on Campus Issue 5 • November 2014 • For daily updates visit www.uwc.ac.za
INSIDE PATH introduces new female condom page 3
New UWC postgraduate journal page 5
The UWC Apprentice page 13
UWC initiates SAUS sport exchange page 16
Your Source for University News
Prof Baker wins Women in Science Award
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he University of the Western Cape’s Professor Priscilla Baker received the Distinguished Woman Scientist (Natural Sciences and Engineering) Award at the annual Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) Women in Science Awards ceremony held in Johannesburg on Friday, 15 August 2014. DST hosts the Women in Science Awards to reward outstanding female scientists and researchers, and to encourage younger women to follow in their footsteps. “Male and women scientists both work extremely hard, and both are needed in the sciences,” notes Prof Baker. “But it’s good that we take a moment to recognise how far women have come, and to raise awareness about the issues that may still hold us back a bit, so that we can move forward.” An NRF C2-rated scientist, Prof Baker is a professor of chemistry who specialises in the application of frequency-modulated electrochemical techniques to the design and evaluation of electrochemical smart materials and electroactive actuator systems (materials that change in size or shape en ti late y an ele tri fiel ee systems can be applied in water analysis and treatment, bio and industrial catalysis, as well as for energy-related applications. She has published 65 research articles in international and national journals, written eight book chapters, and has collaborated with researchers on three continents. Yet her favourite part of her job isn’t the prestigious research she conducts as much as it is teaching. “What I really love about my work is the people interface,” she explains. “Developing human potential, seeing students grow from not believing they can do
it to seriously achieving, seeing them master new skills and endure the discipline of post graduate training, that’s what really gets me excited. Every year of teaching is different, and so is every student.” Prof Baker has supervised 21 master’s and 16 PhD students, and currently supevises two an five an i ate She teaches classes from UWC’s Prof Priscilla Baker has been presented with DST’s Distinguished fir t year to o t ra ate Woman Scientist Award for her work in electrochemistry. level, a practice that helps staff to engage students more One thing that made winning the award effectively. e e ially i nifi ant a t e ti in It Prof Baker grew up in Bellville and went wonderful that the accolade came while to Goeie Hoop Primary and Bellville South Prof Brian O’Connell is in leadership,” says Senior Secondary, where she claims not to Prof Baker. “He believes in UWC more than have been especially brilliant or competitive, anyone I’ve ever met — and he can make you but she was passionate about mathematics believe in it, too.” and science — and especially chemistry. She obtained her BSc at the University of Cape In 2006, Prof Baker was elected chair Town, the only black female in her class. of the Electrochemistry division of She then completed a National Diploma in the South African Chemical Institute Analytical Chemistry at the Cape Peninsula (SACI) and has since hosted two University of Technology, and BSc Honours major international electrochemistry and MSc degrees at UWC. Prof Baker received conferences in South Africa. Proceedings her PhD in 2004 from the University of from these conferences were published in Stellenbosch. international peer-reviewed journals with e e a e t e fir t ll ti e e ale ta Prof Baker as guest editor. member in the Chemistry Department at In 2013, she was elected vice-chair UWC in November 2003, and received her 10of the Analytical Electrochemistry year ervi e ertifi ate la t year division of the International Society for It a oint o re e tion e note a Electrochemistry (ISE, Switzerland). time to look back and think about what Prof Baker is a visiting professor at the you’ve contributed. And I’m happy with University of Cergy-Pontoise (Paris, what I’ve done, and happy with the changes France), where she teaches a module in I’ve seen the Department go through — like electrochemical sensors to Master’s in moving into this big new building.” Engineering students.
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News
Spring Graduation joy tinged with sadness
After 13 years of serving UWC as Rector and Vice-Chancellor, this was the last time Professor Brian O’Connell conferred degrees on UWC students.
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pring Graduation in September saw UWC conferring 281 undergraduate, 141 honours, 133 master’s and 37 doctoral degrees — including the niver ity very fir t o toral e ree in Industrial Psychology — awarded to Marieta le i inety five i lo a an ertifi ate ere al o on erre Prof Brian O’Connell, Rector and ViceChancellor of UWC, urged the graduates to celebrate their achievements and to use what they had learned. “I’ve been arguing for some time that you’re one of the most UWC’s ranking against other South African universities: • 6th in the proportion of full-time academic staff with NRF research ratings; • 5th in the proportion of academic staff with PhDs; • 7th in percentage of income from research contracts and other forms of third stream income; • 5th in terms of universities and their research impact as measured by citations; and • 4th position with respect to the number of NRF SARChI Chairs (11 Chairs awarded to date).
important groups of humans that has ever lived,” he said. “You have to deal with climate change and recessions and HIV/ Aids — and you are rising to the occasion by getting an education.” A posthumous doctorate was awarded to Imam Abdullah Haron, a devout Muslim leader who was tortured and killed while in detention by the security police in September 1969. Imam Haron’s son, Prof Muhammad Haron, received the degree on behalf of the Imam’s family. “Imam Abdullah was a man of ubuntu,” he said. “He socialised with everyone, and tried his best to respect others, to tolerate others, no matter what their backgrounds. And he believed that he was what others helped make him.” UWC’s Chancellor, Archbishop Thabo In the period that Prof Ramesh Bharuthram has been Deputy ViceChancellor, UWC research output increased by more than 200%. Prof Bharuthram managed to keep up his academic work despite his administrative workload. He holds an NRF B-rating and has published more than 100 research articles in journals of international standing.
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Makgoba, presided over the opening graduation ceremony and reminded the gathering of the imminent loss of two UWC stalwarts. “I don’t normally say much at these graduation ceremonies,” he noted, “but this is a very special occasion — and in a way a sad occasion. Because today we start the process of saying goodbye to two of UWC’s outstanding lights, two amazing teachers who collectively have given almost 90 years of service: Professor Brian O’Connell and Professor Ramesh Bharuthram.” The Archbishop explained how much the University had been affected by Prof Bharuthram’s tenure as Deputy ViceChancellor: Academic, highlighting the massive gains in research output and in academic standing since he joined UWC in 2008, and how the University had found vision and purpose since Prof O’Connell became Vice-Chancellor in 2001. “The development of the University of the Western Cape under the leadership of Professor Brian O’Connell and Professor Ramesh Bharuthram is a narrative of hope that has yielded wonderful successes and that has established UWC as one of the country’s leading universities.” Prof Bharuthram wished the University every success. “It’s been seven very exhilarating years at UWC. I know that you will have new ideas, and new visions, and pick up the battle to take the University to even greater heights.” Prof O’Connell, expressing his feelings about leaving the institution, said: “I have cherished my time here — these past 13 years have been the most wonderful years of my life. To see all of that greatness the University had restored to itself, and to see UWC becoming something wonderful, is an inspiring metaphor for South Africa.” Professors O’Connell and Bharutham are to retire at the end of 2014. Prof Brian O’Connell has been an educator for 44 years, serving as a teacher, school principal, Rector of a Teacher Education College, Vice-Rector at the then Peninsula Technikon, and Superintendent-General of the Western Cape Provincial Education Department, in addition to his roles at UWC.
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PATH introduces new female condom
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Yolanda Moyo, a Senior and Research Officer at PATH, explaining how the V Condom should be inserted.
he HIV and AIDS programme at the University of the Western Cape invited members of the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), an international non-governmental organisation that specialises in health innovation, to present an information session at the School of Public Health on the V Condom, a new female condom that is the product of several years of research and development. olan a oyo a enior ro ra e an e ear fi er at explained to those in attendance how the new condom was used. “This condom is thinner than the usual female condom,” she says. “It also has one ring as opposed to the old one with two rings, has a dissolving capsule and foam pieces which attach to the vaginal walls.” She said the condom could be worn two to three hours before intercourse. Ms Moyo added that the condom had undergone 10 years of clinical trials and is guaranteed to prevent STI’s, HIV/Aids and pregnancy if used and inserted correctly. The condoms, which were approved for use in South Africa by the SABS in 2013, will be available on the market by early next year. Those in attendance were given free samples of the V Condom.
Golden Key welcomes new members
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he Golden Key International Honour Society welcomed new honorary members at the University of the Western Cape and another 350 students accepted membership at the ceremony in the Main Hall in August. Luminaries among the two million members of Golden Key include Desmond Tutu, Elie Wiesel and Bill Clinton. To be eligible for membership of the society, a student has to be in the top performing 15 percent of students. The new honorary members at the University are Prof Priscilla Daniels, who is Director of the Community Engagement Unit, Dr Peter Plüdderman, a lecturer in the Language Education Department at the Faculty of Education, and Mr Wandisile Mdepa, from the Student Nerissa Smith, President of the Golden Key chapter at UWC, welcoming new members to the Government and Student Development and Support Golden Key Honour Society. Services. Members are organised in 400 university chapters that are rated At the induction of the new members, Rector and Vice-Chancellor each year based on their promotion of the three pillars of the Professor Brian O’Connell encouraged new members to continue society — academic achievements, community service and to excel at what they are doing at the University and in their leadership. communities. UWC’s Golden Key Chapter was chartered in 2001 and has received Golden Key is the world’s largest academic honour society. The gold status — the highest accolade a Golden Key university chapter society helps students to develop leadership skills and enourages can attain. UWC’s Golden Key Chapter has managed to achieve the them to give back to society by engaging in community activities. highest number of new member inductees.
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Biko’s legacy commemorated
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he Centre for Student Support Services, together with the Mayibuye Archives at the University of the Western Cape and the Steve Biko Foundation, held the second annual Steve Biko Frank Talk Dialogue on 12 September 2014 at the Library Auditorium. The day marked the 37th anniversary of the death of Steve Biko in police custody. Students and staff members came out in numbers to learn more about the Black Consciousness leader. ‘Frank Talks’ was the pseudonym Biko used in his many writings as the leader of the South African Students
Organisation. Panelists discussing the role of race, culture and identity after two decades of democracy were the CEO of the Steve Biko Foundation and son of Steve Biko, Nkosinathi Biko, Unisa Professor Kopano Ratele and Mandy Sanger, Education Manager at District 6 Museum. Nkosinathi Biko said the Frank Talks dialogues and lectures brought people together and got them thinking and talking about Biko’s legacy and the role he played in the lives of others. Professor Ratele opined that black people often lost themselves in the
process of integration, and that integration sometimes undermined black culture. He also felt that black children were being taught to aspire to white capitalist ideals. Mandy Sanger recalled how, when she was still in high school, reading or wearing anything with the name Steve Biko was criminalised. “By law we could not integrate, we had to work around those issues,” she said. She concluded by saying that South Africans were still trapped in racialised ways of looking at one another.
Tonia Overmeyer, Manager for Leadership and Social Responsibility at UWC’s Centre for Student Support Services welcomes attendees to the Steve Biko Frank Talk series.
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y i yin fuel-cell project
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ith demand for air transport increasing, the global airline industry will require nearly 30 000 new airliners (over a 100-seat capacity) in the next twenty years. Simultaneously, high jet fuel costs and industry commitment to halving CO2 emissions levels by 2050 are driving the search for alternative solutions to fossil fuel-based propulsion and energy sources. Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) Systems Competence Centre at UWC is partnering with Airbus UK and the National Aerospace Centre (NAC) in a three-year research project based at HySA’s UWC research facility, on the application of hydrogen fuel cells (HFC) in airliners. The project was launched in Cape Town on 2 September 2014. The project will identify and test factors that Airbus UK is a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus SAS and is responsible for the design and supply of fuel systems for all Airbus models, as well as high-technology Airbus wings and landing gear.
in en e lo te erat re el ell li e an in a mobile environment (as well as reviewing existing test methods), develop a model to enable engineers to evaluate the expected life of fuel cells before they are implemented and support efforts to predict fuel cell life under various operational conditions. “Although fuel cell technology for land vehicles has rapidly matured,” says Professor Bruno Pollet, Director of HySA Systems, “the new research with Airbus and the National Aerospace Centre is aimed at gaining an understanding of how hydrogen fuel cells could perform over an aircraft’s service life while subjected to the harsh and rapidly changing climatic and environmental regimes that commercial jetliners operate in.” it t i in in ir a i entifie Launched in 2006, South Africa’s National Aerospace Centre (NAC) is an aerospacefocused research programme supported by the Department of Trade and Industry and managed and hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand.
Dale King (left) and Philip Haupt (centre), from the National Aerospace Commission, and HySA Director, Bruno Pollet, sign an agreement for aerospace fuel cell technology creation.
hydrogen fuel cells as a future, emissionsfree alternative to the small gas turbines called auxiliary power units (APUs), which are used for generating on-board electrical power and heat while the aircraft is on the ground. Replacing the fossil fuel-powered APUs with hydrogen fuel cells would help achieve the goals of emission-free and lownoise aircraft operation. “The fuel cell project with HySA Systems and the National Aerospace Centre is the latest element of Airbus’s research and technology initiative with South Africa,” says Dale King, Airbus’s Senior Manager: Emerging Technologies and Concepts. “It underlies our commitment to South Africa, which is a i nifi ant ar et an o t o e o o r o t important suppliers and is a vital knowledge partner for Airbus.”
New UWC postgraduate journal
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he University of the Western Cape has launched a new bi-annual, multi/ inter-disciplinary journal that aims to celebrate the literary talents of our
students. WritingThreeSixty will present the interests and ideas of graduate students and introduce them to the world of publishing. The journal, which includes creative writing, is edited by postgraduate students in the UWC English Department — one of a range of student a tivitie an initiative i re e t ra ate culture in the Department. “Each one of us brings something different to the journal, such as diverse research interests and experience,” says Bronwyn Douman, Editor of Creative Writing for WritingThreeSixty. “As postgraduate students our involvement includes, but is not limited to, managing the website, social media and submissions.” WritingThreeSixty is a platform for postgraduate Arts and Humanities students to showcase their writing and research skills, and Excited? Want to be a part of this? Don’t elay i ion or t e fir t i e t at will be published on 28 February 2015, close on 1 January 2015.
to ain e erien e in t e fiel o olarly and creative writing. They can submit critical research, book reviews and interviews with writers and scholars. In addition, students from all faculties, including undergraduates, may submit creative writing submissions. So if you’re a science student with a poet’s soul, or a budding lawyer with a love for literature, this could be the journal for you. Authors will retain copyright, and they are welcome to republish elsewhere. “We’d like WritingThreeSixty to be a recognized journal for exciting online publishing from the tip of Africa with a national, continental and international readership,” says Dr Fiona Moolla, Postgraduate Coordinator in the English Department. “We hope that students will gain experience in scholarly publishing Want to know more about WritingThreeSixty? o an fin o t all yo need to know about the journal’s origins, aims, editorial committee, submissions and formats at http://uwcjournal. wordpress.com/. Or keep up with the latest developments on Twitter (https://twitter. com/Writing360) or Facebook (https://m. facebook.com/writingthreesixty/).
The WritingThreeSixty editorial board from left: Nicole Natalie O’Ryan, Bronwyn Douman, Kareesha Naidoo, Nicole Johannisen and Wihan van Wyk.
serving on the WritingThreeSixty board and will also hone their own writing and research skills.” The journal will enable the whole UWC community to gain insight into Arts and Humanities research activities at UWC. It is also intended as a networking tool to connect with universities in the Western Cape. “The journal is open to students from our sister universities, CPUT, UCT and Stellenbosch, and we are working on approaching universities outside the Western Cape,” says Kareesha Naidoo, Editor of Academic and Critical Research for the journal.
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Community and Health Sciences
A winning goal for life
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l ive rea t ee in or t e fir t six months, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside nutritious complementary meals for the next two years or beyond, is the key to health for newborn babies. While breastfeeding is common in South Africa, the country has relatively low breastfeeding rates and poor child feeding practices. The early introduction of other oo an i alle i e ee in is responsible for high rates of diarrhoea an ontri te i nifi antly to in ant malnutrition and death. Fittingly, UWC’s Department of Dietetics, together with the Western Cape Department of Health, hosted a special seminar during World Breastfeeding Week from 1 to 7 August. The conference, following the international theme of the week, was titled Breastfeeding: A Winning Goal — For Life! “Breast milk is healthier,” explained UNICEF Nutrition Specialist Chantell Witten. “It contains organisms that protect children, helping to build their immune systems. Even when it comes from the container and there’s some contamination, a baby drinking breast milk has a better chance than it does with just bottle milk. Not to mention that early food feeding [not only] increases obesity...but it also introduces contaminants and can cause diarrhoea.”
The conference emphasised the importance of increasing and sustaining the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding, with speakers discussing challenges and potential solutions for future generations. The aim was to inform health professionals and educators of the latest research, projects and best practices in breastfeeding, as well as new ways of stimulating interest among young people of both genders, and helping them to see the relevance of breastfeeding in a changing, high-tech world. Hilary Goeiman, Deputy Director: Nutrition in the Western Cape Department of Health, discussed how important breastfeeding was to meeting the Millennium Development Goals, with just one year to go. “We all know 2014 as the year of the FIFA World Cup, where millions gathered in front of their screens to watch and talk about soccer,” she said. “We want people to also gather to talk about breastfeeding — and we also know that breastfeeding promotes good health and development, which is important for sports.” Attendees were informed of many of the initiatives being explored to promote breastfeeding, and to professionalise breastfeeding care — attempts to accredit all birthing units, initiatives to create cellular phone applications that will guide
mothers through their breastfeeding schedules, road shows to educate mothers in rural areas, and more. “We’ve got beautiful policies, and beautiful plans, such as the Human Milk Banking Plan and the Breastfeeding Restoration Plan,” noted Stephen Titus, Director: Facility Based Programmes in the Western Cape Department of Health. “It’s implementation that’s the challenge — and a challenge that should not only lie with nurses in our hospitals, but with everyone. We need to strengthen linkages with community-based services, extending continued support for breastfeeding outside of health facilities.” itten a ree t at it a i fi lt to change the situation, but not impossible. “It’s a team effort, it will take UNICEF, WHO, NGOs, government and all of us. We just need to do things differently.” Milk banks allow mothers to donate excess breast milk for mothers who might be unable to produce enough of their own. The local Western Cape milk bank, Milk Matters, was created by the management team at Mowbray Maternity Hospital, the largest maternity centre in the Western Cape. Find out more at http://www.milkmatters.org/
Hilary Goeiman of the Western Cape Department of Health explores the importance of breastfeeding with regard to the Millennium Development Goals.
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Four science labs in one day
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he Science Learning Centre for Africa (SLCA) at the University of the Western Cape made yet another valuable contribution to improving science education at schools when it recently established four science laboratories at deserving Western Cape schools. Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian O’Connell, Director Myrtle February of Garden Cities’ Archway Foundation (donor), ar en itie ie inan ial fi er i i on an t e ire tor o the SLCA, Professor Shaheed Hartley, opened the labs at WA Rossouw Primary in Montague, Masakheke High in Robertson, FJ Conradie Primary in De Doorns and Paulus Joubert High in Paarl — and did it all in one day, on 27 August. Twenty-three laboratories have now been donated to Western Cape schools by UWC in partnership with the Archway Foundation
since the programme’s inception. Garden Cities has been developing housing suburbs and public buildings for almost a century. The Archway Foundation, which is its corporate social investment arm, has not only funded the science labs but has built halls at 50 schools. Schools were selected for laboratories based on their excellent performance in science learning and their need of facilities. Schools were also expected to have dedicated science teachers who will make use of the labs. “We need to build a network of science learning and teaching in our schools. All the schools today earned what they are getting. This is what you get for producing good results and performing so well in Science,” says Prof Hartley.
(From left) Principal of WA Russouw Primary School, Mr A Fielies; Garden Cities Archway Foundation Director, Myrtle February; Professor Brian O’Connell, UWC Rector and ViceChancellor; and Director of the SLCA, Professor Shaheed Hartley, open the science laboratory at WA Russouw Primary School in Montague.
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PhD
PhD Honour Roll
A total of 37 candidates received their PhDs at the September 2014 graduation ceremony. Here is a snapshot of our doctoral graduates with their dissertation titles and areas of study.
FACULTY OF ARTS Dr Dinis Fernando da Costa
Dr Ananias Iita
Dr Wallace Karuguti
Title of dissertation: An assessment of the curriculum and implementation of the subject Religious and Moral Education in Namibia: A case study of perceptions of RME teachers in the Ompundja Circuit of Oshana Region.
Title of dissertation: A critical analysis of colonial and postcolonial discourses and representations of the people of Mozambique in the Portuguese Newspaper ‘O Século de Joanesburgo’ from 1970–1980.
Title of dissertation: A model development for an interdisciplinary approach to patient care: A case for curriculum development.
Dr Prosperous Nankindu
Dr Jennifer Simone Parr
Title of dissertation: Language in education policy and literacy acquisition in multilingual Uganda: A case study of Kampala Urban District.
Title of dissertation: Integration in South Africa: A study of changes in the community health system.
FACULTY OF COMMUNITY AND HEALTH SCIENCES Dr Clever Chikwanda
Dr Jeanne Kagwiza
Dr Maria Ann Florence
Title of dissertation: Combining sport and mediation skills for community healing: A multiple case study of two post-conflict communities in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Title of dissertation: Functioning, disability and health in people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Rwanda.
Title of dissertation: Adolescent substance use: The development and validation of a measure of perceived individual and contextual factors.
Dr Oswell Khondowe
Dr Egide Kayonga Ntagungira
Dr Albertus Petrus van Dyk
Title of dissertation: A home-based physical activity programme in combination with massage therapy to improve motor and cognitive development in HIV positive children on antiretroviral therapy: A randomised controlled trial.
Title of dissertation: Building a health-promoting schools conceptual framework model as a strategy to address barriers to learning and promote healthy development of school-aged children in Rwanda.
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Title of dissertation: The effects of a sports vision training programme on selected visualmotor skills in a non-fatigued and fatigued cardiovascular condition.
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9 FACULTY OF DENTISTRY
Dr Imade Joan Ayo-Yusuf Title of dissertation: Socio-economic position, oral pain and oral healthrelated quality of life among South African adults.
Dr Jill Fortuin Title of dissertation: The effectiveness of teleradiology as a diagnostic tool in the provision of oral health services in South Africa.
Dr Eyitope Ogungbenro Ogunbodede Title of dissertation: Implementation of oral health policies in African countries: South Africa and Nigeria as case studies.
FACULTY OF ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
Dr Kennedy Alatinga
Dr Nerhene Cindy Davis
Dr Marieta du Plessis
Title of dissertation: Poverty access to healthcare in Ghana: Challenge of bridging the equity gap with health insurance.
Title of dissertation: Inclusive business models in South Africa’s land reform: Great expectations and ambiguous outcomes in the Moletele land claim, Limpopo.
Title of dissertation: The relationship between authentic leadership, psychological capital, followership and work engagement.
Dr Suweon Kim
Dr Sharon Patricia Penderis
Dr Eria Serwajja
Title of dissertation: The political economy of aid-oriented foreign policy change: Elite perspectives on mercantilism in Korea and Ghana.
Title of dissertation: Statesociety relations in the South African developmental state: Integrated development planning and public participation at the local level.
Title of dissertation: An investigation of land grabbing amidst resettlement in post-conflict Amuru District, Northern Uganda.
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PhD FACULTY OF EDUCATION Dr Manuel João José Cabinda
Dr Basirat Olayemi Bellononjengele
Title of dissertation: Identifying academic reading strategies in a multilingual context.
Title of dissertation: Multilingualism in and out of classrooms: Exploring language and identity in a Cape Flats primary school.
FACULTY OF LAW Dr Lovemore Chiduza
Dr Ashraf Booley Title of dissertation: The rights and freedoms of women in Islamic jurisprudence pertaining to marriage and divorce: Lessons for South Africa from Morocco and Tunisia?
Dr Karin Antoinette Chinnian
Title of dissertation: The significance of judicial independence in human rights protection: A critical analysis of the constitutional reforms in Zimbabwe.
Title of dissertation: Gender persecution as a ground for asylum in South Africa and Canada: Reconceptualising a theoretical framework for assessing refugee claims by women.
Dr Enoch Chilemba Title of dissertation: The national implementation of international human rights law pertaining to children with disabilities in selected jurisdictions in Africa.
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11 FACULTY OF NATURAL SCIENCES Dr Kehinde Kayode Agbele
Dr Omoyeni Olubunmi Adenika
Dr Mawethu Pascoe Bilibana Title of dissertation: Aptamer nanobiosensor for algal toxin in water.
Title of dissertation: Context-awareness for adaptive information retrieval systems.
Title of dissertation: Investigation of anti-cancer potential of Pleiocarpa pycnantha leaves.
Dr Charon de Villiers
Dr Zedias Chikwambi Title of dissertation: A transcriptome analysis of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) cv ‘Golden Delicious’ fruit during fruit growth and development.
Dr Emad Fadhal Title of dissertation: Graph theoretic methods for identifying functionally important proteins in protein interaction networks and their applications to cancer.
Title of dissertation: Effect of GnRH I & II on sperm functions of selected primates.
Dr Mbandi Stanley Kimbung
Dr Oko Unathi Gcilitshana Title of dissertation: Supercapacitor electrode materials based on nanostructured conducting polymers and metal oxides.
Dr Nolubabalo Matinise Title of dissertation: Ultrasensitive bimetallic nanocomposites of palladium (100) and ruthenium/ iridium for electrocatalytic oxidation of ammonia.
Title of dissertation: A computational framework for transcriptome assembly and annotation in nonmodel organisms: the case of Venturia inaequalis.
Dr Solohery Randriamampandrey
Dr Ram Krishna Shrestha
Title of dissertation: Far-infraredradio relations in clusters and groups at intermediate redshifts.
Title of dissertation: Management and analysis of HIV-1 ultra-deep sequence data.
Economic and Management Sciences
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A triumph of determination
Dr Venicia McGhie is exploring the factors that promote student success as a Fulbright Scholar in the USA.
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r Venicia McGhie, a senior lecturer in the University’s Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) Faculty, understands better than o t t e i fi ltie t at t ent at t e University of the Western Cape may face in attaining their full academic potential. Her understanding is derived not only from her expertise in academic development, but also from her own life journey from high-school dropout to respected academic. Dr McGhie has been granted a Fulbright post-doctoral scholarship to study the factors that inhibit and promote student progress. Her research area i o e on fir t year t ent learning challenges and interventions to ort t ent e in t eir fir t year r ie ill or it fir t year t ent and staff at the University of MissouriSt. Louis (UMSL) in St.Louis, USA, from October 2014 to July 2015. Her study will include evaluating the UMSL intervention programmes to improve pass and retention rates among undergraduate students. “This is indeed an honour, and I am very grateful for this wonderful opportunity that has been given to me,” she says. “When I get back, I hope I’ll have gathered valuable information and guidelines that I can use to strengthen students’ chances at successful learning at UWC.” Dr McGhie hails from Potchefstroom. When her parents died, she dropped out of school
in Grade 10 and found work as a domestic worker to help support her four siblings. She later worked as a factory worker, a taxi driver and as an administrative clerk (at the former Potchefstroomse Universiteit vir Christelike Hoër Onderwys). In 1985 she moved to Cape Town and started her career at UWC in 1988, as a data capturing clerk in the Student ini tration fi e a in le ot er raising two children, I was determined to better myself,” says Dr McGhie. “ I knew God had a greater plan for me, and I just a to fin y art in it till or in at UWC, she completed a BA, majoring in Linguistics, English and IsiXhosa, moved on to do her honours and master’s degrees, and decided to do a Higher Diploma in Education as well, to help her move to the other side of the lectern. In 2002, she became a lecturer in the EMS Faculty, teaching Academic Literacy for Commerce, and continued her studies (for which she won the University’s Lifelong Learning Award for part-time studies in 2003). She received her PhD in Education from Stellenbosch University in 2012 and was promoted to senior lecturer. “Many academics research and write about students’ learning challenges — issues a eer re re lan a e i fi ltie and poor time management and planning skills,” she notes, “but not many look at
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the enabling factors that promote academic success.” These include getting to know students and being approachable and open, supporting them academically and personally where possible. Dr McGhie believes strongly in rovi in finan ial a i tan e a ell a academic support. “Many students at UWC have trouble with paying fees without disrupting their lives too much,” she explains. “Even for those with bursaries an finan ial ai t e finan ial a i tan e received often doesn’t pay for books, travel and general living expenses.” To cover those costs, she started the EMS Faculty’s Making a Difference Project, in which lecturers in the faculty contribute monthly to a fund for needy students. Dr McGhie’s autobiography, titled And there is a living God, was published in 2012. She hopes her story will inspire students to over o e i fi lt it ation I ant eo le to realise that they can be a success no matter where they start from.” Dr McGhie joins a long list of eminent and distinguished Fulbright scholars from South Africa, including such distinguished alumni as Professors Brian O’Connell and Jonathan Jansen. To learn more about the Fulbright scholarship programme, visit http://southafrica.usembassy.gov/ postgraduate.html
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13
The UWC Apprentice
“Y
o re fire or made famous by a certain television show — and words that UWC’s second-year Entrepreneurship and Marketing Strategy Honours students are unlikely to hear in their future careers, given the skills they i laye in t e final ro n o own 2014 Apprentice Challenge on 22 August 2014. r ani e y t e fi e or t ent Development in collaboration with the The Bhag Gals — Caroline Dibakoane, Jade Anderson, Motlalepule Mogorosi and Amanda Roman — are the UWC Apprentice Challenge School of Business and Finance (SBF), champions for 2014. the Apprentice Challenge gave the students the chance to apply some of community surveys), and explain why and their classroom learning. o t ey t o t in fiel otor o l In a realistic simulated business scenario, enefit ro o eratin t ere teams had to provide a marketing strategy “The Challenge helped students apply an ine lan to in fiel otor a theory to practice, develop employability used car dealership, for their Township skills and experience real learning,” Connection Campaign. Each team had explains SBF lecturer, Prof Linda de Vries, to identify a disadvantaged township who oversaw the Challenge. “It was a community in Cape Town, collate pertinent chance for budding entrepreneurs to information about the nature and enhance teamwork and their decisioncomposition of that community (including making skills as well as their CVs — and to Statistics SA reports and other consumer and have fun and win prizes.”
SBF reaches out to entrepreneurs
U
WC’s School of Business and Finance (SBF) brought entrepreneurial expertise to the community in a workshop held at Christel House School in Ottery in September. The SBF partnered with the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) and the Tertiary School in Business Education (TSiBA) in delivering the Entrepreneurship: unemployment to self-employment workshop, aimed at parents who were contemplating starting or had already started their own businesses. Around 200 parents attended the workshop, and listened to presentations on a variety of relevant topics, including cash o ana e ent le t rer onal rin fiel al latin ri in a ter candidate Adeeb Samsodien), and social media marketing (master’s candidate Judy
The earlier phases were for academic re it t in t e final a e t e to teams competed for cash prizes. Third place and a R1000 prize, went to the yner y tea i i entifie a lo al car wash outlet in Langa that could allow in fiel otor to e ta li a re en e in the area and build their brand. Second place and R2000 were awarded to the ‘Magnate Warriors’, who selected Khayelitsha as the base of their expanded operations. Top spot, and a R5000 prize, went to the ‘Bhag Gals’ team of Caroline Dibakoane, Jade Anderson, Motlalepule Mogorosi and Amanda Roman. They chose Gugulethu for their campaign, with a marketing mix including social media, radio, newspaper and printed advertising, sponsorships, referrals and even marketing at Mzoli’s, a popular eatery. The students report that the learning experience was fun and challenging, and taught them a lot about the practical application of their entrepreneurship knowledge. They strongly suggested that it become an annual event.
Cache and lecturer Akbar Khalfe). “Our programme for Christel House was designed to be informative to new venture creation, and also to those already UWC’s School of Business and Finance, along with in business,” explains Clint Davies, a representatives from TSiBA and SEDA, team up to teach master’s candidate and coordinator at entrepreneurship. the SBF. “Programmes such as these are Carollissen explained what it was like to important for encouraging those who are run a cell phone repair and accessory retail contemplating starting a business, to take shop, while pine furniture manufacturer t e fir t te Innocent Khanyile did the same for his The workshop combined presentations enterprise. with service desks focused on three areas “The day went well. Our partners at TSiBA of business development: business support and SEDA reported a very good turnout in the start-up phase (SEDA); short course at their service desks that was at times business management programmes (TSiBA); overwhelming — in this case, a good thing and business diagnosis and executive — and the feedback we received from the coaching (SBF). school and the parents who attended was Two experienced micro-entrepreneurs positive and encouraging,” notes Davies. gave an account of their entrepreneurial “We hope to have more such community lifestyles and talked through their outreach programmes in future.” experiences of being self-employed. Johnny
14
Dentistry
Unity is key to oral health
O
ral diseases remain a major public health headache for South Africa, with poor nutrition, lack of knowledge and socio-economic conditions cited as some of the root causes. The Department of Oral Hygiene at the University of the Western Cape is addressing this situation by employing interdisciplinary and inter-professional approaches to provide preventative and educational treatment at ground level. Every week the Department, located at the Faculty of Dentistry, hosts outreach programmes at the primary health institution in the Mitchell’s Plain Oral Health Centre for parents, children and other health practitioners. “What we are trying to do is to speak in
one voice about the importance of oral health and to say oral health is general health,” explains Rugshana Cader, lecturer in oral hygiene and coordinator of the programme. The programme forms part of community learning for third-year dentistry students to equip them with the skills to work with the communities in primary health care. Under the guidance of lecturers, students rovi e ental treat ent in l in ori e treat ent fillin an ealant ile educating clients about the importance of oral hygiene. “There is a lack of resources in our communities and access to healthcare is a challenge,” Cader says. “And we found that our communities don’t always know how
to care for their teeth. They don’t know that if a child sleeps with a bottle it can lead to teeth decay, for instance. We want to educate them instead of just providing treatment.” Cader notes that they see about 40 children weekly and the initiative is making a positive impact. “As bleak as oral hygiene conditions are in South Africa, there is hope. People are coming in big numbers to our programmes and we are making headway.” She appealed to private and public health practitioners, as well as the business world and the communities to join forces to address oral health. “There is a need to change the behaviour and mindsets of all stakeholders towards oral health. Working to et er ill a e a i nifi ant i eren e
The Faculty of Dentistry hosts outreach programmes to promote oral health in poor communities.
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15
Hip-Hop and Humanities
(From left) Dr Adam Haupt (UCT), Emile Jansen (also known as Emile YX?), Dr Quentin Williams (UWC) and Adrian Van Wyk were in attendance at UWC’s Hip-Hop Lecture series.
T
he Centre of Multilingualism and Diversities Research (CMDR) at the University of the Western Cape co-hosted an interactive lecture series on hip-hop over two days in August at the Centre for the Performing Arts. The Heal the Hood Hip-Hop Lecture Series programme, which saw CMDR partner with Staticphlow (a hip-hop research project) and Heal the Hood (a hip-hop non-governmental organisation), focused on how to build a career in hiphop and the relevance of an education in the humanities.
“The CMDR aims at producing scholarly research and develop knowledge on multilingualism and diversity on a transforming South Africa. It also has a strong commitment to community engagement and aims to work closely with local grassroots community organisations and government organisations on questions of multilingualism and diversity,” says PhD candidate at the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research Dmitri Jegels. The aims of the lecture series were to provide a forum and an intellectually engaging and stimulating space where the
marginalised voices of school youth will be heard; to share experiences, concerns and goals for the future of hip-hop and education in dialogue with peers, hip-hop artists and researchers and academics who form part of the UWC teaching and learning environment; and lastly, to provide a space for school youth to discuss opportunities for careers via hip-hop in the higher education contexts. Some of the artists in attendance included Ready D, Quintin Jitsvinger, Emile YX?, Mixed Mense, the cast of AfriKaaps, Native Rhythms, DJ Mad Fingers and Driemanskap.
16
Sport
UWC initiates SA-US sport exchange
T
he Interdisciplinary Centre for Sport and Development (ICESSD) at the University of the Western Cape has initiated an innovative two-way youth sports management exchange programme between local and US participants in partnership with the University of Connecticut (UConn). Ten youth sport managers from the Western Cape Network for Community, Peace and Development (WCNCPD) — an umbrella organisation of more than 30 NGOs in Cape Town — jetted off to the USA on 5 October to participate in a two-week sport for social change programme supported by the US State Department. Led by Professor Marion Keim of ICESSD, the group included Linda Mbali and Siphokazi Ndlangalavu of Amandla Edufootball, Mcedisi Mbatha of Aresta, Kholisa Kobo of WCNCPD, Sikhulu Zonde of The Ark City of Refuge, Sanele Manqola of Ithemba Labantu, Lwando tofile o t e ity o a e o n at leen Lot and Jasmina Majiet of The Hague Primary School and Leonard Marthinus of Inner Circle
Youth Development Trust. They were hosted by several sports organisations based in New York, Boston and Connecticut. The participants attended workshops and youth sportrelated activities, took part in multi-day job shadowing experiences at sport-based youth development programmes, UWC’s Prof Marion Keim led a group of youth sport managers from Cape and initiated planning for Town on an exchange programme to the USA recently. South Africa-based sport social sports activities, and advance cross-cultural change projects with their US understanding of the role of sports in fostering counterparts. positive social change. Keim, who is part of the UN International A two-week follow-up exchange programme Working Group for Sport and Peace and was in South Africa will be held in March 2015 for 10 recently appointed to the IOC Commission for leaders from US sport-based youth development Olympic Education and Culture, noted that organisations. “This visit will give the members the participants were selected because of the of the US delegation the opportunity to learn i nifi ant or t ey ere oin it ort from their South African colleagues and to and development in their communities. She jointly launch pilot offerings of their grantsaid the programme will enable youth sport funded mini-projects to over 1 000 youth sport managers from both countries to share their participants,” Keim commented. experiences in managing and organising youth
UWC star gets another Banyana call-up
S
ensational UWC star footballer Leandra Smeda, whose sterling form over the past few months has seen her bagging goals in almost every game, made the cut for the Confederation of African Football-organised African Women’s Championship (AWC). e atta in i fiel er a na e in t e 21-strong Banyana Banyana squad that did battle in what was described as the “group of death” in the tenth edition of the AWC which kicked off in Namibia on 11 October 2014. Other teams in the group were past winners Algeria, Cameroon and Ghana. The top three teams in this bi-annual to rna ent alifie or t e I o en World Cup in Canada. In a tough tournament, Banyana made it to t e e i final t lo t y t o oal to one to tournament winners Nigeria, who beat Cameroon
in t e final an a eaten y Ivory oa t in t e third place play-off game. Smeda, a UWC postgraduate student in sport, development and peace, has amassed 36 Banyana Banyana caps and scored 13 goals. She has scored most of her goals in recent matches under the current coach Vera Pauw, and that ave er onfi en e to a e t e final a or the AWC. “I wasn’t really surprised about my ele tion into t e final tea e a e I ve een in good form for the national team in the past few months,” said Smeda, who hails from Velddrift on the West Coast. Smeda notes that UWC has played a huge role in her blossoming soccer career. “UWC was the fir t l I laye or en I ove to a e o n to further my studies in 2008, and the club has helped me grow as a footballer over the years.”
UWC student Leandra Smeda was selected for the Banyana Banyana team that contested the African Women’s Championship in Namibia in October.
Her involvement in the national squad has also een enefi ial to t e tea I al ay tell my teammates about my experiences at the national team and share my training programme and the playing style we use at Banyana Banyana with my coach so that she can implement it at the club.”
UWC MEDIA OFFICE
Do you have any important UWC stories to share? Do you know of an event on campus that you’d like to see featured? Have you heard of UWC alumni who’ve done amazing things, which you think the world should know about? Or maybe you have a few suggestions, comments or questions about something in this newsletter? Whatever the case may be, the UWC Media Office would really like to hear from you. Just email us at ia@uwc.ac.za, call us at 021 959 9525, or drop by our offices.
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Our Teaching UWC Offering A Nastasha Crow Nicklaus Kruger Learning takes Holistic Student Myolisi Gophe Asiphe&Nombewu pride in...
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