reflection on Youth Day (16 June) in remembrance of the courage and sacrifice of the young people involved in the Soweto uprisings of 1976. Read more

VUT Students Left Stranded After Being Kicked Off Campus Following Protests, …

Some students at the Vaal University of Technology were left stranded when the institution ordered everyone to leave the campus after some buildings were destroyed by a fire during a protest on Wednesday night. Read more

VUT Suspends Classes After Students Burn University Building

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has suspended classes indefinitely after students yet again set up a major infrastructure in violent disruptions. Read more

Who Were the Expert Voices During the COVID-19 Pandemic?

Male scientists were the dominant expert voices in the media during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa in 2020. Women professors accounted for only 30% of those quoted. Read more

Wits Planetarium to Undergo Major Transformation in Bid to Establish Fully Digital Dome 

The Wits Planetarium has been a site of wonder and discovery for many children and adults alike and now the iconic building is set for a facelift.From July 1, the Planetarium will undergo a major transformation as part of the vision to establish a fully digital dome. Read more

Women in Leadership Programme – 2022 Edition Kicks Off  

The start of the 2022 Women in Leadership (WiL) programme, designed to embolden senior academic women leaders, inspired a new cohort of participants with confidence that they were embarking on a great leadership journey… Read more

WSU Graduate Triumphs After Being Abandoned and Sexually Assaulted

She was abandoned by her mother when she was only a week old and at just 14 years old she was repeatedly raped, but Andiswa Lugomo did not allow these misfortunes to dictate her path in life. Read more

WSU Historian’s New Book Looks at Butterworth as an Industrial Centre During Apartheid 

Dr Jongikhaya Mvenene does not just teach history to university students. He has written books on legendary figures who have helped shape the direction of the province.  Read more

 

31 May 2022

Africa’s First Cultivated Chicken Meat Harnesses UKZN Biotechnology Expertise

Stem-cell and skeletal muscle research emerging from the laboratories of biotechnology researchers in UKZN’s School of Life Sciences (SLS) has played a key role in the release of Africa’s first cultivated chicken meat as part of a partnership aiming to provide sustainable and affordable animal protein to meet the dietary needs of Africa’s growing population. Read more

African Scientists and Black Hole Discoveries

Sagittarius A* is the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way – and scientists have just unveiled the first image ever taken of it, thanks to a large international team known as the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration. Only two members of that team, Roger Deane and Iniyan Natarajan, are from the African continent. Read more

African Scientists and Technology Could Drive Future Black Hole Discoveries

Astronomers have revealed the first image of the black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the Milky Way. The image was produced by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration, an international team made up of over 300 scientists on five continents – including Africa. Read more

Africa’s Higher Education Prospects and Challenges in 2022 

Higher education in Africa is key to its development. As the world becomes more interconnected, education becomes the key to sustainability. African governments are investing more in higher education. Read more

Blade Nzimande Tells Stellenbosch University not to be a ‘Sanctuary to Racists’

Higher Education Science and Innovation Minister, Blade Nzimande, has cautioned Stellenbosch University not to allow itself to be a “sanctuary to racists”. Read more

‘Burnout is a Real Phenomenon for African Professors’

Governments and universities in Africa must do more and join forces to create conducive academic and professional environments with conditions of service that will enable university professors to do their work and enhance their contributions to knowledge production. Read more

Can 4IR and Decolonisation Ideologies Co-Exist and be of Mutual Benefit in Higher Education?

The emergence of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) could potentially submerge the bellowing of decolonisation in higher education by previously marginalised groups, especially considering the ever-increasing inequality in South Africa. Read more

Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) Slams ‘Reckless’ UCT Vice-Chancellor Tweet

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has reacted with dismay at UCT vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng’s apology over a tweet in response to a student who alleged she had been raped on campus by a professor at the institution. Read more

Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages Remains Determined to Achieve More in 2022

Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) has put together an elaborate plan of action aiming to realise tangible outcomes for 2022. Read more

Congratulations and Pledges for UKZN graduate

Pictures of a young man in tears during the University of KwaZulu-Natal graduation ceremony have been trending on social media with congratulations pouring in while others are pledging towards his future. Read more 

CUT Workers Chase Dreams

Two workers of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, seized the opportunity to turn over a new leaf in their lives.The pair, Aletta Mhambi and Bafedile Mothae, have each graduated with a diploma in Office Management and Technology. Read more

Dental Technology Graduates Unable to Register 

A number of dental technology graduates from around the country are in limbo and unemployed after they could not register with the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC). Read more

‘Divorced Universities’ Could Thrive Through Community Bond

Unless African universities address community needs through the kinds of knowledge and graduates they are producing, their sustainability will come under threat as important local sources of funding and popular support are withdrawn, according to participatory research pioneer Rajesh Tandon. Read more

Doctor Receives Nearly R1 Million to Research Impact of Covid-19…

Dr Chioma Ohajunwa, a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies at Stellenbosch University, has received critical funding for her research on the impact of Covid-19 on indigenous communities. Read more

DUT Gears Up to Host Virtual Autumn Grad Ceremories, Celebrating the Class of 2021

The Durban University of Technology is gearing up to host the 2022 Virtual Autumn Graduation ceremonies Read more

DUT to Honour Actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones with Honorary Doctorate 

Singer, actress, playwright and producer Thembi Mtshali-Jones has expressed her gratitude to the Durban University of Technology (DUT) for honouring her with an honorary Doctorate in Visual and Performing Arts degree. Read more

Egypt Leads Research Field for the Second Year Running

For the second year running, researchers and academics in Egypt have published more peer-reviewed journal articles than their peers in other countries in Africa, according to 2021’s datasets from SCImago Journal & Country Rank, an online platform with some of the world’s most comprehensive citation and abstract databases of global journal research output. Read more

Embed Art in Local Cultures to Guard Against Foreign Sway

African artistic expression should be deeply rooted in local cultures and ought to reflect local cultural realities and context, targeting the African market first. In this way, domination by Western culture and globalisation, which have been spreading fast around the world, influencing every form of cultural expression, could be avoided. Read more

Fear of Covid Drove Many Teachers to the Brink, UWC Study Finds

Strategies needed to build resilience in educators, who were among the first to experience pandemic stress. After surviving Covid-19 complications that landed her in intensive care and on a ventilator for more than three weeks… Read more

First Images of Black Hole at Heart of Milky Way Galaxy Emerge

Astronomers have captured the first image of the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy.What makes this milestone even more significant, is the fact that two Wits University scientists are part of the international team. Read more

First of its Kind in Africa to Support Science Breakthroughs

South African universities need to be globally competitive to attract partnerships, investment and top academic staff and students. Read more

From Car Guard to PhD Candidate and Lecturer…

Fabrice Kapya used every cent he earned working as a car guard at Wonderpark Mall to pay off his studies. He started off with a degree in chemical engineering. Four years later he is an assistant lecturer at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. Read more

How Employable are South Africa’s Doctoral Graduates?

Doctoral education and training in any country is a lengthy and costly process. It is, therefore, imperative that policy-makers (including funding agencies) are informed about the return on such a (public) investment. Read more

Ignorance About Addis Convention Hampers Its Ratification

African education leaders are calling for more action to create increased awareness of the Addis Convention about the recognition of qualifications in higher education, noting that many countries were yet to ratify it nearly three years after it came into force. Read more

JHB Homeless Graduate Receives Opportunity to Complete Master’s Degree

There’s nothing better than hearing a real-life miracle – especially when that miracle is about a truly deserving person. We shared Gibson Nzimande’s story last week and since then, there has been an abundance of donations pouring in for him. Read more

HEFAALA Takes Stock of Academic Collaboration Post-COVID

A database that could capture the work that has been done at institutional, national and regional level to track academic collaborative modalities, including student mobility patterns, and plug the information gap on aspects such as internationalisation, was proposed at the end of the Third Higher Education Forum for Africa, Asia and Latin America (HEFAALA III) Symposium… Read more

How Can Internationalisation Regain Momentum in South Africa?

It is mandatory for each South African institution to develop its own policy and plan on internationalisation two years after the Policy Framework for Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa was published on 6 November 2020, and at a time when international student numbers are decreasing. Read more

Intra-Africa Mobility for Training Agribusiness and Food Systems Scientists for African Agriculture (TAFSA) Scholarship Advertisement for Cohort 2

The goal of TAFSA project is to enhance synergetic cooperation amongst selected Agricultural Universities in Africa. Specifically, the project aims at supporting these African universities with research and training of skillful and competent professionals to contribute to the improvement of food systems, and agribusiness… Read more

New €6.7m Project to Build Biodiversity Knowledge in Southern Africa 

This month saw the start of a €6.7-million (about R110-million) spatial biodiversity assessment, prioritisation and planning (SBAPP) project, which is expected to improve environmental planning and monitor the status of indigenous species and ecosystems in four Southern African Development Community (SADC)… Read more

NMU Cleaner Perseveres, Graduates with Two Diplomas

After she started working as a cleaner in 2015, this 32-year-old never dreamed that she would one day grace the stage at her very own graduation, let alone at the very same university where she scrubbed the floors for seven years. Read more

NMU IsiXhosa Students’ Poems Published as Anthology

Despite only formally tackling the art of poetry in their third year, the works of a group of Nelson Mandela University isiXhosa students left such an impression on those who had a peek at their poetry prowess that they have been published as an anthology. Read more

No Stone Must be Left Unturned in Stellenbosch University Saga

Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola has entered the fray in condemning the alleged racist incident at the University of Stellenbosch saying no stone should be left unturned in probing the matter. Read more

NWU to Host Community Engagement Workshop

The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Management Sciences will be hosting a community engagement workshop on 22 and 23 June 2022 at its Mahikeng Campus. Read more

Open University of Mauritius and the Nelson Mandela University of South Africa Collaborate on FishFORCE Project

A High-Level stakeholders’ meeting for the establishment of a Fisheries Law Enforcement Academy, was held, this morning at Le Meridien in Pointe aux Piments. The initiative is a joint collaboration of the Open University of Mauritius and the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) of South Africa. Read more

Performance, Profit or Productivity: Why do We Publish?

Academic labour in any university occurs within three interlocking spheres: a scholarly community, a bureaucracy and a corporation. Read more

Private Network Impacts SDGs, Including Poverty Alleviation

A network of 15 private institutions spread across 10 countries in four regions in North, West, Central and Southern Africa, aims to train an additional 100,000 students over five years – up from its current 61,000. Read more

Pupils’ Poor Performance on Critical Subjects Contributes to Joblessness, Says Research Centre

SA is increasingly becoming an economy driven by the tertiary sector, but pupils’ poor performance in critical subjects is hindering them from entering the job market. Read more

PhD Student Kills Himself After Failing to Register for Academic Year… 

A Zimbabwean PhD candidate, who could not register for the academic year at the University of the Witwatersrand because his study permit had expired, killed himself last weekend… Read more

Stellenbosch University ‘Deeply Distressed’ After Student Arrested for Alleged Rape

A Stellenbosch University student has been arrested for alleged rape, the South African Police Service (Saps) has confirmed. Read more

Stellenbosch University Probes Another Alleged Racist Incident

It’s emerged that offensive remarks were allegedly made towards a black female student during an event organised by the Law faculty last week Thursday. Read more

Stellenbosch University Student’s Belongings Urinated on in Allegedly Racist Incident 

Stellenbosch University is investigating an allegedly racist incident at one of its student residences over the weekend, in which a black first-year student was targeted. Read more

Study Reveals Deep Concerns Over Cheating, Learning Quality

Plagiarism and dishonesty during tests, exams and assessments were prevalent during emergency remote teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown at South Africa’s universities. Read more

Ten (10) RUFORUM Member Universities ranked among 1,406 universities …

The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) strives to support its member universities to deliver quality education through cutting edge research, innovation and academic mobility to enable them rank higher globally. Read more

The More You Spend on Fundraising, the More You will Collect

The latest annual survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) continues to provide a rigorous and in-depth overview of philanthropic support to universities in South Africa. Read more

Honoris United Universities Transforms the Lives of 770,000+ People Across Africa

Today, Honoris United Universities, the first and largest pan-African network of private higher education institutions in Africa, releases its inaugural impact report. The report highlights Honoris’ commitment to Education for Impact for students, their families and communities across Africa… Read more

How Changing Livestock Markets Could Reduce Conflict

Over nine million Kenyans are pastoralists out of a total population of 50 million. Together they hold livestock worth over US$1 billion. Livestock is their source of food, health, and wealth. Read more

UCT adds Swahili as elective language from 2023

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has introduced Swahili as an elective language course starting from 2023, said vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng in her opening address during the Africa Month panel discussion. Read more

UCT Rape Allegations Baid Bare in Leaked Report

Damning details have emerged following an investigation into a sexual harassment case at UCT. Read more

UCT Unveils Jagger Library Memorial Exhibition in Remembrance of 2021 Fire 

Just a little over a year ago, devastation struck at the University of Cape Town’s iconic Jagger Library.At the time, IOL reported that hundreds of years of history had gone up in smoke after a wildfire had broken out. Read more

UCT Probing Sexual Assault Allegations Against Professor

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has launched an investigation into the sexual assault of a student, allegedly by a professor at the university. This after a student accused a UCT professor of raping her on the university premises. Read more

UFS Must be Positioned as an Institution that Contributes to African Knowledge… 

Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State, Professor Francis Petersen, says it is important to position the University as an African institution that contributes to African knowledge. Read more

UFS Qwaqwa Students in Court After Violent Protests 

Students from the University of the Free State are set to appear before the Phuthaditjhaba Magistrate court today, following violent protests at the Qwaqwa campus.Free State police spokesperson Mmako Mophiring says that 12 suspects were arrested between Monday and yesterday. Read more

UJ’s Professor Hassina Mouri Awarded top Unesco Award 

Professor in medical geology at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), Hassina Mouri, has been awarded the Unesco Chair on Medical Geology in Africa. Read more

UJ’s Professor Marwala Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences 

University of Johannesburg (UJ) vice-chancellor and principal, professor Tshilidzi Marwala, is flying the university’s and South Africa’s flags high after he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as its new international honorary member. Read more

UKZN Congratulates Professor Tulio de Oliveira on his Time100 Nomination

The University of KwaZulu-Natal has congratulated Professor Tulio de Oliveira on his nomination for the TIME 100: a list of individuals who have made the most important contributions to our world. Read more

UKZN Graduate Whose Emotional Graduation Ceremony Touched the Hearts of Many… 

Nearing the end of a long and difficult journey, a 23-year-old University of KwaZulu-Natal student who was raised by his grandmother on a street vendor’s income could not contain his emotions as he burst into tears on stage during graduation.Ngobese was conferred with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Read more 

UKZN to Host In-Person Graduation Ceremonies

There’s an air of excitement across the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) campuses as the institution prepares to roll out the red carpet for its first in-person graduation ceremonies since the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

UKZN Master’s Graduate Explores Experiences of Muslim Women in a Polygamous Marriage…

The mother of five, from Pietermaritzburg, conducted a qualitative study over 18 months, using a non-random, purposive sample of subjects who experienced being in a polygamous marriage. Read more

UNISA Interdicts Nehawu Strike Over Dismissal of Shop Stewards

The University of SA (Unisa) has obtained an interim Labour Court interdict against members of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) protesting against the firing of their leaders at the institution. Read more

Unisa Reports Reveal Serious Allegations of Wrongdoing, Loss of Millions 

Reports submitted to Unisa’s council have revealed allegations of violations of university rules and policies, and the laws of the country, which resulted in the loss of millions through over-expenditure at the institution. Read more

Universities in Africa Still to Undo ‘Colonial’ Clasps

Higher education in Africa (and its stakeholders) needs to reimagine and free itself as a sector from the colonial clasps of the past through developing its own educational models and transforming universities’ systems, structures and policies that guide its practices, along with having a clear vision of what it wants in the future. Read more

UP Centre for Future of Work to Produce Publications, Provide Advisory Services and Training

The Centre for the Future of Work (CFoW), launched by the University of Pretoria (UP) on May 17, will be Africa’s centre of excellence on the future of work, producing scientific and popular publications, advisory services and training… Read more

UP Soars in 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

According to the latest Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings (2022), released this week, the University of Pretoria (UP) has been named South Africa’s second-best (joint second) and Africa’s third-best (joint third) university. Read more

UWC Provides Continental Support for Covid-19 Surveillance 

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), through its Pathogen Genomics Initiative (Africa PGI), has supported African countries during the past two years in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

Wits Launches Entrepreneurship Clinic to Address Harrowing Youth Unemployment …

The WEC aims to strengthen the role of universities in the entrepreneurship ecosystem to enable young entrepreneurs to become the future job creators in Africa.Unemployment among the youth in South Africa is rife, with millions of youngsters without a job or any form of income. Read more

Young Academics Need Mentorship from Universities

South Africa’s universities are failing to implement the “social component” of their missions effectively, says Lihle Ngcobozi, a former student activist in the nationwide #FeesMustFall (#FMF) protests of 2015 and now a lecturer in the Wits School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). Read more

Why We Need Higher Technical Skills Development for Youth

Youth skills development, an essential element for youth empowerment, was highlighted during the conference with a round table themed “Youth Skills Development through Higher Technical Education in Africa”…Read more

WSU Degree Not Recognised by Health Body for 10 Years

Walter Sisulu University has been offering a programme, described as “useless” by past graduates, and slated by health academics for its lack of utility, without the required professional recognition for 10 years. Read more

 

30 April 2022

$3m Donation to Help Wits Light up Innovation in Africa

The University of Witwatersrand (Wits University) is positioning itself to drive the African continent into a new era of innovation, change and growth.So says vice-chancellor and principal professor Zeblon Vilakazi, setting the higher learning institution’s direction as it celebrates its centenary this year. Read more

Academics Want to Build Capacity for One Health Strategy

African countries have been urged to adopt the One Health framework, a collaborative public health approach, amid concerns of pandemic outbreaks and for the emerging and re-emerging of highly infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and Ebola that adversely affect human health. Read more

‘African Universities Should Differentiate Their Missions Clearly’

The notion that there is a single ideal university must be resisted in favour of one that values a plurality of institutional types and promotes intentional differentiation in national higher education systems… Read more

‘Are We Prepared to Think Beyond National Boundaries?’

A new model for transnational partnerships that acknowledges and strengthens the contribution made by public higher education institutions in the Global South is required to produce the kind of knowledge that the world needs… Read more

Beyond Connectivity: Making African Scholarship Visible

In February, Malawi-based UbuntuNet Alliance, an Eastern and Southern African research and educational networking organisation, appointed Kenyan national, Professor Madara Ogot, as its new chief executive. Read more

Bot,eth,keny, malwisa

CT Woman with Severe Brain Trauma Conquers Academia with PhD from Maties

“Anything is conquerable if you just persevere, even in the face of extreme challenges.” This is a message from a 33-year-old Durbanville woman, who will on Wednesday receive her PhD at Stellenbosch University’s April graduation. Read more

Defining Our Human Rights, Then, Now and in the Future 

The University of Pretoria’s Centre for Human Rights has advanced democracy for over three decades. The Centre for Human Rights (Centre) at the University of Pretoria (UP) aims to advance human rights through education, research and advocacy, by combining academic excellence and effective activism. Read more

DUT to Host BothVirtual and Physical Graduation Ceremonies

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) executive management committee and the Senate Executive Committee (Senex) held a special joint EMC-Senex meeting to discuss the growing need for a physical graduation for the class of 2021. Read more

DUT Maths Professor, Megandhren Govender, Obtains C2 NRF Rating

Prof Megandhren Govender of the Faculty of Applied Science at the Durban University of Technology recently obtained a C2 National Research Foundation (NRF) rating.Prof Govender’s role includes teaching of mathematics, research, community outreach and being involved in the larger university community… Read more

DUT’s Newly C3-Rated Digital Activist to Consider International Collaborations on Research

Director of the Short Course Unit (SCU) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Prof Surendra (Colin) Thakur recently obtained a C3 National Research Foundation (NRF) rating. Read more

Four UFS Students Arrested After Two Buildings Torched on Campus

Four University of the Free State (UFS) students were arrested in connection with a fire that broke out at the Qwaqwa campus on Monday evening.UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader said two campus buildings – the clinic and a computer laboratory – were almost completely destroyed in the blaze. Read more

Gateway to Success: From Pandemic Learner to Successful Student

For two years, universities in South Africa and worldwide did their best to provide students with quality education under the adverse conditions precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more

HE Needs Explicit Intentional Policies on Gender Equality

Although institutional efforts to increase the representation of women in academia are increasing across the African continent, they remain under-represented in strategic and essential positions which necessitate adopting specific policies to advance their academic representation. Read more

Mastercard Hosts First Digital Girls4Tech Connect Marathon in Sub-Saharan Africa…

Mastercard recently hosted its first digital Girls4Tech Connect Marathon in Sub-Saharan Africa to inspire and prepare 515 girls aged 7-12 to pursue careers in Science and Technology. Read more

New ICT University to Open to SADC Students From 2023

Zimbabwe plans to open a new state-run, specialised information and communications technology cyber security university next year with the objective of making it a premier institution of higher learning in that sector in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Read more

Namibian Minister Graduates with his 12th Degree from University of Western Cape 

Namibian Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga, graduated with a PhD in law from the University of the Western Cape on Wednesday, his 12th degree, according to a statement issued by the South African university… Read more

Pandemic Sees Spike in Private Higher Education Enrolment

Student enrolment at private higher education institutions in South Africa has more than doubled in recent years as demand was further fuelled by the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

Powerful Female Duo Re-elected to the Helm of NMU 

Visionary, transformative and empowering leadership displayed by the women at the helm of Nelson Mandela University has seen the duo being re-elected to lead what is one of the province’s top tertiary institutions… Read more

SA’s Youngest Doctors Rocking the Medical Fraternity

It has not been smooth sailing for two of South Africa’s youngest doctors, as they have had to deal with tremendous workloads at medical school, which sometimes left them demotivated. Read more

South Africa Looks to Silicon Valley for Innovation Inspiration

Fresh on the heels of touting innovation as a key enabler of SA’s economic prospects, minister Dr Blade Nzimande is on an official week-long visit to Silicon Valley in the US. Read more

Stellenbosch University Expert Finds that Elephant Behaviour’s Largely Dictated by Smell 

Have you wondered how elephants are able to determine which of them are part of the herd? Research conducted by Stellenbosch University elephant expert Katharina von Durckheim has shown that elephants share what is known as a “herd-odour” to help them recognise members of their herd. Read more

Stellenbosch University PhD Student Maps Genome of Critical Endangered African Wild Dog

Christina Meiring graduated with a PhD in Molecular Biology it marked the completion of the first large-scale investigation of the genetic diversity in the African wild dog population of the Kruger National Park (KNP). Read more

Students Now have Until 11 April to Upload Proof of Vaccination 

University of Johannesburg (UJ) students who’ve been rushing to beat Thursday’s vaccine mandate deadline may breathe a sigh of relief as the upcoming Easter recess will buy them more time. Read more

Subject Rankings: More Departments in Africa on Top-100 List

African higher education institutions are steadily scaling the academic ladder as 23 university departments in three countries were among the world’s 100 best places to study subjects they offer, according to the 12th edition of the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022. Read more

Take Up Skill Training: Dr Abrefa-Gyan Charges Youth

The Deputy Director of the Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), Dr Tina Abrefa-Gyan, has urged the youth to take up skill training in technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in order to boost the country’s production capacity to meet consumption needs. Read more

UCT Best in Africa for Sports Science

The University of Cape Town has been ranked top in Africa for sports science in the global ranking of science schools and departments of more than 300 universities. Read more

UCT International Student Graduates with BSc After 12-Year Battle 

An international student from UCT is beaming with pride after she graduated despite being dealt heavy blows during her years of study. On Tuesday, Sarah Nzeka received her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in chemical engineering, 12 years after registering for the course. Read more

UCT Pauses Compulsory Vaccination Policy, Will Promote Voluntary Jabs

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has paused the “in principle” implementation of its compulsory vaccination policy, it confirmed on Wednesday.In reply to questions, UCT explained that its council took the in-principle decision in October 2021 to support a mandatory vaccination policy. Read more

UFS QwaQwa Campus Guards on High Alert, Academic Programme Moves Online… 

The academic programme at the University of the Free State’s QwaQwa campus will remain mostly online this week after two buildings were set alight during protests. Read more

UKZN’s Decision to Hold In-Person Graduation Ceremonies Widely Welcomed 

Students have welcomed the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s decision to have in-person graduation ceremonies this May. Read more

UKZN to Investigate ‘Wild’ Four-Day Student Bash 

For four days, Glenwood residents had to endure loud music and drunk behaviour when more than 2,000 students attended an unauthorised party at Howard College. Read more

UKZN Ranks in the Top 2.5% Universities Worldwide 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has been ranked in the top 2.5% universities worldwide. This is according to the 2022-23 edition of the Global 2000 list by the Center for World University Rankings… Read more

UWC Scientists Part of Team That Discovered Megamaser ‘Nkalakatha’ 5bn Lightyears Away from Earth 

After two years, a team of University of Western Cape scientists can finally reveal their astronomical finding with the world – a megamaser, called Nkalakatha, light years away from earth. Read more

Wits Business School, US Usiness College to Collaborate on Energy Matters 

Wits Business School (WBS) has signed an historic agreement with the CT Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, in the US, which it says opens the door for robust collaboration between their respective energy centres. Read more

Worldskills Africa Competition Promotes Capacity Building for Youth 

The second edition of WorldSkills Africa, underway in Namibia’s Swakopmund coastal town, is promoting skills development among the continent’s young populace. Read more

WSU Council Calls for Accountability on Accreditation Debacle

Walter Sisulu University’s council has demanded accountability from the institution’s management for bringing the university into “disrepute” after it emerged it had been offering several programmes that were not accredited. Read more

WSU in High-Level Meetings Over Accreditation Issue 

The Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the South African Qualifications Authority (Saqa) on Wednesday held meetings with Walter Sisulu University after claims that some of the university’s programmes were not accredited. Read more

WSU Partly Cleared Over Unaccredited Courses, but Faces Two more Audits 

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has been partly cleared after claims that dozens of courses were not accredited.The Council on Higher Education (CHE), which accredits qualifications and programmes, said on Friday it had reviewed WSU’s courses with the SA Qualifications Authority (Saqa)… Read more

UWC Ranks in Top 800 on Times Higher Education for 6^th Years in a Row 

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has done it again. It has been ranked in the top 800 universities globally by Times Higher Education (THE) for the sixth year running. Read more

 

31 March 2022

AAU and Afrobarometer Hold Strategic Dialogue to Explore Areas of Collaboration

The visit was at the invitation of Dr. Asunka for the two organisations to explore possible areas of mutual interest for collaboration. Read more

Academics Condemn Silencing of Scientists over Russian Invasion

Academics have condemned an alleged instruction by an official from South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to muzzle scientists over the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Read more

Academic ‘Conveyer Belt’ Approach Dehumanises Education

Building on the present historical moment when ‘distortions’ in the worldview promoted in the West have increasingly come under question in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement, the need to revamp the education systems in the Global South has become increasingly apparent… Read more

African Education Trust Fund (AETF) Committee Meets with the AAU Secretary-General

The AETF was set up by the AAU and the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI) to transform tertiary education in Africa and scale up the skills set of the continent for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Read more

Black Women in South African Academia Struggle to Get Ahead: What Needs to Change

In South Africa, the number of black women who acquire undergraduate degrees has increased more than any other population group. Yet they remain underrepresented in senior academic and management positions in the country’s higher education institutions. Read more

Bukavu Youth Agripreneurs (BYA)

Bukavu Youth Agripreneurs enterprise was started by graduates from different universities and academic disciplines. The enterprise is located in Bukavu City, South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Read more

Continent-Relevant Solutions Needed to Improve Use of AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been identified globally as one of the biggest phenomena of the 21st century and a powerful tool in combating some of the debilitating effects of climate variability and change. Read more

DUT and JICA to Host the SATREPS Technology Transfer Workshop

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) will be hosting the SATREPS “Production of Biofuels from Algal Biomass” Technology Transfer hybrid event on Thursday, 17 March 2022. Read more

DUT Researcher Earns International Recognition

Professor Monique Marks of Durban University of Technology (DUT) has earned international recognition for her research. The university recently announced that Marks has retained her B2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) Rating. Read more

Evacuation of Africa’s Students from Ukraine Continues

While 17 African countries were among the 35 states that abstained from voting on a United Nations resolution on Wednesday 2 March demanding that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine…Read more

Higher Education Dept Working to Ensure Safety of SA Students in Ukraine

The Higher Education Department said that it was working closely with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to ensure the safety of all 32 South African students enrolled at various institutions in war-torn Ukraine. Read more

How I Got Home … Student Recounts Fleeing from Kharkiv

South African Mandisa Sthabile Malindisa (25) travelled for four days, slept on icy roads and muscled her way through desperate crowds on several station platforms and onto trains before she reached Budapest airport in Hungary to board a plane to Johannesburg. She is feeling guilty that she escaped while others are still trapped in Ukraine. Read more

Inclusive Education: Girls and Boys Must be Treated Equally

The education sector has, since democracy in 1994, placed the “girls’ agenda” at the centre of care and support interventions for vulnerable children to address inequality, according to the minister of basic education, Angie Motshekga. Read more

KZN Students Sleep Rough Amid Housing and Registration Challenges 

About 250 first-year students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg campus spent two nights on the tarmac outside the security gates after claiming that the university had failed to provide them with accommodation. Read more

Library Uses InstaNovels to Get More Students to Read

From InstaNovels to enticing ‘Book Nook’ reading spaces in the library, we have to constantly come up with approaches to encourage our students to acquire and nurture the wonderful habit of reading. Read more

Mamdani Talks About his Research Legacy and Work at Makerere

Professor Mahmood Mamdani was the executive director of the Makerere Institute of Social Research at Makerere University, Uganda, from 2010 to the end of February 2022. During this time, he has revamped the institution’s mission and established a robust PhD programme. Read more

More Women Researchers Needed to Tackle Climate Change

Challenging the gender bias within educational institutions, in research and even in the media has been identified as a fundamental component to open up spaces for women to participate in and make an impact in the emerging field of climate change. Read more

NMU Project Part of an ‘African Solution to the World’s Problems’

The US acting consul general to SA last week hailed an innovative aquaponics partnership when he visited Nelson Mandela University’s Missionvale Campus. Read more

Preprint Servers Gain Prominence Despite Peer Review Concerns

While they have been around for the past five decades, preprint servers, repositories that allow access to original manuscripts to the public before they have undergone peer review, have gained more prominence over the past two years, owing to the sheer volume of research on COVID-19 that needed to be communicated. Read more

Protests Over Higher Education Funding Raise Questions Over Loan Scheme 

As protests over mandatory vaccines dominate student-led protests, the growing crisis over finance in higher education has also contributed to a difficult start to the academic year for some students.In recent years, the country has seen student-led demonstrations… Read more

SADC Education for Sustainable Development Framework on the Horizon

The dialogue is one of UNESCO’s responses to the aspirations enunciated in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 of SADC, that is to develop and implement programmes, in order to improve human capacities for socio-economic development… Read more

SA’s Education Equity Gap and Those Aiming to Bridge It

SA is nearly 28 years into democracy yet the right to education, which is a constitutional right, is not a reality for many pupils in this country, with the SA education system still facing many challenges.  Read more

SA Varsities Intent on Pursuing Millions in Unpaid Fees

Amid a troubled start to the 2022 academic year during which student protests erupted on several campuses over financial exclusions, debt-ridden South African universities have said they have no intention of writing off unpaid student fees… Read more

Science and Race in SA: Lessons From ‘old bones in boxes’

In this edited extract from the introduction of his new book, Bones and Bodies: How South African scientists studied race, published by Wits University Press, Alan G Morris examines the discipline’s South African history. Read more

Scientific Diplomacy and Cooperation in this Time of War

As the vice-president of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) responsible for membership matters, I have been involved in formulating a position for the IUPAP about scientific cooperation with Ukraine and with Russia in this extremely difficult time of war. Read more

Scientists, Policy-Makers and Activists Should Work Together

Higher education stakeholders recently gathered to discuss how solutions emanating from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) can be applied in various contexts, including higher education, to support society’s recovery from COVID-19 consequences. Read more

South Africa Could be Ready to Ease COVID-19 Restrictions Further…

Former head of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, Salim Abdool Karim, says that South Africa could be ready to ease pandemic restrictions further as infection rates have declined. Read more

Space Science Capabilities Depend on Quality Education

In December 2019, Ethiopia became the 11th African country to have launched a 72kg remote sensing microsatellite (ETRSS-1) into space, joining the ranks of Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Sudan. In East Africa, Ethiopia was third after Kenya and Rwanda. Read more

Stellenbosch University Launches Online Learning Platform, Funders Urged to Help

Stellenbosch University has launched SU Advantage, an innovative online learning and teaching solution focusing on supporting high school pupils and teachers from Grade 10-12. Read more

Stellenbosch University Accused of Forcing Vaccination on Ill Students 

Stellenbosch University has been accused of endangering students’ lives, after allegedly forcing ill students to get COVID-19 vaccines. Two weeks ago, a second-year medical student from KwaZulu-Natal passed away after contracting the coronavirus. Read more

The Long Journey Back to Campus After COVID’s Disruptions

For the past two years, students in South African tertiary education institutions have had to negotiate the choppy waters of emergency online tuition. In 2022, thousands of students at universities across the country have been returning to the shores of face-to-face learning. Read more

Time to Protest Criminality Disguised as Student Protest

It is becoming increasingly difficult for institutions of higher learning in South Africa to maintain the delicate balancing act of finding sustainable funding solutions amid mounting pressures caused by rapidly altering learning and teaching environments, dwindling government subsidies, and the massification of higher education. Read more

‘Tripartite Curriculum Strategy’ Bridges Work-Academia Gap

Higher education institutions in South Africa are at the helm of building an innovative, knowledge-rich, and resilient society. Yet, they are often criticised for producing graduates who are not ‘fit for purpose’ because of a disconnect between industry requirements and university curricula. Read more

UCT to decide Vaccine Mandate

THE University of Cape Town is one step closer to making a decision on a vaccine mandate policy after it wrapped up a public participation process. On Saturday the university’s Council is expected to receive recommendations… Read more

UJ Students Protest at Auckland Park Campus Against Vaccine Mandate 

University of Johannesburg (UJ) students have on Thursday staged a protest at the Auckland Park campus in Johannesburg against the institution’s vaccine mandate. Read more

UKZN and DUT Team up to Help Feed Starving Students 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the Durban University of Technology (DUT) established feeding scheme programmes to fight food insecurity among students in higher institutions of learning. Read more

UKZN Hosts Colloquium on Womxn in the Academy and Shaping Futures Beyond

The University of KwaZulu-Natal is expected to host a Colloquium on Womxn in the Academy and shaping futures beyond Covid-19 on Thursday.The event is being hosted by UKZN’s College of Humanities in partnership with Is’thebe Mentoring and takes place during International Women’s Month. Read more

UKZN Students in Pietermaritzburg Campus Still Facing Issues with Accommodation

Students from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg campus, who slept outside the main gate while awaiting residences, are still concerned about their accommodation issues. Read more

‘Uncomfortable Conversations About Universities Needed’

African universities must experiment with radically different models of access and funding if they are to create new identities for themselves as decolonised institutions, according to former student activist and now lecturer at South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), Rekgotsofetse Chikane. Read more

UNESCO and Partners to Hold Social Knowledge for Policy Uptake Workshop

The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa in collaboration with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the South African Department of Social Development (DSD) will hold a workshop on social knowledge for policy uptake… Read more

Universities can Build Relationships with Industry by Inviting People to Networking Events

The first session of the two-day Executive Leadership Workshop (ELW) on Commercialisation of Research, held in Cape Town last week – featured two speakers from abroad.  Read more

University Council Chair has no Degree

Central University of Technology (CUT) council chairperson Matthew Rantso, who leads PhD holders with only a certificate in hand, is the only such council chairperson among South Africa’s 26 universities. Read more

‘Universities Must Grasp the Opportunity to Change’

If African universities are to meet their mandate to support development on the continent, they must change with the times and restructure, said Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela, the vice provost for international affairs and global strategies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the United States. Read more

Universities Must Find Ways to Fast-Track the ‘Brightest’

“There is an abundance of human talent in Africa, but it has not been coming through into advanced technical fields,” says Professor Neil Turok, who founded the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in Cape Town in 2003. Read more

University of Pretoria Points the Way for the use of 3D-Printing in Medicine and Science

The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Forensic Anthropology Research Centre (FARC) is setting up a comprehensive facility to help other departments in the University’s Faculty of Health Sciences with the 3D-printing of replicas of bones and organs. Read more

Universities Can do Better in Democratising Their Research

For many, participation might be intrinsically valuable. Not surprisingly, as human beings living as part of our societies, we want to be heard and be active within our communities. However, seeing the social fabric as compendiums of communities might bring light into those groups or communities where we have nothing or little to say as citizens of our global world. Read more

Universities with Unique Identities 

South Africa’s youngest universities, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) and the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) are making good strides in growing the institutions by giving them a unique identity and footprint in higher education landscape. Read more

UWC’s DNA Profiling Kit to Fight Crime

A University of the Western Cape’s recent creation of a new DNA profiling kit could help solve sexual assault-related crimes.Researchers from the institution have partnered with two biotech companies to assist in commercializing the project. Read more

Vice-Chancellors Tasked to Lobby for Better Internet Access

Vice-chancellors have a vital advocacy role to play in promoting national research and education networks (NRENs), to advance the digital transformation strategies of African universities. Read more

Vigorous Intercultural Democratic Debate on Science Needed

Indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) must be incorporated in African university curricula across the continent in order to help resurrect nation-building and decolonisation projects that have been put on hold, according to Ugandan higher education thought leader Catherine Odora Hoppers. Read more

‘We Need Local Solutions to Local Climate Change Problems’

“As a continent, we must move from climate theory to climate action and, therefore, it is critical to build alliances and partnerships between different role-players in terms of climate change. This calls for the inclusion of local contexts and indigenous knowledge in climate adaptation strategies.” Read more

Why are Black Women Under-Represented in Senior Academe?

In South Africa, the number of black women who acquire undergraduate degrees has increased more than any other population group. Read more

Work Integrated Learning Strategy Aims to Advance 4IR Skills

Universities must stop churning out students for careers that may no longer exist and, instead, produce ‘adaptive’ graduates fit for purpose and ready for the 21st century and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), said Professor Thandwa Mthembu, the vice-chancellor of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa. Read more

WSU Convocation Calls for Transparency from Varsity…

The Walter Sisulu University convocation has called upon university managers to address the concerns about the validity of some of the institution’s degrees directly, truthfully and immediately to avoid irredeemable damage to the university. Read more

WSU Students Strike After Eeing evicted for Outstanding Rental 

About 1 000 students from Zamukulungisa WSU Campus in Mthatha were left stranded after their landlords allegedly evicted them from their place of residences yesterday, March 14. Read more

Youths from Africa and the Arab World Commit to Advancing Cooperation in agriculture…

The Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC) in partnership with the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) organized a youth dialogue under the theme, “Enhancing food security through innovations and planetary health: the role of youth.” Read more

 

28 February 2022

Academic Publishing Needs Creative Solutions to Grow

COVID-19 has dampened academic research productivity even though virtual conferences and webinars have become an antidote for visa denials and a shortage of travel funding. Where academic publishing is concerned, there may be solutions to promote development in African countries as well as increase international support. Read more

Advancing Transformation as the University’s Strategic heart

Transformation in higher education is complex and multifaceted. It involves integrated processes of continuous institutional change in all aspects of the university’s functioning. Read more

Africa Needs ‘Pluriversities’ to Respect More Ways of Knowing

Universities on the continent are so dominated by frameworks for understanding that were established in the Global North that they cannot be considered authentically ‘African’ in terms of what they teach and the kinds of knowledge they produce, says South African philosopher Mogobe Ramose. Read more

‘Data Literacy is as Important as Any other Literacy’

Computational and data science is a new essential language, and all students and graduates today need to be versed in computational thinking and data-handling skills. Read more

Does Your University have a Student Affairs Directorate?

Student affairs directorates within universities have unique roles to play in ensuring quality in higher education by maximising opportunities for students to graduate equipped with a high level of success and holistic development and allowing them to acquire those graduate attributes that prepare them to contribute better in society. Read more

Durban University of Technology’s City Campus Petrol-Bombed

The Durban University of Technology’s City Campus was petrol-bombed in the early hours of Tuesday morning.A group of approximately 15 unknown people hurled petrol bombs on the City Campus, which is situated in Anton Lembede Street, … Read more

DUT Announces Closure of Campuses on Friday Ahead of Protest March 

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has said it will temporarily close three of its campuses in the CBD on Friday before a planned protest by the EFF Student Command. Read more

DUT’s 2022 Back to Campus: Teaching and Learning Plan 

Should the lockdown level allow and the council approved policy choices on COVID-19 are met, the university may offer mask-to-mask teaching and learning to students exiting the system. Read more

DUT’s Dr Mavela Nominated for Illustrious Science and Tech Awards

Dr Mavela works in the Student Support Development Unit under the Centre for Excellence in Learning at Teaching (CELT) at the DUT and is also pursuing her PhD in health sciences under the Faculty of Health Sciences at the university.  Read more

DUT Staff Evacuated Following Violent Protests

The Durban University of Technology (DUT) abruptly closed its doors on Tuesday after violent attacks by student groups, which resulted in four faculty staff cars set alight. The protest comes after some students alleged they were struggling to register for the 2022 academic year. Read more

DUT Upholds Mandatory Vaccination Policy …

Despite mounting reluctance from students and student organisations, universities across the country are steadfast in implementing the Covid-19 mandatory vaccination policies which prohibit students from entering campuses without producing proof of vaccination. Read more

Higher Education Minister Reveals R47 Billion in Funding

Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande revealed on Saturday that R47 billion in student funding has been disbursed for the year through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to aid more than 700 000 students. Read more

Higher Education Proposes 4.23% Fee Increase

The Department of Higher Education and Training has proposed an increase of 4.23% for tuition fees for the 2022 academic year, and a maximum of 6.23% for accommodation at all 26 universities. Read more

How to Connect Your Research with Policy-Making Agendas

African academic researchers have been urged to stop writing long, dry and complex research papers that are meant for other scholars only, but to also consider best practices of sharing their research with lay audiences to increase their use in policy- and decision-making agendas. Read more

Institutions Brace for Protests as Funding Cuts Loom

Following the first reports of student protests, South Africa’s 26 public universities and 50 technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges are expected to start the 2022 academic year on the back foot with a ZAR10 billion (US$650 million) shortfall for student funding. Read more

Man Gets 18 Years for Stealing R1.2m Meant for Walter Sisulu University Students, Staff 

An Eastern Cape man who stole R1.2 million meant to financially support needy Walter Sisulu University students has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. Read more

New Immigration Rules Leave Foreign Students in the Lurch

South Africa has withdrawn a blanket waiver granted to foreign students studying in critical skills areas following changes to its immigration policy. Read more

Protests Called Off After Agreement Reached

The Nelson Mandela University’s student representative council and management ironed out an agreement on Monday evening after protesting students blocked entrances to the north and south campuses in Gqeberha, along with the one in George. Read more

Private and Public Universities Should Collaborate in Africa

Private universities became popular and increased exponentially in Africa around the 1990s. Read more

Project to Translate Research Articles into African Languages

A platform that publishes African research immediately and free of charge, with the aim of providing increased regional and international visibility for scientific work, has partnered with like-minded open access African portals to translate 180 research articles from English to six African languages. Read more

Protests Halt First Day of University Lectures

Lectures were brought to a halt on Monday, the first day of the academic year at Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, by students protesting over difficulties with registration. Read more

‘Queen of Science’ Keeps Breaking Barriers for Women

She started school at the age of four and, at the age of 11, a lesson on astronauts in a geography class sparked a lifelong love for and dance with the sciences. Read more

Ready for a Career Change? Swallow Your Pride, Push Through

At times, passion drives people to great lengths and, as they travel the path to their highest ideals, they discover themselves along the way. Read more

SA Universities Mlaim to be Multilingual Yet have Monolingual Websites;…

With South Africa’s new Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions set to enhance the role and status of marginalised languages scheduled to kickstart this year, a scholar’s insights into what universities’ websites reflect now, are apt.  Read more

Science Output Rising, but Some Countries’ Yields Still Low

Despite numerous challenges, Africa has made notable progress in the production of scientific knowledge in the past two decades, with a total share of 7.6% of contributions to the world of science and one-third of all international publications in tropical medicine. Read more

Space Technology to Measure, Monitor Climate Change Impact

Five African countries are working with Egypt to launch a pan-African satellite project dubbed the African Development Satellite Initiative (AfDev-Sat) to study the impact of climate change across Africa and what space technology can offer in this area. Read more

Top 10 Best Universities in Africa 

Africa is home to many universities that rank amongst the top universities in the world. Scattered across the continent, they stand tall in educational excellence. Read more

TVET Colleges as Good as Universities

As Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges prepare for prospective students, the issue of unemployed graduates looms large. Read more

UCT Ikeys Come from Behind to Beat NWU Eagles in Varsity Cup Opener

UCT Ikeys produced a spectacular comeback in the first Varsity Cup match of the year to beat NWU Eagles 35-26 at the Fanie du Toit Stadium on Monday. Read more

UCT Professor, Jack Fletcher, Shortlisted for Africa Prize in Engineering Innovation

Dr Jack Fletcher has been shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation (APEI) with the Hyena Power Pod, a fuel-cell based hydrogen generator that converts LPG gas into usable electricity, all within one device is one of the technologies that have been shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. Read more

UCT Students Protest Amidst SRC Rape Allegation

Accusations of sexual harassment and rape levelled at the president of the University of Cape Town’s Student Representative Council (SRC) have led to students protesting at several locations on UCT campuses today (Wednesday 2 February). Read more

UCT Suspends Student Following Sexual Assault, Rape Allegations

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has suspended a student following sexual assault and rape allegations, which surfaced more than a week ago.”Since the matter was brought to our attention on 1 February, the survivor continues to receive support from UCT,”… Read more

UFS’ Planned #Covid19 Vaccination Policy to be Argued in Court 

A court date for an argument against the University of the Free State’s (UFS) planned mandatory #Covid19 vaccination policy, which will deal with the merits of the case, has been set for 23 March 2022. Read more

UKZN Lecturer Launches IsiZulu COVID Animation Film for Children

The film is based on the university’s social work senior lecturer Dr Maud Mthembu’s book about COVID-19 titled ‘Uhambo lwami ngesikhathi sekhovithi – My journey during COVID-19.’ Read more

UKZN Students Continue Fiery Protest Over List of Demands 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has condemned alleged violence and destruction of property after fresh protests broke out at its campuses.The university said on Monday there were protests at the Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses… Read more

UKZN Students Vow to Continue with Their Protests

Students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal have vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met. Read more

UKZN Study Reveals Benefits of Moringa Leaf for People with HIV

A University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) study has found that the moringa oleifera leaf supplementation can have major benefits on the health of people living with HIV. Read more

UKZN Suspends Academic Programme After Violent Protests 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) suspended academic activities on Monday after protests at campuses.Normah Zondo, UKZN’s corporate relations executive director, said in a statement on Monday that the decision was taken after “incidents of violence and intimidation”… Read more

University of Pretoria Allocates R500 Million in Bursaries to Deserving Students

The University of Pretoria (UP) allocated an estimated R500 million to about 8 000 students in 2021 in the form of University-managed and external bursaries.Due to historic debts and financial challenges, many students find themselves having to abandon their studies,… Read more

University’s Covid-19 Vaccination Policy now Fully Active

The University of the Free State (UFS) has confirmed that its Covid-19 vaccination policy and the regulations in relation to this were effective from Monday (14/02).This came after the Free State High Court in Bloemfontein struck off the roll an urgent application by Free State for Choice (FS4C)… Read more

University Systems in 45 Countries have Barely Been Studied

Higher education in Africa has become a frequently researched topic from 2000 onwards, but the systems in 45 out of 54 countries on the continent have barely been studied and 20 countries lack internal higher education expertise. This is a matter of concern, states a new study. Read more

UP in Top Five of SA Universities at Number 474 in World 

University ranking by Academic Performance (URAP) has placed Vaal University of Technology at the bottom of the top 21 of South African universities and the UCT as number one in the country. Read more

Women Need to Upskill to Join the Digital Transformation Revolution

She grew up in Limpopo, in a township called Namakgale, but her parents never let her forget that “home” was the village. It is why Dr Stella Bvuma, Head of the Department of Applied Information Systems at the University of Johannesburg, has an acute sense of the wider technological gap in rural areas…Read more

31 January 2022

Academic Community’s Work Transcends Travel Bans, Politics

While most of the travel bans that were placed on several Southern African countries, including South Africa, under the auspice of containing the new COVID-19 omicron variant, have been revoked, Read more

African Scholars Concerned Over Biases in Review Processes

Ongoing concerns over geographical biases in the evaluation of scientific research that could be disadvantaging Africa scholars remain and suggest the need for ongoing and targeted efforts to address inequalities in knowledge production and publication. Read more

Covid-19 Screening and Vaccination Help Mitigate Virus in Tertiary Institutions 

A new study has found that integrated vaccination and routine screening are key in allowing the safe reopening of ‘face-to-face’ classes at tertiary institutions. Read more

Covid-19: Universities, Student Bodies Could be Headed for Showdown Over Vaccination

Mandatory vaccination policies have taken centre stage in the tertiary education sector as thousands of pupils and staff at these institutions prepare for the start of the 2022 academic year. Read more

Degree Programmes Needed to Boost African Film Industry

African universities lag far behind when it comes to training professionals for the blossoming African film industry that could create more than 20 million jobs and generate US$20 billion in annual revenue, according to UNESCO. Read more

DUT Students to Compete in Regional Finals of Huawei ICT Competition 

Three Durban University of Technology (DUT) students have been selected to compete in the Huawei ICT Competition Regional Finals, which is to be held online, next month, February 2022. Read more

Engineering TVET Lecturers ‘Not in Tune’ with Tech Changes

More than half the technical engineering lecturers at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in South Africa, who participated in a recent study, are unaware of any technological advancements in their area of specialisation. Read more

Financing and Making University Education Better in Africa

Perhaps to demonstrate the importance of education to human endeavours, academics, founders, donors and all those concerned with higher education in Nigeria and other parts of Africa were assembled for two days from January 6- 7, 2021, Read more

Government Grant for Research and Development Activities Increases 

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, has welcomed the increase in government funding for research and development (R&D) activities. Read more

How to Bolster Hybrid Teaching and Learning Competencies

Despite many people’s concerns about the state of education, I am optimistic about the future of our universities. Read more

How to Set the Scene for First-Year University Success 

Entering university for the first time will be a culture shock for many matriculants. An education expert says first-year dropout rates have historically been – and remain – a problem in South Africa. Read more

Miratho Project Finds Universities Could do More to Enable Black Working-Class Students to Participate and Succeed …

A research project by the Higher Education and Human Development (HEHD) group at the University of the Free State (UFS) concluded that the inequalities and exclusion of the labour market and pathways to further study must be addressed by wider economic and social policies… Read more

Mathematics in Crisis in SA Despite it Being a Gateway Subject for Higher Education

Among the almost 600 000 candidates who wrote matric in 2020, a meagre 5.3% scored 60% or more for Mathematics. Given that the required pass rate is just 30% – something that only 125 526 candidates achieved. Read more

Message of Condolences to the Family of Dr Archbishop Desmond Tutu

On behalf of the Vaal University of Technology’s Council, Management, Staff and Students we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr Archbishop Desmond Tutu on his passing. Read more

NDLOVU Focuses on Contributing Towards Gender Equality in the ICT Sector

Winning accolades comes naturally to Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Fanie Ndlovu, a Masters Student in Information and Communications Technology, (ICT) and brainchild of VarsityGenie, a student leadership platform. Read more

Poor Planning for Online Learning Created Disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic-driven transition to emergency remote teaching and online learning has been met with controversy in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) region, as a significant number of students from underprivileged areas in the countries were deprived of a fair and equal opportunity to complete their academic year…Read more

Powering Marine Pollution Busting with Engineering Excellence

Engineering has the biggest role to play in making fundamental societal change – this is the motivation of the team at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Department of Electrical Engineering as they embark on a new project that aims to locate and monitor ocean pollution in waters off Cape Town. Read more

Private and Public Universities Should Collaborate in Africa

Private universities became popular and increased exponentially in Africa around the 1990s. Before then, however, universities such as the American University in Cairo, founded in 1919, functioned amid the popularity and seeming intimidation of public universities. Read more

Programme Aims to Build Bridges, Bring Academics Together

A new partnership programme involving academics and administrators in Africa as well as Black African diaspora scholars in the United States aims to nurture research, teaching and outreach collaborations, yielding academic outcomes that are set to support the nurturing of globally competent faculty and students. Read more

South Africa has Lost a Human Rights and Social Justice Giant

As South Africa contemplates a future without Archbishop Desmond Tutu, it must be with an understanding that she has lost another giant, a lodestone, an unwavering voice for human rights and social justice. Read more

South Africa to Launch Three Nanosatellites as Part of R27 Million Space Project

Higher Education, Science and Innovation minister Dr Blade Nzimande has announced the launch of three locally-produced nanosatellites from the US on Thursday (13 January), as part of South Africa’s new Maritime Domain Awareness Satellite (MDASat) constellation. Read more

South African University Students Fight COVID Vaccine Mandates

South African university students are fighting mandates that require they be vaccinated against COVID-19 before returning to the classroom on February 14. Even students who are vaccinated,…Read more

‘The COVID-19 Crisis Has Taught Us How Tertiary Education Needs to Change…

It is not possible to think about the future of tertiary education, in South Africa and globally, without considering the direct and significant impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the landscape. Read more

The DUT Community Engagement Donations Handover to the Baby Home 

The DUT Community Engagement Office under the DVC Research, Innovation, and Engagement in partnership with The Division of Corporate Affairs reached out to the DUT community to help with the donation drive for The Baby Home. Read more

‘Thinking the Future’: Clem Sunter Presents 2022 in a Nutshell

“When you’re thinking the future, you’ve actually got to look around you. It’s not just about having great thoughts from within about what can happen; it’s really trying to observe what’s going on around you and projecting that into the future,” … Read more

TVET Qualification No Golden Highway to a Job, Students Say

A study among 113 South African engineering students from the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college sector has revealed that the majority (79) believe that their qualification is “undervalued and does not guarantee employment”. Read more

UB and UPENN Embark on Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices Study for Southern Africa

The University of Botswana through the Faculty of Medicine and in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania will embark on a study titled Investigating Antimicrobial Stewardship Practices in Southern Africa (MOSAIC) covering Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Read more

UCT Master’s Student Creates Vambo Academy, an Educational Technology Tool…

Chido Dzinotyiwei, a Master of Commerce at the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB), has created an educational technology tool called Vambo Academy to provide digital resources in support of language learning and translation. Read more

‘UCT Open Textbook Journeys’ Provides Access to Locally Relevant Learning Materials 

Lecturers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) are adopting innovative pedagogical and content production approaches to provide students with more accessible and locally relevant learning materials. Read more 

UFS Vice-Chancellor Pays Tribute to the Late Archbishop Tutu

The University of the Free State awarded world human rights icon and anti-apartheid activist, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, an honorary doctorate in Theology in January 2011. Read more

UKZN Apologises for Blunder with Acceptance Offers 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has apologised after a technical glitch resulted in the institution mistakenly sending firm acceptance offers to rejected applicants. Read more

UKZN SRC Hopes the Public Can Help Raise R6 Million to Assist Students… 

The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has urged the public to assist in raising R6 million to assist students in financial debts.The idea was born due to the increasing debts of students which led them to be blocked from the university system. Read more

UKZN Threatens Legal Action Against ‘Illegal’ Matric Upgrade Centres 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) says it will institute legal action against illegal matric upgrade centres claiming association with the institution. Read more

UKZN Warns of Fake Social Media Accounts

UKZN warns the general public about fake Facebook accounts that could be used to misguide students. Read more

University Fee Hikes on the Cards 

University students will be paying more for tuition and residence.The Higher Education Department is proposing that the country’s 26 universities increase fees for this year by 4.3-percent for tuition and 6.3-percent for accommodation. Read more

University of Pretoria-Led Study Reveals COVID-19 Delta Variants Transmitted from Humans to Animals 

A team of scientists from the University of Pretoria (UP) has published the only study from Africa that entailed genomic One Health investigations which reveal that Delta variants of COVID-19 were transmitted from humans to animals… Read more

University of Pretoria on Mission to Vaccinate Undocumented Communities in Gauteng

Pretoria – As health professionals work to increase the number of vaccinated people, to create herd immunity and reduce the chance of prolonged infection, the University of Pretoria has stepped in. Read more

University of the Western Cape Buildings Lit in Purple

In honour of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and his legacy at the University of the Western Cape, the Main Hall has been lit in purple every evening this week. So too has the Life Sciences Building on campus. Read more

UWC Staff ‘Turned Away’ Over Vaccines 

A UWC employee who was allegedly turned away after failing to produce vaccine certificates on campus, claim unfairness and say no clear communication has been given, especially for those awaiting exemption decisions. Read more

 

31 December 2021

Academics from 12 Universities on Global Citation List

A total of 16 academics from five countries in Africa and working at 12 universities have been recognised as influential researchers. Read more

COVID-19 in SA | UJ Adopts Mandatory Vaccination

The University of Johannesburg has adopted mandatory vaccination, following a trend in the higher education sector. Staff, postdoctoral research fellows and students will need to provide proof of vaccination before entering campus. Read more

Creating an Environment for Intellectual Capital Remittance

African diaspora scholars – individuals born, raised and educated in Africa and who now work in foreign universities – have for years established links and worked with institutions in their mother countries as a way of ‘giving back’. Read more

Creating Vibrant and Stronger Research Communities

Diaspora academics have called for the continued and expanded support of a programme that has enabled them to contribute to the strengthening of higher education in Africa through conducting joint research, supervising graduate students, mentoring junior faculty and co-authoring grant proposals and research papers. Read more

CUT and Namibia University of Science and Technology Discuss Current and Future Collaborations

The Central University of Technology hosted the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) as part of expanding collaborations between the two universities. Read more

CUT Researcher is Validating the Significance of Traditional Medicine… 

African indigenous medicines have throughout history received scorn, even though they are essentially the source of many boxed medicines we consume today. Read more

CUT, Women in Science – Chemistry Lecturer Dr Ritu Bhagwandeen Shares Her Views …

The imbalance between men and women in the science and technology sector is unlikely to be remedied unless organisations, schools and universities work together to change entrenched perceptions about the tech industry. Read more

Do You Want to be More Employable? Learn Coding Skills

Students in African universities and other tertiary institutions on the continent should learn coding skills, even when they are not enrolled as students at departments of computer sciences, as a way of preparing themselves for well-paying jobs in the digital sector and for career change directions. Read more

DUT’S Professor Sibusiso Moyo Scoops the Entrepreneurial Development in Higher Education (EDHE) DVC Award 2021

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Professor Sibusiso Moyo was recently awarded the Entrepreneurial Development in Higher Education (EDHE) DVC Award at the EDHE 2021 Awards ceremony held at the Premier Hotel, in Johannesburg on the 19th of November 2021. Read more

High Gear Aligning TVET System with Industry Demand

Positioning South Africa’s public TVET college system to meet the needs of employers has been hampered by limited industry involvement in curriculum design and delivery, but that is changing thanks to a collaborative initiative that is aligning TVET courses with the automotive component manufacturing sector’s evolving needs. Read more

Kagame Praises Cape Town as a Reputable University in Africa 

President Paul Kagame has lauded the University of Cape Town as among reputable Universities in Africa that has shaped both South African and Rwandan students as well. Read more

New Medical School to Absorb Students Returning from Cuba

The Nelson Mandela University (NMU) medical school has committed to absorb the returning Cuban cohort of about 50 medical students. Read more

NWU Academic Aims to Boost Environmental Sustainability Through Industrial Engineering

Meelan Roopa, a lecturer in the North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Industrial Engineering, is currently conducting research on new ideas and strategic ways of achieving environmental sustainability for developing countries through industrial engineering. Read more

Omicron: Academics Voice Their Dismay Over Travel Ban

African academics have expressed dismay at the move by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom and other countries to block flights from several African countries following the sequencing of a new, potentially more transmissible variant of COVID-19. Read more

Over 50% of Tertiary Student Doubtful that They’ll be Employed After Completing Studies

Over 50% of tertiary students in South Africa, say that they’re doubtful that they’ll be employed after completing their studies. This is according to a study conducted by the Professional Provident Society (PPS). Read more

Paradigm Shift in EU’s Collaboration with HE in Africa

As policy-makers gear up for a summit on 17-18 February 2022 where a new multi-year strategic agreement (2021-27) between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) will be introduced, research universities sent a clear message that enhanced African-European university collaboration should be a key component of the agreement. Read more

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Required to Register at Four Western Cape Universities

Proof of vaccination against the coronavirus will now be required to register at all four major institutions of higher learning in the Western Cape. Read more

Reflections on Academics and Agency During COVID

As South African universities continue to grapple with the changes to teaching and learning wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) says that, while the tertiary education sector has demonstrated incredible responsiveness amid the disruptions experienced over the past 20 months, this agility has not been without costs,… Read more

Review of Science Journals Shows Strengths and Weaknesses

Of the 22 journals in the mathematics and science disciplines evaluated by a review committee of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), three were recommended for removal from the accredited list of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). Read more

SA Cautioned Following Increase in Fake Honorary Degrees and Qualifications 

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande says people should not be quick to receive qualifications and honorary degrees without verifying the credentials of the institution that is honoring them. Read more

Scientists Urge Leaders to Up Spending on Health Education

A group of nine African academics from South Africa, Kenya, Senegal, Nigeria and Mali have called on governments and other funders for increased local investment in health research and development with a special focus on developing scientific and production capabilities, …Read more

Sexual Violence Rampant on College Campuses, Say MRC Researchers 

Female students in higher education face “pervasive” sexual violence, according to researchers who interviewed 1,293 young women. One in five told a team from the SA Medical Research Council (MRC) they had experienced sexual violence in the past year,… Read more

Stellenbosch University Approves use of Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa

The Council of Stellenbosch University has approved the proposed new language policy for the institution with an overwhelming majority. The policy provides for the use of Afrikaans, English and isiXhosa in learning and teaching at the university, as well as in communication. Read more

Stellenbosch University Honours Arts Cape First Female CEO Marlene le Roux… 

First woman to be CEO of the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, Marlene le Roux, will be receiving an Honorary Doctorate form Stellenbosch University (SU) this week.SU will confer honorary doctorates on six outstanding individuals who have made valuable contributions in the fields of medicine, Read more

Student Mobility Between Africa and US Falls During COVID

The COVID-19 pandemic has decreased the number of international students from Africa who are studying in universities in the United States, as their numbers fell from a high of 48,679 students in the 2019-20 academic year to 45,343 students in 2020-21, a drop of 6.85%. Read more

The Mine of the Near Future Needs More ‘Imagineers’

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is now in full play, forcing big industry to either adapt or go under. For the adaptable, it has opened many opportunities, with the mining and minerals industry rapidly pursuing the exploration and implementation of innovative technologies and processes. Read more

Two 80+ Year Olds Graduate from Stellenbosch University with Master’s and PhD 

Two graduates in their eighties have embodied the words “you are never too old to dream a new dream” after enrolling in postgraduate academic programmes and successfully completing them.Antoinette Swart (83) has received the degree PhD in Ancient Cultures at the SU Konservatorium in Stellenbosch,… Read more

UCT Researchers Honoured in L’Oreal-Unesco Programmes for Scientific Excellence 

Three PhD candidates from the University of Cape Town (UCT) have been recognised by the L’Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science programme for their excellent contributions to science in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

UKZN Academic to Serve on SA Planning Commission

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed UKZN town planning lecturer Professor Hangwelani Magidimisha-Chipungu as a member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) for the next five years. Read more

UKZN Hosts Cadaver Ceremony to Pay Homage to those Who’ve Donated Their Bodies… 

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s College of Health Sciences last week held a funeral service for those who had donated their bodies to science. The dedication ceremony honours both the donor and the deceased for their act of donation. Read more

UKZN’s Liquid Propellant Rocket Engine ABLE Proves to be a Success

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) has successfully tested a liquid propellant rocket engine through its Aerospace Systems Research Group (ASReG). Read more

UWC Adopts Mandatory COVID Vaccine Policy with Some Exemptions

The interim policy – which makes provision for certain exemptions on a case-by-case basis – will be reviewed at the end of the first semester next year. Read more

UNESCO Concludes Training of African Judicial Institutions on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists

UNESCO in partnership with the African Court of Human and Peoples Rights conducted a 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT), organized between the 29 November  to 3 December 2021,… Read more

Universities are Front-Runners in Start-Up Support Programmes

Universities, among others, are leading Egypt as a tech powerhouse for Africa as the country now rivals – and even sometimes surpasses – more established start-up ecosystems such as South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya for levels of entrepreneurial innovation and investment. Read more

University of Johannesburg and I-DAIR Collaboration Set to Advance the Health Sector in the 4IR Sphere

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) recently signed a strategic agreement with Fondation pour l’institut de hautes études internationales et du développement acting through The International Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Research Collaborative (I-DAIR) who are based in Geneva, Switzerland. Read more

Universities Must Do Away with Deployment of Police and Security Forces on Campuses…

South African Union of Students (SAUS) has called on higher education to create a single coordinated education system to deal with police brutality occurring on campuses. Read more

University of Venda Implements Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy 

The University of Venda in Thohoyandou Limpopo has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for students and staff. University Spokesperson Takalani Dzaga says the policy will be effective from January 1, 2022. Read more

UP the Largest Producer of Research in SA

According to the vice-chancellor Professor Tawana Kupe, the University of Pretoria, which is the largest producer of research in South Africa, has no intention of resting on its well-recognised laurels. Read more

UP and Apolitical Academy Southern Africa Join Forces to Train Ethical Leaders… 

The University of Pretoria (UP) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Apolitical Academy Southern Africa (AASA) to collaborate on the training of ethical leaders in the country and the region. Read more

Vaccinate – or Say Goodbye to Your Studies 

Students who fail to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and fail to get an exemption may not be able to register for courses and could even be deregistered. Those are among the measures several universities are adopting as they impose mandatory vaccination for staff and students from next year. Read more

WITS Offering R9K Short Course for Free to Those Affected by COVID-19 

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) is now offering a Certified Short Course in software development to those who have lost their jobs or have found it difficult to find employment, both as results of the pandemic. Read more

Wits SRC Warns Mandatory Vaccination Policy May Sow Divisions on Campus

The Wits University student representative council (SRC) has hit back at a mandatory vaccination policy set to be implemented next year. Read more

Women in HE: ‘We Either Rise Together or Sink Together’

Nurturing girls’ education at basic and secondary levels of learning, and offering increased support to women already in academia are some of the strategies that will ensure greater inclusivity in the African research sector. Read more

WSU Graduate Wins Merit Award at Sasol Art Competition

Walter Sisulu University fine art graduate, Sibaninzi Dlathu (25), walked away with a merit prize of R10 000, after making the top seven in this year’s Sasol New Signatures art competition, held on November 11, at the Pretoria Art Museum. Read more

 

30 November 2021

All Universities Must Strive to Reach the Pinnacle of the Annual EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity

A total of 18 of South Africa’s 26 public universities were represented at the EDHE Entrepreneurship Intervarsity 2021 finals last week – and the address delivered virtually by Ms Mandisa Cakwe, Acting Chief Director:… Read more

British High Commission Plans Partnership to Develop Youth Technical Skills

The British government will invest up to £75-million of official development assistance, globally, for skills development across nine fast-growing economies; with the South African portion being dedicated to addressing the skills gaps, skills mismatch and quality training for unemployed youth and youth in post-school education and training. Read more

Circular Thinking Education Will Aid Sustainable Development

Inefficient management of the abundant natural resources in Africa prompted experts to call on universities on the continent to join the ‘education for circularity’ movement to equip students with knowledge and skills in circular thinking. Read more

Contact or Online? Moving Away from Binary Approaches

The coronavirus pandemic has presented us with an opportunity to hit the reset button – to reorganise, intentionally redesign and rethink teaching and learning as we know it. Read more

COVID-19 is Advancing a New Architecture of Knowledge

South Africa, according to World Bank data, is the world’s most unequal society, divided by forms of racialised and gender inequality that emerge from its history of colonialism and apartheid. Read more

Creating Engaged, Student-Centred and Responsive Universities

Professor Puleng Lenka Bula, Chairperson of the Transformation Strategy Group (TSG) and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of South Africa, reported that she had found the three TSG breakaway sessions exciting. Read more

DUT Launched 4IR Centre of Excellence

The state-of-the-art equipment installed in the high-tech laboratories for the Internet of Things and robotics is fully equipped to support postgraduate research in IoT, drone-based computing systems, robotics programming, and computing networks. Read more

DUT Launches the Groundbreaking Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

A two-day hybrid launch of the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) newly named Innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was held at DUT’s Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday, 04 November 2021,… Read more

DUT’s Level Six Edumove Gives Learners the Chance to Bring their Architectural Ideas into a Reality

The Community Engagement Office [CEO] under the DVC Research Innovation and Engagement in collaboration with the Level Six EduMove, partnered with The Umkhumbane Schools Project [USP] to host an Architecture Showcasing on 14 October 2021. Read more

DUT to Reopen Campuses on Wednesday After Violent Protests 

Durban University of Technology (DUT) says it will reopen three of its campuses after protest action, allegedly by the EFF-lead student representative council (SRC), led to the shutdown of the Steve Biko, Ritson and ML Sultan campuses on Monday. Read more

Grassroots Research Gives a Voice to the Plight of Men at Risk of a Silent Killer: Prostate Cancer

While discussing mother and baby health at a community gathering in the rural Vhembe District of Limpopo, one of the male traditional leaders asked when we are going to do something for men. Read more

First mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub Gets to Work

The World Health Organization and the COVID Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative announced in mid-2021 that they were working with a consortium to establish the first COVID messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine technology transfer hub on the African continent, in South Africa. What does this work entail? What will it mean for the continent? Read more

How a Giraffe and Lightning Generated in a Wits Lab have Lit Up Forensic Science 

New research at Wits University could help forensic investigators determine whether people or animals are killed by lightning based solely on an analysis of their skeletons. Read more

How Wits University’s New “Light Beam” Tech Can Bring Fibre to Informal Settlements

The tech has been described as a beam of light “from a fibre-connected suburban home to a 3D-printed wireless communication system to a school in an informal settlement across the road, providing learners with instant high-speed, reliable internet access.” Read more

Innovation for African Unis Program Launched 

The British Council has launched a program seeking to foster and strengthen universities support for entrepreneurial ecosystems in Sub-Saharan Africa.The Innovation for African Universities program comprises 24 project partnerships with universities… Read more

Judgment on Student Theft Case Postponed Owing to Exams

Judgment in the trial of the Walter Sisulu University student, accused of the theft of ZAR14 million (US$900,000) of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) money in South Africa, has been postponed to 14 December because she is writing exams, … Read more

KZN School of Law Raises R18 Million in Research Funding 

An innovative legal research project, led by Prof Donrich Thaldar of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) School of Law, has been awarded R18 million in funding by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read more

Mandela Uni Open Education Advocate Receives Global Award #R2bP

In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Open Education community, Academic Developer and leader of Mandela University’s Open Education Influencers Project, Gino Fransman, has been recognised with a global Open Education Award for Excellence. Read more

N$170m Climate-Change Windfall for SADC

To achieve this goal, Namibia has established a graduate school on integrated water resources management at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), which is expected to be transformed into a Centre of Excellence for the SADC region. Read more

NMU Set for Official Launch of Medical School

The ground-breaking group of aspirant medical doctors at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) Medical School are putting their newfound knowledge to the test with examinations now under way. Read more

PhD Graduate Reaches for the Stars

Twala is a project manager for the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag). She started at the organisation as a volunteer in 2017. Read more

Professor Ncoza Dlova Becomes the First Black Female Full Professor at UKZN…

The renowned dermatologist has been busy since she last spoke to us. Starting a haircare business, winning international awards and making history once again – it seems like it’s all in day’s work for Professor Ncoza Dlova, but the journey has been long. Read more

Projects Pave Women’s Way into Data Science Fields

Data science has been playing a critical role in tackling real-life challenges across African communities and sectors such as health and urban development. Despite a steady increase in data scientists in Africa, gender parity and equality in the field has yet to be achieved. Read more

Protesting UKZN Students Burn Westville Campus Guardhouse, Stone Building and Cars

A group of University of KwaZulu-Natal(UKZN) students protested at the Westville campus yesterday, demanding that public transport be allowed onto the premises. Read more

Rhodes Places Lecturer Accused of Rape on Special Leave 

A Rhodes University lecturer who was accused of rape by a student has been placed on special leave. The court case was closed by the NPA, according to the university, who issued a statement on Friday. Read more

Scientists Find Fossil of Early Hominid in South Africa 

The fossil remains of an early hominid child have been discovered in a cave in South Africa by a team of international and South African researchers. Read more

Something Amiss in Engagement with Student Leaders

During the first two weeks of November, South Africa’s Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, in collaboration with the South African Union of Students (SAUS) and Polisee Space, a public policy consulting organisation, … Read more

South Africa’s Best Universities to Study These Top Subjects

Times Higher Education (THE) has published its annual ranking of the top universities for 2022 by subject, featuring 10 South African universities in four key fields of study. Read more

School of Law Publishes Its First Peer-Reviewed Law Journal

The School of Law has recently published its much-anticipated peer-reviewed journal titled ‘’Turf Law Journal’’, which seeks to create a platform for high quality research on transformative and developmental perspectives on law in South Africa and beyond. Read more

Telegram App Used to Teach Student Entrepreneurs

Homeboy Mthembu is a jewellery design and manufacturing student at Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) City campus. When he isn’t juggling his demanding studies, he is working on his jewellery brand, BigHomie and Co, designing attractive pieces for his growing customer base in his rental studio. Read more

The Quest for Collaborative, Ethical and Impactful Research

As she reported on the three breakaway sessions of the Research and Innovation Strategy Group (RISG), Professor Thoko Mayekiso, Chairperson of RISG and Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Mpumalanga, said the three sub-themes that they had unpacked,… Read more

Top 20 Best Universities in AFRICA – US World News Ranking System (2021)

The rankings are based on, Global research reputation (12.5%), Regional research reputation (12.5%), Publications (10%), Books (2.5%), Conferences (2.5%), Normalized citation impact (10%), Total citations (7.5%), Number of publications that are among the 10% most cited (12.5%), … Read more

UCT Fees Hiked by Almost 400% in Almost 100 Years 

Inflation-adjusted tuition fees at the University of Cape Town (UCT) increased by an average of nearly 400% from 1923 to 2020.Most of the increase in tuition fees happened after 1970. Read more

UCT GSB MBA Ranks Top in Africa on Sustainability Performance

The University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has been ranked 22nd in the world for its MBA programme on the Corporate Knights’ 2021 Better World MBA list of the top 40 global business schools. Read more

UCT’s Professor Lynette Denny Honoured by the President with National Order

Cape Town – Close to three decades of research on cervical cancer was recently recognised when University of Cape Town Professor Lynette Denny received the Order of the Baobab in Silver. Read more

UCT’s Rebecca Ackermann Appointed to Prestigious Journal

Professor Rebecca Ackermann has been appointed to the editorial board of the prestigious scientific journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. Professor Ackermann is a biological anthropologist, professor in the Department of Archaeology, and the deputy director of the Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Read more

UCT Students Should Remember 3rd January for Appeals to Continue Studying

Students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have been urged to remember the date of 3rd January 2022, as it is the deadline to submit an appeal to continue to study. Read more

UJ Warns Against Fake Funding Message Doing the Rounds

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has issued a warning to students that false information is being circulated that should not be engaged with. Read more

UKZN’s Engineering Master’s Student Outdoes Herself

Durban – Giselle Pillay graduated cum laude for her Master of Science in Engineering degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She specialised in waste and resource management, a new master’s programme now offered by the university. Read more

UKZN Pietermaritzburg SRC Chair to Focus on Students’ Rights

The newly-elected student representative council (SRC) chair at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Pietermaritzburg campus is determined to champion students’ rights. Read more

UKZN Professor is a Leading Diabetes Researcher

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) professor Shahidul Islam was named in Expertscape’s top 0.1% of scholars, this week, for his expertise, experimental and research work in a particular aspect of diabetes, especially over the last decade. Read more

UKZN Students Slam Decision to Close University Residences by November 30 

Student leadership at the University of KwaZulu-Natal have vowed to challenge the decision by the institution to require them to vacate residences by November 30. Read more

UKZN Students Take Second Place at 2021 Youth Innovation Challenge

A group of young and talented University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students secured second place in the 2021 Youth Innovation Challenge (YIC). Read more

Unisa Multidisciplinary Team Wins the NRF Science Team Award 

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has recognised a multidisciplinary team of Unisa researchers with the prestigious NRF Science Team Award. Read more

Universities are as Transformed as they Positively Change the Environments in Which They are Located

Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln in England, and one of the contributing authors to the book The Responsive University and the Crisis in South Africa, Professor Mary Stuart, says universities stand to maintain relevance if they evaluate and work with the needs of communities in which they exist. Read more

Universities Granted Millions to Develop Covid-19 Vaccine 

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and North West University (NWU) have been granted R3.5m to support locally made candidate vaccines, including one for Covid-19.A memorandum of agreement between WSU and the Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (Chieta) was signed in November… Read more

Universities Put Measures in Place Amid Load Shedding and Exams

Tertiary institutions in the province are in discussions with their students about the impact of load shedding on their studies and how to support them with exams underway. Read more

University of Free State Student Abducted and Robbed at Gunpoint

A University of Free State student was allegedly kidnapped by two men travelling in a car with a Lesotho registration number. Read more

University of Pretoria Expert to Lead WHO Group Probing Origins of Novel Pathogens Including COVID-19

Professor Marietjie Venter of the University of Pretoria (UP) has been selected to chair the international scientific advisory team appointed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to probe the origins of novel pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. Read more

University of Pretoria Honours its top Researchers at Annual Academic Achievers’ Awards

The awards are hosted annually by the university to acknowledge the work of UP’s academics, who increasingly ensure that their research helps to solve “real-life problems” and has a transformative impact on South African and global society. Read more

UP’s Centre for Human Rights Publishes Photobook Highlighting the Stories of LGBTIQ+ People Living in South Africa

The Centre for Human Rights (CHR), Faculty of Law, at the University of Pretoria (UP) has launched a photobook series, titled Looking through the prism: Narratives of queer dignity in South Africa, featuring photographs and narratives of the lives of LGBTIQ+ people living in South Africa. Read more

UP’s Zoology Programme Ranked 45^th Globally in University Ranking…

The University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Zoology and Entomology in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences has been ranked 45th globally for its research and impact by the University Ranking by Academic Performance (URAP). Read more

Vaccine Inequity: Countries Fail at ‘Global Solidarity’

Sub-Saharan Africa has no shortage of public health challenges: as a region, it carries the highest burden of disease in the world and boasts some of the lowest allocations of public funding to deal with that burden. Read more

WSU Men Pledge Solidarity Against GBV

Over sixty male students at Walter Sisulu University’s Komani Campus recently took a binding pledge to immortalize their solidarity with South African women burdened by the scourge of gender-based violence. Read more

Young African Universities Take the Lead

Having long played the role of collaborators with other, more renowned, institutions, historically disadvantaged South African universities are now challenging the status quo — and emerging as leaders. Read more

 

31 October 2021

6^th Africa Council for Distance Education Conference Ends Successfully

The 6th African Council for Distance Education (ACDE) conference ended successfully with a call to stakeholders within the education space to consider the enormous potential of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in changing the face of pedagogy in Africa. Read more

11 Universities in South Africa Ranked Among the Best in Emerging Economies

Times Higher Education (THE) has published its annual ranking of the top universities in emerging markets for 2022, listing 11 South African universities among them. Read more

Agricultural Universities as Enablers of Entrepreneurship

The Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa’s Growth and Development (TAGDev) initiative is helping students to translate their research into viable businesses and universities to become enablers of entrepreneurship. Read more

Almost One in Four Female African Entrepreneurs Have Innovated, According to a UNESCO Survey

At least half of the women entrepreneurs held at least a bachelor’s degree in nine of the ten countries studied. These findings contradict a misconception in Africa that women launch their own business for lack of education or other career options. Read more

Community Engagement in the Context of Academic Capitalism

Universities currently negotiate a marked tension between market orientation and addressing community needs. But there is growing concern that, if universities do not work for the benefit of society or in response to community needs, the inequities that plague the current generation will be more readily reproduced in the next. Read more

Constitutional Court Resets the Narrative on Afrikaans

In its long-awaited decision in Chairperson of the Council of UNISA v AfriForum NPC, the South African Constitutional Court recently struck down the policy, adopted by the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 2016, … Read more

Council ‘Has Dismally Failed UNISA’, States Damning Report

In a damning report, the governing council of South Africa’s largest public distance-learning institution, the University of South Africa (UNISA), has been severely criticised for its lack of good governance and failure to safeguard the academic future of the institution. Read more

Countries Take Steps Towards Harmonised TVET Qualifications

Countries in the East African region are to benefit from a harmonised framework for the recognition of qualifications and certification in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. Read more

COVID-19 Continues to Marginalise Women in Rural Areas

The Covid-19 pandemic has stripped naked the severe marginalisation of women seeking access to educational opportunities in rural Eastern Cape communities, according to a Walter Sisulu University research study. Read more

DA, Student Organisation to Haul Stellenbosch University to Court Over Its Language Policy

The DA accused the university of using Covid-19 as a ploy to do away with Afrikaans, saying it planned to launch court action against the management of the university this week. Read more

Emergency Online Remote Learning’s Unintended Consequences

In 2020, the higher education sector, notoriously known for reacting slowly to change, was forced to ‘pivot’ towards the emergency online remote learning space. Some did it well, others did not. Read more

Edinburgh to Collaborate on Academic, Research and Innovation Projects 

Wits University and the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, United Kingdom) have renewed a partnership and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-operate on teaching, research and community outreach activities and projects, … Read more

Engaged Universities can Produce Graduates Who Stand for Peace, Social Harmony and Development

Three distinct takes were offered on Universities and Democracy at the recent higher education conference. The first, from Professor Catherine Odora Hoppers, offered a fresh reading of our understanding of democracy. Read more

Engagement is Transformation: The University and Community Engagement

The mutual inter-dependence of transformation and community engagement was the grounding question for this engagement hosted by the Council on Higher education. Covering a range of policy drivers, different interpretations of “communities”, Read more

Focus on Kindness, Positive Citizenship Critical in HE

‘Knowledge curatorialism’ is the process through which contemporary universities shape students’ learning journeys. Read more

Improving the Plight of the Postdoc During COVID and Beyond

Postdoctoral research fellows or postdocs make a valuable contribution to the research outputs of higher education institutions, produce new knowledge using innovative techniques, and generate much-needed research income. Read more

Indigenous Languages at Forefront of New Higher Education Policy…

The New Language Policy Framework for Public Higher Education Institutions gazetted in October 2020, is a mere three months away from its implementation. While its imperatives are laudable, an implementation strategy must be set and grey areas need to be cleared. Read more

Internationalisation – A Step Towards Quality Higher Education

African universities have been urged to internationalise their curricula as a first step towards strengthening and marketing African higher education and graduates in a rapidly changing world. Read more

KZN Universities Weigh in on Mandatory Vaccination, Students not Forced but …

Although Western Cape universities are considering mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations for their staff and students, KwaZulu-Natal universities say the move is not being considered for their institutions. Read more

Makerere University to Host Kings of Africa Rugby Sevens

Makerere University will this weekend host the Kings of Africa Rugby Sevens. The tournament will see Universities from Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Libya fight look to book a ticket to the World University Games in Kazan, Russia next year. Read more

Mandatory Vaccinations: Wits University Reveals Plan for Staff and Students

That’s the talk going on in countless countries, businesses, and even places of learning around the globe. In an email sent out to Wits University staff and students, a proposed vaccine plan has been revealed. Read more

Millions for Regional Programme in Oceanography

The Nelson Mandela University in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province has a new programme on ecological connectivity and oceanography in the south-west Indian Ocean that is anchored on linking marine studies in Mozambique, Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comoros and South Africa. Read more

Nine Universities to Help Build Pan-African Network

The British Council has announced the names of nine South African universities that were awarded grants under the Innovation for Africa project, which is part of its Going Global Partnerships programme. Read more

NWU Among the Best in Engineering Studies

The North-West University (NWU) is one of the top institutions in South Africa in engineering studies. This is according to the latest rankings by subject by Times Higher Education (THE) that list the NWU in the third position (the same as last year) among nine local higher-education institutions in the field of engineering. Read more

Porsches for Professors? Debates About Entrepreneurship Continue

Over the past decade or so, the debate primarily taking place within business schools about whether entrepreneurs are ‘born’ or ‘made’ has been overtaken by the idea that all students across all faculties and at all universities can and should benefit from being exposed to some form of entrepreneurship training. Read more

Restoring a Sense of Pride in University’s Academics

When she was appointed to the role of vice-chancellor at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, in December 2020, Professor Rushiella Songca joined the ranks of the few female-led universities in South Africa. Her mission is to get the previously disadvantaged institution back on track. Read more

SA Universities Scored as World’s Best Computer Science and Engineering Institutions are Named

Times Higher Education today released the results of its World University Rankings 2022 by subject for computer science and engineering. Read more

Several Universities Require COVID-19 Vaccination Passes

Several South African universities are to require a vaccine pass from staff and students from 2022. South Africa’s 26-member vice-chancellors’ body, Universities South Africa (USAf), has emphatically declared that vaccination is a must. Read more

Should Universities Offer Free On-Campus Covid-19 Tests for Students Who Don’t Wish to Get Vaccinated?

The Wits University Student Representative Council (SRC) wants the institution to provide free, on-campus Covid-19 tests for students who do not want to vaccinate against Covid-19.  Read more

South African Universities Heading in the Right Direction by Mandating Covid-19 Vaccination

Arguing against mandatory vaccinations using human rights as a point of reference has been largely divisive and disingenuous. Not all arguments hold water. Does our Constitution, read properly, allow anyone as a right to go into a crowded lecture hall or workplace unmasked, unvaccinated, untested amid pandemics? Read more

South Africa’s Universities Must Shed Their Dominant Modern/Colonial Imaginary Character…

South Africa’s universities must shed their dominant character and orientation that is trapped in a modern/colonial imaginary, to truly transform and become more responsive to their contexts, … Read more

Stellenbosch University Wine Researcher Rises Above Many Challenges to Achieve Global Recognition

Cape Town – Stellenbosch University researcher Dr Erna Blancquaert was motivated to embark on in a career in the wine industry “to combat prejudice in the wine industry and academia’’. Read more

Stellies Student’s Hard Work Receives Highest Honour

The hard work and dedication of a young man who aims to improve the lives of those around him has landed him an award. Read more

Tertiary Institutions Should Consider New Approaches of Learning and Teaching

The recommendation comes after a study by researchers from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) found that a vast majority of 672 first-year students questioned in the survey said they only attended between one and four lectures over a three-week period. Read more

The Entrepreneurial University is an ‘Emergent Space’

Universities are the sites where smart people converge and where innovation thrives. From this, universities are fertile ground for instilling entrepreneurship skills in every student and graduate to contribute to economic development. Read more

The University as an Incubator Versus the University with an Incubator

Higher education institutions need to evolve from merely being places of teaching, learning and research to drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship. With nearly nine million South Africans currently unemployed and 73 percent of these being below the age of 35, the need to drive entrepreneurship is more urgent than ever. Read more

Towards the Intellectualisation of African Languages

If intellectual giants in history – legendary names such as Sigmund Freud, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Karl Marx and many others – had been instructed in isiZulu to the exclusion of their mother tongue, would they have attained the intellectual milestones for which they are now renowned around the globe? Read more

UCT Student Turns Urine into Fertiliser 

It’s been described as the “liquid gold” of wastewater. Every day, millions of litres of urine are flushed away but it is a valuable waste stream, according to environmental engineer Hlumelo Marepula. Read more

UFS Wants All Staff and Students to be Vaccinated by Feb 2022 to Gain Access to Campus 

The University of the Free State (UFS) wants all its staff and students to be vaccinated and be able to provide vaccination certificates from the first of February 2022. Read more

UKZN Student Entrepreneur’s Novelty Crayons a Winner

A UKZN student entrepreneur has made it to the finals of the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) national challenge. Read more

UKZN Students Protest Over the State of Kingswood Residence in Pinetown

Approximately 100 University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) students living at a leased residence in Pinetown protested outside the Kingswood residence yesterday morning. Read more

Universities Can Use Their Influence to Fight Inequality

Universities are the single most influential institutions in societies all over the world. They are centres of ideas, discoveries, technological development and culture and engines of local, national and global economics. Read more

Universities Must Make Learning African Languages a Condition for Completing a degree

Is there anything that you can call African multilingualism? The idea of your identity, the nature of who you are when you are at university and what the university does in shaping human language, is the critical part of who we become. Read more

Universities Must Rethink How They Do Research to Imagine a Better Trajectory for the Future

Professor Laura Pereira did not exaggerate when she said she would be a giving a presentation from “a slightly different angle”. Billed as one of the international plenary speakers at Universities South Africa (USAf’s)…Read more

Universities Need to Re-Think Their Use of Resources and Modes of Engagement…

South Africa is standing at a crossroads, facing an unprecedented set of challenges where ‘business as usual’ will not work; where universities must find new ways to do things differently – especially in the context of the pandemic, a crisis that presents serious challenges and new opportunities. Read more

UP Co-Hosts Lekgotla on Challenges and Gains of Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education

The University of Pretoria (UP), Universities South Africa (USAf) and other stakeholders recently sat down with the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme to discuss the challenges of business and start-up development in higher education, … Read more

UWC’s Water Project to be Presented at Berlin Science Week in November

A University of the Western Cape (UWC) academic and her team working on a Water Research Commission (WRC) project has been shortlisted for a prestigious international award. Read more

Why Students Don’t Attend Lectures

The main reason students gave for not attending classes was that they were busy studying for tests or completing assignments. Some students relied on PowerPoint slides (instead of using prescribed textbooks) to study, and some spent a lot of time travelling to campus because they used two or even three transport modes to get there. Read more

Working from Home Makes Women’s Academic Guilt Worse

Academic guilt is well-established in literature on the work of women scholars who are simultaneously mothers and lecturers, homemakers and researchers, nurturers and administrators. Read more

WSU’S Indigenous Knowledge at the Center of COFIMVAMBA Science Exhibition

As Walter Sisulu University rebrands as an African university, a team of researchers from the Anthropology Department and Chemistry Department recently unveiled an Indigenous Knowledge Systems exhibition stand at the Cofimvaba Science Centre. Read more

 

30 September 2021

11 New Subjects Planned for Colleges and Universities in South Africa

The Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) has developed 11 new qualifications aimed at addressing the shortage of skilled labour in South Africa’s IT sector. Read more

AAU and UNISA Discuss on Areas of Common Interest for Collaboration

Addis Ababa University (AAU) and University of South Africa (UNISA) hold discussion on areas where they have common interest to collaboration in their future at the Office of the President of AAU… Read more

Academic Raises Funds from the Street to Help Needy Students

In 2015, the University of Mpumalanga public administration senior lecturer and programme leader for bachelor of administration founded Thusangwanageno, a non-profit organisation raising tertiary education funds for needy students. Read more

Appointing Women in ‘Significant Positions’ Matters

South Africa’s 2019 Post-School Education Statistics showed there were 727 more men than women employed in the instruction and research category in South Africa’s higher education institutions compared with 5,758 more females employed in administrative categories within the higher education sector. Read more

Book on Decolonisation Reflects on Difference, Oppression

The end of the colonial and apartheid regimes in South Africa and other African countries might have been a big step towards the liberation from slavery and other forms of human oppression,… Read more

Covid-19: How Africa’s Top Scientists Have Tracked Emerging Variants, Ensuring We’re Not Left Behind

Africa has stepped up its surveillance of emerging variants of the Covid-19 virus, and a detailed paper shows how the work of hundreds of scientists and public health officials from the continent is ensuring that Africa does not get left behind in the global response to the pandemic. Read more

Defining Micro-Credentials: Opportunities and Challenges in Shaping the Educational Landscape

Professor Oliver’s presentation was followed by a live discussion amongst a panel of experts representing organizations from Canada, Germany, South Africa, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.  The experts’ insights and viewpoints drew on their own experiences with micro-credentials in their countries or institutions. Read more

Dream of Authentic SA Universities Yet to be Realised

South Africa has failed to produce a higher education system that meets its fundamental social and developmental needs in the democratic era, according to a new book, Understanding Higher Education: … Read more

DUT Management Snub Protest Held by Ex-Lecturers and Unions

Union officials and retrenched Durban University of Technology (DUT) lecturers were left fuming when the institution snubbed their picket on Friday. Read more

DUT Offers Career Guidance to High School Learners

Grade 10 learner, Zamandosi Ngema said she enjoyed the interactive sessions and expressed her interest in what DUT offers and the process on how to apply for such programmes. Read more

ECRLF Helping to Co-create the Future of African Academic Leadership

Makerere University in partnership with University of Pretoria on 14th September 2021 hosted the Future Africa’s Early Career Research Leader Fellowship (ECRLF) Dissemination Workshop in the Central Teaching Facility 2 (CTF 2) Auditorium and virtually. Read more

Extract of Press News on Higher Education in Africa

Student entrepreneurs tend to be obsessed with writing business plans, how to access money, register their company, set up a bank account, and with buzzwords such as “business modelling”. Read more

Full Impact of COVID-19 on Education May Only be Evident in 10 Years’ Time…

Socio-economic researcher at Stellenbosch University and analyst at the Department of Basic Education, Professor Martin Gustafsson says COVID-19 has drastically affected the teaching and learning process for 2020, however, its full impact may only be evident in 10 years from now. Read more

HERA Telescope to Unravel Epoch of Reionisation Mysteries

The Hydrogen Epoch of Reionisation Array (HERA), a US$25 million radio telescope in South Africa dedicated to observing large-scale structures during and prior to the period of reionisation, has opened research opportunities weeks ahead of its completion. Read more

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Fulfills Its Role in Post-COVID Economy

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ms Nompendulo Mkhatshwa says Covid-19 has raised the importance of investing in science, technology, research and innovation. Read more

Hip Hop was My First Academic Qualification

In 1994, I started grade 8, my first year of secondary education, when less than 10% of the school population was black. It was a great time in a new world. Democracy was on the horizon and, as South Africans, we were in a fishbowl being studied. Read more

HyperionDev Joins Forces with Unisa to Boost Tech Skills

Pioneering Riaz Moola, South Africa’s inspirational founder of coding boot camps which have gone global, is about to get another feather in his cap – his skills innovation efforts at bridging the gap between higher education and technology have led to an exciting partnership with Africa’s largest distance-learning institution. Read more

Institutions in SA, Egypt, Kenya Ranked for Graduate Skills

Two South African universities have been placed in the top 200 institutions in the world for their work towards the production of graduates with the skills and knowledge required for the modern workplace. Read more

Journalism Schools Should Teach Peace Modules

The Sunday Mail Online Reporter Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa has urged institutions of higher learning to consider adopting peace studies as a module taught to journalism students. Read more

MBA Rankings: Schools in Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa on List

Five African business schools are among 286 institutions globally that offer the world’s best Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree programmes, according to QS Quacquarelli Symonds, a major ranking provider of analytics and other insights on the higher education sector worldwide. Read more

Medical Student Uses Rap, Hip Hop, to Fight COVID-19

A fifth-year medical student from the University of Pretoria (UP) in South Africa and the dean of the faculty of health sciences have come up with a novel science communication strategy to promote COVID-19 vaccinations and dispel myths about the jab. Read more

Mentorship is a Powerful Tool to Open up STEM to Women

Martin Canaan Mafunda is a PhD researcher in the physics department at South Africa’s University of KwaZulu-Natal, working in the field of machine learning. Read more

New Test to Diagnose Vaginal Inflammation Could Help Reduce Risk of HIV Infection

A team of researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) have found a new way to test for asymptomatic vaginal infections in women in resource-poor settings. Read more

New Variants: Africa Needs to Strengthen its COVID Response

Genomic surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic by public health officials and scientists across Africa has shown that it was introduced to the continent predominantly from Europe. Read more

NWU Keeps Business Community Up to Date

As South Africans brace for a likely fourth wave of Covid-19 around November, the North-West University (NWU) is keeping the channels of communication open in a sea of confusion. Read more

Postdoctoral Fellowships: The Power of Peer Teaching

The postdoctoral fellowship can be a wonderful way to kick-start an academic career. Read more

Postgraduate Training: The Art of Study Supervision

For an academic to supervise a postgraduate student’s research toward a masters or doctoral degree is a complex and demanding responsibility. Read more

President of the Association of African Universities Participates in the Inauguration and Investiture of UNISA’s First Female Vice Chancellor

The President of the Association of African Universities (AAU), Professor Bakri Osman Saeed received a kind invitation from Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the new Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA), to participate in her inauguration ceremony. Read more

Rankings: African Universities Have Made Progress Since 2018

African universities at last may be shaking off the longstanding unenviable characterisation of not measuring up to their counterparts in other parts of the world when it comes to providing high-quality teaching, research output, knowledge transfer and international outlook, … Read more

Reflections on Engaged, More Responsive Universities

For far too long, two core missions of universities, of teaching and research, have enjoyed superior importance over the third mission of community engagement. Read more

Researchers in Africa Unite to Tackle Challenges (Africa)

Africa’s researchers from the humanities and natural sciences have resolved to combine efforts and implement solutions unearthed from their findings to tackle major challenges that plague the continent. Read more

SA’s Quantum Technology Initiative, Led by Wits University, to Side-Step Competitors

The South African Quantum Technology Initiative (SA QuTI), headed by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), does not intend to directly take on the major international quantum technologies competitor countries. Read more

 SA Universities Weigh Mandatory Jabs for Staff and Students

As the debate about mandatory vaccination policies intensifies, some of SA’s leading universities are mulling making it compulsory for staff and students to get jabs against Covid-19 to ensure the academic programme is not disrupted. Read more

South African Schools are Falling Behind in Math and Science

The Department of Basic Education plans to boost its maths and science capabilities after schools fell further behind in these subjects due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more

Stellenbosch University and Imperial Collaborate on Real-World Healthcare and Climate Change Challenges

Stellenbosch University (SU) has embarked on a high-level collaboration with JSE-listed Imperial Logistics (Imperial) to address real-world problems related to healthcare, as well as climate change in Africa. Read more

Targeted, Proactive Efforts Needed to Strengthen Physics

The need for a proactive effort to improve the teaching and researching of physics in Sub-Saharan Africa as a foundation for critically important scientific work has been highlighted in a new report from the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and the UK-based Institute of Physics (IOP). Read more

The Covid-19 Pandemic and its Strain on Women

Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic put significant strain on the global economy and public health systems, but it also contributed to greater inequality and discrimination against women. Read more

Turnover is High in South Africa’s Higher Education Sector: What Could Turn the Tide

“Why are my employees leaving my organisation?”. “What can I do to make my valuable employees stay at my organisation?”. “What makes employees stay in their employment?”. Read more

UCT Historian Unearths the Influence of the Ottoman Empire on Present Day Cape Malay Culture 

Historian and postdoctoral research fellow in African Studies at UCT, Halim Gençoğlu who made headline for uncovering UCT’s first black medical doctor, is again in the limelight, for unpacking the influence and legacy of the Ottoman Empire and its influence on present day Cape Malay culture. Read more

UCT Still Highest Ranked in Africa Despite Covid-19

University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng is pleased with the institution’s latest Times Higher Education (THE) ranking, which sees it retain its top spot in Africa and come 183rd out of the more than 16 000 international institutions ranked. Read more

UCT Under Fire for ‘Hurtful’ Seminar on LGBTQA+ Individuals

The Gender Diversity Coalition has called for the University Of Cape Town (UCT) to act swiftly, alleging that the university’s recent seminar on science and LGBTQA+ was hurtful to the transgender and intersex community, who are vilified daily by some medics. Read more

UCT Vice-Chancellor Apologises to LGBTQIA+ Community

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT) Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng apologised to the LGBTQIA+ community for a seminar she co-hosted on Sunday, September 4. Read more

UFS Scientists Involved in Revolutionary Protein Structure Prediction

The team of researchers recently contributed to an influential paper describing new methods in protein structure prediction using machine learning. The paper was published in the prestigious scientific journal, Science. Read more

Universities Called Upon to Lead Political Engagement

African universities have been called upon to be engaged in political and social activism and take leading roles towards improving the human condition on the continent by exposing inherent dangers of inequalities, exclusion, oppression, racism and other forms of coloniality in society. Read more

Universities Mull Mandatory Vaccination Policies

Some university students and staff could be compelled to vaccinate against Covid-19 before they are able to return to in-person classes. Read more

UWC Partners with WHO on a New Genomic Surveillance Centre to Monitor Disease Outbreaks Beyond Covid-19 in Africa

The World Health Organization Africa, together with South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), University of the Western Cape (UWC), is launching a new Regional Centre of Excellence for Genomic Surveillance and Bioinformatics (RCEGSB) in Cape Town. Read more

Vitamin D Deficiency is Not Responsible for TB in Children

Vitamin D deficiency has long been considered a risk factor for tuberculosis in adults as it impairs the immune response to the TB bug, but a new study by the University of Cape Town has found that low levels of the sunshine vitamin in children doesn’t necessarily make them susceptible to the illness. Read more

Why Student Mental Health Should be a Priority for Universities

Over 30% of university students have experienced a common mental disorder in the past year, according to the World Health Organisation. In South Africa, statistics show that 20.8% of first-year students had experienced anxiety and 13.6% had experienced depression. Read more

Wit’s Student Shortlisted for Prestigious International Student Award

A Wits University student has been selected in the top 50 for a new award given to one exceptional student that has made a real impact on learning, the lives of their peers and on society beyond. Read more

 

31 August 2021

A Missed Opportunity to Rethink Internationalisation

After centuries of colonial subjugation and decades of apartheid brutality and oppression – both rooted in white supremacy and racial capitalism – South Africa emerged ‘free’ in 1994. Despite the freedom and democracy, deeply entrenched structural inequalities continue to wreck South African society, economy and higher education. Read more

Can ARUA Lead Africa on the Path to Research Excellence?

The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), driven by a need to establish a culture of publishing verifiable data about African universities, has launched a report titled Research Profiles of ARUA Universities… Read more

Cape Town Student’s Story of Overcoming Family History of Drug Abuse…

Born into a family of drug abusers, 20-year-old Monique Tolken was determined not to let her circumstances define her. Read more

Chemical Industry Training Authority Launches Two TVET Initiatives for SMMEs

The Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (Chieta) on August 23 announced two technical and vocational education and training (TVET) college initiatives, which are set to stimulate small, medium-sized and microenterprise (SMME) activity and economic opportunities for individuals in the Western and Northern Cape provinces. Read more

Covid or not, Academic Programmes are Booming at Gibs

Cutbacks? What cutbacks? Pretoria University’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) is working flat out to prepare for a return to business education normality – even if no-one knows when that will be. Read more

Documents Implicate UJ Officials Involved in Attempted Embezzlement of Millions…

Hundreds of millions of rands in taxpayers’ money from the Department of Science and Technology, the Industrial Development Corporation of SA (IDC) as well as funding from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) went down the drain as senior UJ executives colluded to embezzle the intellectual property… Read more

DUT Trains Students on Keys to Excellence

The office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) Research Innovation and Engagement has worked with IQRAA TRUST and the Young Leaders Academy (YLA) to pilot a new training programme called Keys to Excellence. The training was designed by the Young Leaders Academy and IQRAA TRUST fully funded the pilot session with the students. Read more

Emoticons Enhance Communication Between Lecturers, Students

The use of emoticons or emojis in communication between students and lecturers in virtual learning spaces during COVID-19 has helped to fulfil students’ socio-emotional needs which developed as they were forced to migrate from brick-and-mortar venues to online classrooms, a study has shown. Read more

Experts Unpack ‘the Engaged University’ in Challenging Times

The notion of the engaged university is far removed from its historical definitional identity. Read more

Higher Education Ready to Get 18-to-35-Year-Olds Vaccinated

Following the Department of Health’s announcement that 18-to-35-year-olds may register to get vaccinated, the Department of Higher Education has revealed its readiness plans in assisting all public and private institutions to vaccinate eligible staff and students. Read more

High Level Accreditation for UKZN’s Acclaimed Science Centre

The Science and Technology Education Centre at UKZN (STEC@UKZN) has received accreditation from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA), … Read more

Infectious Diseases Research Clinic in Cape Town Hit by Cluster of Covid-19 Cases

Even people working in the highly sanitised clinic research environment are prone to contracting Covid-19. This emerged after eight people who work at Stellenbosch University’s Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu (FAMCRU) came down with the virus. Read more

Investment Opportunities in Education are Beckoning

Africa has one of the strongest opportunities for growth in tertiary education globally despite sloppy quality credentials, a new survey shows, riding on sustained economic expansion. Read more

Mandela University and AIDC Partnership Aims to Boost EC Automotive Industry

Nelson Mandela University has partnered with the Eastern Cape Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC-EC) towards the provision of relevant industry-aligned degree programmes and other capacity building initiatives aimed at bolstering the manufacturing sector and provincial economy. Read more

Most Repair Work is Now Completed, Says Vice-Chancellor

Cape Town – Salvage activities have been concluded at UCT’s Jagger Library, and the special collections basement has been cleared of materials. Read more

Nafasi Water Steps in to Help UNAM Students

The University of Namibia and Nafasi Water Technologies, a South African water technology and water utility service company, have joined hands in crafting the university’s new curriculum for the Centre for Innovation in Learning & Teaching (CILT). Read more

NWU Researcher and Fulbright Scholarship Holder Shares his Tricks of the Trade

To get a Fulbright research scholarship is easier than he anticipated, says North-West University (NWU) academic Dr George van Zijl, who recently returned from a research visit to the University of Florida in the United States of America (USA). Read more

PhD Students Who Study in South Africa Tend to Return Home

The common view at the top level of government and among vice-chancellors has been that African international doctorates would seek employment opportunities in thriving economies abroad. Read more

Prestigious Fellowship for ‘Luminary in a Fractured World’

Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela of Stellenbosch University (SU) in South Africa has won the 2020 Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Fellowship Award worth ZAR2 million (about US$138,000). Read more

Rhodes University and Nupsaw’s Negotiations over Union Rights Reach a Deadlock

Rhodes University management and the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (Nupsaw) are locked in a stand-off over the union’s demands to be given organisational rights. Read more

SA Narrows the Gap of Women in STEM Careers, …

While South Africa may be scoring below the global average of 30% of women pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers, the country was still leading in Sub-Saharan Africa. Read more

SA Professor Agrees with FDA Warning Issued Against Use of Ivermectin to Treat Covid-19…

The Food and Drug Administration in the US has urged the public to stop using livestock drug ivermectin to treat Covid-19. In South Africa, ivermectin is registered for use in animals. Read more

SA Universities, International Institutions Partner on Project to Preserve African Languages

Rhodes University has collaborated with local and foreign universities in an effort to revive and preserve indigenous African languages. Read more

SMU Adopts a New Culture for Excellence

In what is invariably a significant occasion in the history of SMU, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Mbati hosted a round table discussion with University stakeholders on the Road map to Culture Change at the SMU Sports Hall on 11 August 2021. Read more

Stellenbosch University Paving the Way for Becoming a Smart Sustainable Campus

In using their division as a living laboratory, Stellenbosch University’s Facilities Management (SUFM) has since 2015 been implementing systems and processes to start paving the way for the Institution to become a smart campus where data-led decision-making will result in solving problems and providing solutions for the future. Read more

Stellenbosch University Professor Crafts 3/4 Violin from Wood of African Trees

South African researcher Dr. Martina Meincken is investigating the potential of alternative tone-woods for use in instrument construction… Read more

SU Launches COVID-19 Vaccination Site

On Tuesday 10 August, Stellenbosch University (SU) will launch a vaccination site for its staff and members of the public who have registered on the official South African COVID-19 vaccination portal. Read more

There is an Urgent Need to Redefine the Future of Education

Education experts and business leaders explored the theme of Redefining the future of education at the 7th annual Future of Education Summit held by CNBC Africa in partnership with Forbes Africa. Read more

Tokyo Olympics: What is the Role of Universities in Sport?

frica’s poor performance in the recent Olympic Games in Tokyo highlighted the role that universities on the continent could play to help prepare sports stars for the international sports stage, similar to the work done by institutions in other parts of the world, notably the United States. Read more

TVET Intervention Aims to Boost Engineering Skills Pipeline in Eastern Cape

In intervention launched with public technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in the Eastern Cape is expected to aid the output of engineering training and boost the pipeline of skills required by South Africa’s automotive industry. Read more

UCT Named Top Varsity in Africa by a Global Ranking

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has been ranked the highest on the continent in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2021. It has been ranked in 201-300 band by ARWU 2021, published on Sunday. Read more

UCT’s New Disciplinary, Anti-Bullying Policies are Now in Force

UCT SRC chairperson Declan Dyer said the student council noted the implementation of the disciplinary policy and the policy addressing bullying. Read more

UJ Provides Two Free, Online Open Courses for Students and Citizens

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is offering two free massive open online courses (MOOCs) – one on artificial intelligence (AI) in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the other on African insights – to the public. Read more

UJ’s Virtual Reality Hub to Advance STEM Education

The Department of Science and Technology Education within the Faculty of Education at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has introduced a virtual and augmented reality (AR) research hub to accelerate innovation in the education field. Read more

UKZN Academic Part of Ground-Breaking Language Research

Professor Jochen Zeller, … discovered that iconic vocalisations can convey a much wider range of meanings more accurately than previously supposed. Read more

UKZN Medical Student Says Covid-19 Vaccine ‘Benefits far Outweigh Any Risks’

Mohamed Hoosen Suleman, who attends the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, said the benefits of being vaccinated far outweighed any risks. Read more

UKZN Student Found Dead in His Room on Campus

Although the details are sketchy at the moment, the university believes the student may have died of natural causes. Read more

Universities Collaborate to Promote Indigenous Languages

A group of subject specialists will be appointed at four SA universities to receive training on how to teach students in indigenous African languages.  Read more

University Communities Reject Israel’s AU Observer Status

Several student unions and organisations representing faculty from African countries such as Tunisia, Algeria, Libya and South Africa have voiced their opposition to awarding Israel observer status to the African Union (AU), a move that has been rejected by African countries for nearly two decades. Read more

Universities Set up Vaccination Sites Amid Vaccine Hesitancy

Several South African universities have set up vaccination centres on their campuses as part of supporting the country’s national COVID-19 vaccine programme, which aims to reach 40 million South Africans. Read more

Universities Support Insect-Based Food and Feed Systems

Universities are contributing to the upscaling of insect-based food and feed systems in Sub-Saharan Africa, which have economic, environmental and social benefits that could support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Read more

University of Johannesburg to Host Virtual Conference on Safeguarding Sports

UJ head of the department for sport & movement studies Dr Heather Morris-Eyton says sports federations around the world are becoming more aware of the challenges faced by athletes. Read more

UP Launches Diabetes Research Centre

The University of Pretoria (UP) has launched South Africa’s first exclusive Diabetes Research Centre at a public academic institution. Read more

UP Pilots New Software to Make Digital Content More Accessible

The University of Pretoria (UP) has launched a pilot of software among a small group of subtends and academics, which aims to make digital courses more accessible to all students. Read more

UP’s Digital Twin City Aims to Improve Metro Management

The University of Pretoria (UP) has created the Hatfield Digital Twin City, a new initiative that aims to boost service delivery with the help of smart technology. Read more

UWC Researcher Helps Analyse over 2 000 Galaxies with MeerKat Radio Telescope

Using early science data for the MIGHTEE project on the MeerKAT radio telescope, a researcher at the University of the Western Cape – with collaborators from eight countries, including four other South African institutions… Read more

Vice-Chancellors Key in Growing ‘Fourth-Stream Income’

The sustainability of universities revolves around three income streams: a government subsidy, tuition fees and industry research funds. But, over the past decade, South African universities have experienced significant changes. Read more

Wits DigiMine to Host Annual Digital Mining Seminar

Mining’s digital future comes under the spotlight again at the University of the Witwatersrand in September, with the Wits Mining Institute’s annual digital mining technology seminar. Read more

Women in Science and Tech are Left Out in the Cold During Pandemic

The pandemic has turned our world upside down and affected every sphere of society. That includes the disproportionate impact on women who participate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read more

Years of Training Ensures Alumna a Spot on SA’s Olympic Hockey Team

“When I was in Stellenbosch for training for the World Cup, I absolutely loved it. I decided to come to Stellenbosch University because of hockey,” says Glasby. Read more

 

31 July 2021

A Constant Travel Partner on Students’ Career Journey

It is hard to be young. It sounds like an anomaly. But at this point in the world’s collective history, it is becoming increasingly clear that to be a young person standing on the verge of entering a career and making your own way in life can be extremely daunting. Read more

Can Internationalisation Promote Inclusion, Social Justice?

We live in an unequal world. On a global scale, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made this abundantly clear. Read more

CPUT Graduate Proves That One is Never Too Old to Learn

Despite being older than her whole class, Nokwanda Popiel defied the odds as she graduated with a National Diploma in Office Management and Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) this past week. Read more

CUT Students Frustrated Over Unpaid NSFAS Allowances

Students sleep at the gates of Umgungundlovu TVET College’s Msunduzi Campus in Pietermaritzburg after being evicted by landlords because they are unable to pay rent due to outstanding payments from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. Read more

Department of Higher Education Launches the 2021 State of the Nation Book

Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Buti Manamela has launched the 2021 edition of the State of the Nation, a flagship publication of the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Read more

Digital Education Here to Stay, and Institutions Must Adapt

The pace of digital progress waits for nobody, and the education sector cannot allow itself to fall back on its old ways post-pandemic, said Dr Stanley Mpofu, CIO of Wits University. Read more

Do Degree Detractors Have a Point?

In one of his many famous talks, and without elaborating, the late legendary motivational speaker Jim Rohn spoke of leaving college after one year as one of the major mistakes he made in his life. Read more

DUT Features in Top 100 in International Ranking

The international rankings were recently announced by the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI). Read more

DUT Joins the Fight Against Homophobic Hate Crimes

The Faculty of Arts and Design at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) joined the fight against the recent homophobic killings by hosting a webinar on South Africa’s Homophobic Hate Crime Crisis last Friday, 25 June 2021, via Microsoft Teams. Read more

DUT Ranked 2^nd in SA and 102 in the World by the Young University Rankings

Another global ranking is in the bag for the Durban University of Technology (DUT) after it was recently ranked 2nd in South Africa and 102 in the world by the 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) Young University Rankings.   Read more  

Health Professionals Work in Teams: Their Training Should Prepare Them

Good communication and understanding of the roles of other disciplines in a health care team has been found to result in fewer medical errors, reduced medical costs and a better patient care experience. Read more

HE Sector Concerned Over Turmoil in Department

Despite the appointment of three senior leaders in May, the South African national Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) is in “tatters”, with projects falling through the cracks, an extended vacancy list that has not been addressed and low morale among staff, many of whom are looking for other jobs. Read more

“Higher Education Needs to Adapt to People’s Needs”: IIEP International Policy Forum

Flexible learning pathways (FLPs) are an important new policy direction in higher education systems worldwide. Read more

How Top Young Academics Secure ‘Currency’ from the Start

At the beginning of their careers, academics find the odds stacked against them. They lack a track record of success, most proven through research outputs like journal articles.