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Ins ide2 HEARD celebrates 10 years 3 Hope for Umbumbulu Community 5 Graduation Special 13 UKZN achievers

Approximately 10 000students and par-ents from all cor-ners of KwaZulu- Natal attended

UKZN’s Open Days on 17 May(Pietermaritzburg campus) and 24May (Howard College and West-ville campuses). The Open Dayswere organised by Corporate Re-lations’ Schools Liaison Unit.

Open Days 2008Open Days 2008Open Days 2008Open Days 2008Open Days 2008Schools Liaison Acting ManagerMrs Sarda Pillay said a feature ofthis year’s Open Days was thenumber of learners attending fromrural areas. Parent attendance wasalso up, with many accompanyingtheir children to explore careeroptions.

Lecturers and staff from the diffe-rent Faculties played a crucial role,

setting up eye-catching exhibitsand providing a wealth of infor-mation which will help prospectivestudents decide on a career.

The sound of drums and singinggreeted visitors to the HowardCollege campus, as Drama andPerformance Studies studentsdemonstrated their talents. Fasci-nated visitors gathered around the

medical display, with its dummybodies and medical gadgets.

Staff and students went the extramile on the Pietermaritzburg cam-pus, with many entertaining andeye-catching displays. Physics’interactive show and Chemistry’sFire and Ice Show added to theatmosphere of the day.

Staff manning the Faculty ofScience and Agriculture stand onthe Westville campus were inun-dated with queries. Keen interestwas also shown in the variousdegrees offered by the Faculty ofManagement Studies.

Learners from the Dr AD LazarusSchool in Reservoir Hills describedthe Open Day as “a good experi-ence”. They said the event pro-vided them with information aboutthe careers they wish to follow.Grade 12 learner Meha Budhin saidshe had obtained a lot of infor-mation on Health Sciences whichshe is interested in. Shahani Durga,also in Grade 12 said she receiveda wealth of information on theteaching degrees on offer – a careershe is passionate about.

- Vicky Crookes, Neesha Maharajand Thembeka Nyaba

Thousands of prospective students benefit from information stands and presentations at UKZN’s Open Days. The Zulu Department’s exhibit at Open Day.

Forum on xForum on xForum on xForum on xForum on xenophobiaenophobiaenophobiaenophobiaenophobiaREPRESENTATIVES of refu-gee and human rights organi-sations were amongst those whospoke out against the recentxenophobic attacks in SouthAfrica during a forum titledXenophobia in South Africa.Why Now? at the WestvilleCampus on 29 May. SpeakersMr Pierre Matate (KwaZulu-Natal Refugee Council), MrDouglas Dziva (Deputy CEO ofthe KwaZulu-Natal ChristianCouncil), Mr MthokozisiKhubone (Congress of South

African Trade Unions Pro-vincial Organiser and EducationSecretary), Professor KarthyGovender (South AfricanHuman Rights Commissioner),Mr Kwazi Mshengu (CentralStudent Representative Presi-dent) and Professor GerhardMaré (Centre for Critical Re-search on Race and Identity)shared their views on the issue.The Forum was chaired by Pro-Vice Chancellor: CorporateRelations, Professor DasarathChetty who said it encouraged

conversation on xenophobiawith a view to deciding a courseof action.

While expressing their condem-nation of the recent attacks onforeigners, the speakers alsosuggested steps to be taken toovercome xenophobia.

Mr Matate said the attacks onforeign refugees over the pasttwo weeks opened old woundsthat they have tried to heal overthe years they sought asylum

here. He suggested that thePresidency introduce legislationthat allowed for the integrationof foreign refugees into SouthAfrica.

Dr Dziva described the xeno-phobic violence as “barbaricand inhumane”. He suggestedthe University communityformulate a think tank to decidehow refugees could be assisted.

Professor Govender warnedagainst creating the perception

that South Africa was soft oncriminals who committed suchxenophobic acts. He criticizedgovernment’s response to hand-ling the aftermath of the attacksas “sluggish”.

Mr Mshengu suggested thatacademics and students embarkon a campaign to provide know-ledge on the African Renai-ssance.

- Neesha Maharaj

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Editorial Send your news to news@ukzn.ac.za

The ukzndaba team

Dasarath Chetty Deanne Collins Fikisile Mabaso Neesha Maharaj Thembeka Nyaba Vidhya SinghPro-Vice-Chancellor Publications Manager Distribution Journalist Journalist Layout & Design

Professor Dasarath ChettyPro-Vice-Chancellor: Corporate Relations

HEARD (Health Economics andHIV/Aids Research Division) is 10years old this year. The divisionhosted a one day retrospective andHIV and AIDS research review on14 May at the Innovation Centre.Prominent researchers from acrossthe SADC and young researcherswere in attendance.

Professor Alan Whiteside estab-lished HEARD in 1998 at the thenUniversity of Natal as an initiativeto conduct applied research into thesocio- economic aspects of publichealth, especially in HIV andAIDS.

The conference was attended byProfessor Alan Whiteside (HEARDDirector), Professor Tim Quinlan(HEARD), Dr Nigel Rollins fromthe University’s Pediatric ChildDivision, Regional AIDS TrainingNetwork Executive Director inKenya, Dr John Mwesigwa, Ex-ecutive Director of the SouthernAfrican AIDS Trust, Dr AnitaSandstrom and Professor JohnMsuya from the Sokoine Uni-versity of Agriculture in Tanzania.

On 23 April, KhathuSikhitha and NormanHlungwane of the De-

partment of Trade and Industry(DTI) paid a visit to the School ofDevelopment Studies in order tomeet with students benefitting fromthe DTI’s Public Service BursaryScheme. The Scheme providesfunding to South African studentswishing to complete a Mastersdegree in an area that would sup-port the work of the DTI (e.g. Eco-nomics, Development and relatedareas). After completion, the candi-dates will be employed at the DTI.

Of the four universities distributingthese bursaries, UKZN has been

DTI Bursary SchemeDTI Bursary SchemeDTI Bursary SchemeDTI Bursary SchemeDTI Bursary Scheme

Back (l-r) Sarah Hobbs (M Dev), Sinethemba Mtshali (MTRP), KhathuSikhitha (DTI), Ndumiso Sidzatane (M Pop), Mpume Danisa (M Dev),Nazish Peer (M Dev), Sikulile Dlamuka (M Dev).Front (l-r) Siboniso Cele (M Dev), Hajira Yunos (M Pop), NormanHlungwane (DTI), Emcy Garner (MTRP).

HEARD celebrates 10 yearsHEARD celebrates 10 yearsHEARD celebrates 10 yearsHEARD celebrates 10 yearsHEARD celebrates 10 years

(l-r) Professor John Msuya from the Sokoine University of Agriculture inTanzania; Professor Alan Whiteside, Director, HEARD; Executive Directorof the Southern African AIDS Trust, Dr Anita Sandstrom; and RegionalAIDS Training Network Executive Director in Kenya, Dr John Mwesigwa.

Professor Whiteside said: “It hasbeen 10 years of amazing work and10 years of working with amazingpeople. We’ve done amazingly andwe will continue to do so.”

Issues such as the prevention andtreatment of HIV and AIDS, thesocial impact of the pandemic andthe translation of research intoimpact aroused robust debateamong those who attended theconference. The young researchers

present were given an opportunityto discuss their dreams and aspir-ations for the future.

Professor Whiteside urged theyoung researchers to think big andinnovative and to dream the im-possible. He also thankedHEARD’s donors, saying “You’vecreated the possibility for us to dowhat we’ve always wanted to do.”

- Xoliswa Zulu

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the most successful in findingcandidates to enter the Programme.The scheme is run through theSchool of Development Studiesalthough students from variousrelated masters programmes canparticipate.

The scheme has been in operationfor two years and 13 studentshave received the bursary. Ofthese, two students, Leigh Bergand Renai Moothilal, have nowgraduated from the School ofDevelopment Studies and areworking at the DTI.

- Judith Shier

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ExExExExExcellence incellence incellence incellence incellence inMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsTHE African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) atMuizenberg in the Western Cape is a postgraduate training andeducation centre of excellence in mathematics. It accepts top graduatesfrom all African countries and provides them with firm, well-balancedfoundation in advanced mathematics, with an emphasis onmathematical modeling. This enables them to successfully progresseither to higher degree studies in top South African and internationaluniversities, or to careers in high-tech industries.

UKZN’s School of Mathematical Sciences has been deeply involvedin AIMS’ activities. Dr G Amery, Professor J Banasiak, Professor KGovinder and Dr K Moodley have been teaching successful coursesat AIMS. Professor Banasiak has been a member of the AdvisoryBoard of AIMS and the School has accepted a large number ofpostgraduate students at both MSc and PhD levels from AIMS. Thisprogramme has received a boost in the past two years: thanks togenerous funding from the Vice-Chancellor the School could offer 12additional half-bursaries to match the half-bursaries provided byAIMS, which brought a welcome international and African diversityto our postgraduate student community.

However, AIMS is no longer only an education centre. The AIMSResearch Centre was launched on 12 May. It will focus on cutting-edge research in mathematical modeling in fields which are relevantin the South African and African context: Biology and Epidemiology,Mathematical Finance and Cosmology and Astrophysics. The Centrewas officially opened by the Minister of Science and Technology theHonourable Mosibudi Mangena. The ceremony attracted several high-profile guests, including Professor S Hawking, two Nobel laureates RSmoot and D Gross as well as the NASA Administrator Dr M Griffin,who gave public lectures for a large audience. Professor Banasiak,Dr Moodley and two former AIMS students, Ms M Phoolo and Mr IKarambal, who are currently studying at UKZN, were also invited totake part in the event and the students presented short talks.

- Jacek Banasiak

Toward intercultural toleranceand understanding

AN essential part of the Universityexperience is that it provides an opportunity, both in

and outside the classroom, for students and staff to experienceand benefit from an ever-present diversity. This diversity is reflected in

the way people articulate their lived experiences, in the philosophical andideological frameworks that they use to do this and in the more obvious physical

characteristics of diversity. One rich and fulfilling expression of diversity at UKZN is thefact that we have over 2000 students and staff from over 80 different countries around the

world. This international community, mainly from the continent of Africa, enhances ourappreciation of cultural differences and contributes to the development of an atmosphere in which

there is a tolerance of differences.

The University community was therefore outraged at recent violent manifestations of xenophobia andintolerance that caused death and destruction, displacement and despair to fellow Africans in particular,but also to Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other foreign nationals living in South Africa. A forum convenedby Corporate Relations was aimed at giving the University community a better understanding of theunderlying reasons for the stereotyping and de-humanising treatment meted out to foreigners, butalso to assure international students and staff of our support and concern for their wellbeing.

International students and staff are an important and integral part of the University communitythat we value greatly and in order to expose the general community to the richness of other

cultures an International Day is being planned for 5th September 2008 to celebrate andcreate an awareness of the national symbols, food, music, dress, history and

geography of the countries from which we draw our staff and students. As aUniversity community, we have a responsibility to help erase an

unacceptable blot on our national conscience.

3

THE Chair of the South AfricanHuman Rights Commission, MrJody Kollapan delivered a thought-provoking lecture on ‘HumanRights, Ethics and Research’ at theEdgewood campus on 9 May.

Mr Kollapan began by exploringquestions around how researchcould sometimes violate humanrights. He said academic insti-tutions have a right and a responsi-bility to the communities theyserve. Ethics should stand as themoral compass that guides allresearchers. Researchers shouldconsider human rights, the right tohuman dignity, the right to privacy,and the right to belief in opinion,to name a few.

Some of the members of the audi-ence spoke out on inequitablestandards in research, where for

Human rights, ethics and researchHuman rights, ethics and researchHuman rights, ethics and researchHuman rights, ethics and researchHuman rights, ethics and research

From left: Dr Nyna Amin, Lecturer in the Faculty of Education; Mr JodyKollapen and Professor Renuka Vithal. Picture: Sejal Desai

THE School of Chemistry treatedlocal high school science learners andteachers to a ‘time of reaction andinteraction’ at their Chemistry Dayon the Pietermaritzburg campus.

Designed to showcase Chemistryand demonstrate that UKZN iscommitted to excellent teachingand research, the day consisted ofa full programme. It encompasseda tour of the facilities, a presen-tation by a former Chemistrygraduate, discussion on the newteaching curriculum and interactionwith postgraduate students.

Head of School, Professor AndyKindness, emphasised the recentcapital investment in Chemistry atUKZN – R70 million on infra-structural changes and R20 millionon state-of-the-art equipment. Hismessage to the learners was that “ifyou are going to study Chemistry,you may as well study at the bestequipped School of Chemistry onthe continent”.

Professor Orde Munro (back – second from left) with a group of the highschool learners and teachers in one of his research laboratories.

ChemistryChemistryChemistryChemistryChemistryreaches outreaches outreaches outreaches outreaches out

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example HIV research is conductedin poverty stricken areas, therebystereotyping the disease as a poorperson’s disease.

Many of the poor easily consent toparticipating in an academic re-search survey, but not always forthe right reasons. Many do it for a

Two years ago the futurelooked bleak for Ogagwini(Umbumbulu) resident,

Miss Minenhle Mkhize whomatriculated but had to depend onher mother for financial supportbecause of the lack of job oppor-tunities. With seven siblings tosupport the 24 year old had to earna living to assist her mother, MrsMariam Mkhize.

Thanks to a community projectinitiated by UKZN Crop Scientist,Professor Albert Modi, MissMkhize was introduced to organicfarming in April this year and nowhas the chance to develop a thrivingbusiness.

For the past two months MsMkhize, with the assistance of BScAgricultural and Economics stu-dents at UKZN, has been learning

Giving hopeGiving hopeGiving hopeGiving hopeGiving hope

(l-r) Professor Albert Modi, Ms Mariam Mkhize and her daughter MsMinenhle Mkhize.

the skills to grow indigenousvegetables like amadumbe, sweetpotatoes and a variety of pumpkins.The students, who belong to SIFE(Students in Free Enterprise),identified the Mkhize family asmost deserving of their help. Theyconstructed a shaded tunnel forMiss Mkhize, who also growsspinach and lettuce.

Student Miss Ntokozo Dumisasaid through this project they notonly want to put food on the table,but hope to empower residents touse resources they have at theirdisposal. “We are teaching themskills so that they can work theirland and earn a living out of it. Ourintention is to create a sustainablefarming project that will prosperover time. We want the knowledgethat the Mkhizes are learningabout to spread to other members

of the community,” said MissDumisa.

Funding from SANPAD (SouthAfrican-Netherlands ResearchProgramme on Alternatives toDevelopment) has made it possiblefor Professor Modi to pursue thisresearch project in the Umbumbuluarea which has become a hub ofagricultural growth in recentmonths.

Miss Mkhize said she was verygrateful for the help she receivedfrom Professor Modi and thestudents. “I enjoy organic farmingbecause it is easier to manage andI don’t need a lot of water becausethe plastic bags that I plant in lockin the water. With the tunnel I canplant a variety of crops and don’thave to worry about the chickensand rain destroying my crops,” shesaid.

Word of the tunnel has spread inOgagwini and the Mkhizes believethat this will result in more sales.In addition to farming skills SIFEstudents have also created aware-ness amongst the community ofmethods to market their crops.There have been a number ofsuccess stories, with some commu-nity members having new homes.Others have been able to purchasevehicles.

Professor Modi who is passionateabout assisting the community ofUmbumbulu said while he is attain-ing valuable research knowledgeon indigenous farming through thisproject his purpose was to help thecommunity flourish.

- Neesha Maharaj

standard service fee of on averageR150.

Mr Kollapan stressed that the poorshould be made aware of theirrights as participants, and that thereshould be a meaningful outcome ofthe research for the participants. Headded that researchers should bemore aware of the power that theycarry. “Often in research relation-ships there are power dimensionsthat exist, the researchers aregenerally middle-class and edu-cated while the researched are thepoor,” he said.

He also questioned the motivationbehind some of the research con-ducted. He questioned whether thevalue of some research is justifiedby its outcome. The purpose of aresearch grant should be to creategreater good in society. This

outcome is unfortunately notalways the sole intended goal forsome. Mr Kollapan said that inmany instances, internationaldonor funds for specified researchwas driving the agenda. He citedHIV research as an example ofthis.

“Universities have a duty to thepublic to be credible and producecredible, accurate, fair and non-discriminatory research. …everyacademic conducting researchshould be accountable for his or heractions, and that means taking theproper steps and carefully thinkingabout the consequences of everystep or phase of a research project,”he said.

- Sejal Desai

UKZN PhD Chemistry graduateand Analytical Flavourist, DrMartin Dovey captivated his audi-ence with a presentation on the‘Scientific Aspects of the FlavourIndustry’. Professor Orde Munroand Dr Ross Robinson provided thevisitors with a glimpse of themodern facilities and equipmenthoused on the Pietermaritzburgcampus. Both learners and teacherswere taken aback by the range ofsophisticated instrumentation aswell as the fact that the Schoolpermits their students to operateit.

Dr Joanne Perils, who was re-sponsible for the organisation of theChemistry Day, received nothingbut positive feedback from theparticipants. She said that ‘they leftwith new insight into not onlyChemistry, but Chemistry atUKZN’s Pietermaritzburg cam-pus”.

- Vicky Crookes

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Professor John CantiusMubangizi is the DeputyVice-Chancellor and Head

of the College of Law and Manage-ment Studies, a position he has nowheld for one year. Before assumingthis position, he was a senioracademic in the Faculty of Lawwhere he served as Deputy Dean(Howard College) for a period oftwo and a half years. He holds aBachelor of Laws (LLB), a Mastersin Public Law (LLM) and a Docto-rate in Law (LLD). He also pos-sesses a Diploma in Legal Practice,a Diploma in Education and severalprofessional certificates, includinga Certificate in InternationalHumanitarian Law, a Certificate inHuman Rights and a Certificate inLeadership Development.

Professor Mubangizi is the authorof a book entitled The Protectionof Human Rights in South Africa:A Legal and Practical Guide. Heis also the author of numerousjournal articles on human rights andconstitutional law. He has pre-sented papers at several nationaland international conferences.Professor Mubangizi is an NRF-rated researcher who has consis-tently featured among the top30 researchers of the University.In 2004 he received the Universityof KwaZulu-Natal DistinguishedContribution to Research Award.

Professor Mubangizi is a memberof the UKZN Council and Senate

and as Head of the College, heChairs the College of Law andManagement Studies AcademicAffairs Board, the College Ex-ecutive Committee and the CollegeQuality Committee.

Professor Renuka Vithal has beenappointed Deputy Vice-ChancellorTeaching and Learning.

A Full Professor of MathematicsEducation, she has most recentlyheld the position of Dean in theFaculty of Education. She obtaineda BA with distinction in Mathe-matics as a major from the formerUniversity of Durban-Westvilleand her BEd Honours cum laudefrom the former University ofNatal. She gained an MPhil inMathematical Education from theUniversity of Cambridge in the

New ExNew ExNew ExNew ExNew Executive Membersecutive Membersecutive Membersecutive Membersecutive Members

Professor PProfessor PProfessor PProfessor PProfessor Peter Danketer Danketer Danketer Danketer Dankelmannelmannelmannelmannelmanndelivers inaugural lecturedelivers inaugural lecturedelivers inaugural lecturedelivers inaugural lecturedelivers inaugural lectureDISCRETE Mathematics in theModern World was the title ofProfessor Peter Dankelmann’sInaugural Lecture at the SenateChamber on the Westville campuson 26 May.

Inaugural Lectures are a cele-bration of academic achievementsand a way of informing colleaguesand the public about the current andfuture research directions to whicha newly-appointed holder of anestablished Chair might aspire.

Professor Peter Dankelmann.

Live LinkLive LinkLive LinkLive LinkLive Link-up T-up T-up T-up T-up To Meo Meo Meo Meo MexicoxicoxicoxicoxicoAids ConferenceAids ConferenceAids ConferenceAids ConferenceAids ConferenceUKZN will have a satellite link tothe 17th International AIDS Con-ference in Mexico from August3-8. The Nelson R Mandela Schoolof Medicine has been chosen by theInternational Organising Com-mittee to be the only site outsideof Mexico to host the official Hub.

The theme of this year’s conferenceis “Universal Action Now”, encom-passing the main objective of thegathering which is to reach out tothe global community.

The Hub will be facilitated by theEnhancing Care Initiative inKwaZulu-Natal (ECI-KZN). ECI-KZN facilitates post-graduateteaching and research in HIV andwas granted the Global Fund grantof US$72-million for the Con-tinuum of Care for HIV and TB inKwaZulu- Natal.

The grant included funding to setup a telemedicine infrastructure forthe graduate programme for HIVtraining in KwaZulu-Natal which

Professor John Mubangizi. Professor Renuka Vithal.

United Kingdom and a DoctoralDegree of Natural Sciences fromAalborg University in Denmark –the first woman in the Faculty ofScience to be awarded this seniordoctorate at Aalborg University.

Professor Vithal is a prolific authorand has published extensively inpeer-reviewed journals andchapters in books. She is a well-known presenter at local, nationaland international conferences andis actively engaged in research inMathematics Education. She is theResearch Project Leader for theSouth African sector of the Inter-national Study on Learners’ Per-spectives in Mathematics Class-rooms.

She is a member of several editorialboards and has served as Chair of

Mr Hollie Clarkson.

the Southern African Associationfor Research in Mathematics,Science and Technology Educationand as Education Expert on theSouth African National Commis-sion for UNESCO.

Mr Hollie Clarkson has beenappointed the University’s ChiefFinance Officer He obtained aBachelor of Commerce degreefrom Rhodes University. He ob-tained two diplomas from theformer University of Natal – inTaxation and in Forensic Auditingand Criminal Justice which hepassed with distinction. He ob-tained his Chartered Accountantqualifications in Zimbabwe in 1979and in South Africa in 1988. He isa member of the South AfricanInstitute of Chartered Account-ants.

Mr Clarkson began his pro-fessional account ing careerwith Deloitte Haskins and Sellsas an articled clerk and rosethrough the ranks to AssociateDi rec to r o f De lo i t t e P imGoldby in the Umtata office inTranskei.

In 1992 he joined the University ofNatal as Deputy Finance Officerand Head of the PietermaritzburgFinance Office. He was subse-quently appointed senior DeputyFinance Officer based in Durbanwith University-wide responsi-bilities. In 2002 he was appointedUniversity Finance Officer andHead of the Finance Division. In2005 he was appointed Director ofFinance of the University ofKwaZulu-Natal and, in December2006, Acting Chief Finance Officer(CFO).

In 2007 Mr Clarkson was electedto serve on the Inaugural Steer-ing Committee of the Directorsof Finance in National HigherEducation and he is currently amember of the reconstitutedFinance Executive Forum thatcomprises the Finance Com-munity of Practice within HigherEducation South Africa. He wasthe recipient of the NationalPresident’s “Round Tabler of theYear” award in 1989 and is thePresident of the KingsmeadMynahs Cricket Club.

Professor Pete Zacharais, DeputyVice-Chancellor and Head of theCollege of Agriculture, Engin-eering and Science welcomedguests, University colleagues,students and members of the publicto the lecture.

Professor Dankelmann, of theSchool of Mathematics was intro-duced by Professor John Cooke,Dean of the Faculty of Science andAgriculture, who gave a brief over-view of Professor Dankelmann’sacademic history and achieve-ments.

Professor Dankelmann’s area ofresearch is Discrete Mathematics,a branch of mathematics thatstudies finite objects, and specifi-cally networks. In his lecture hespoke about the World Wide Web,one of the largest networks everstudied, and how mathematics isapplied in modern search engines,such as Google. He also investi-gated the theory of the ‘six degreesof separation’, which states that anytwo people on Earth are linked by

a chain of six friends, from amathematical perspective.

“Professor Dankelmann was bornand educated in Germany” saidProfessor Cooke, “he came to thisuniversity as a postdoctoral re-searcher to collaborate with Pro-fessor Henda Swart, one of our topresearchers. Although Peter says hedid not expect to stay in SA – it isto the University’s and SouthAfrica’s great benefit he did and isstill here.”

Through his excellence in teachingand research, ProfessorDankelmann has worked his wayup the ladder of success as anacademic over the past 12 years.He has achieved distinction andrecognition as a scholar in discretemathematics and combinatorics.He is a NRF (National ResearchFoundation) B-rated researcher andhas published 52 journal papersand made 41 conference presen-tations, among other achievements.

- Thembeka Nyaba

was accomplished by the Depart-ment of Telehealth and will be usedto broadcast this conference. Manyother Departments and ResearchCentres at the Medical School arecontributing to the success of theevent.

Professor Umesh Lalloo, Head ofECI-KZN said: “The InternationalAIDS Society, who convene theconference, and the Society forAIDS in Africa, have given UKZNthe unique opportunity to provideconference access to local com-munities, academics, researchers,policy-makers and students whocannot make the trip to Mexico.”

UKZN’s official Hub will allow thescreening of more than 30 sessions.All plenary sessions will be livewith one session being completelyinteractive, allowing the Durbanaudience the opportunity to interactwith presenters in Mexico througha Live-Time broadcast.

- MaryAnn Francis

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Graduation SpecialGraduation SpecialGraduation SpecialGraduation SpecialGraduation SpecialA celebration of academic eA celebration of academic eA celebration of academic eA celebration of academic eA celebration of academic exxxxxcellencecellencecellencecellencecellence

UKZN conferred 7 641 degrees at 21 graduation ceremonies on the Pietermaritzburg and Westville campuses from 14-24 April. One hundred and seventy seven graduandsreceived their degrees summa cum laude and there were 216 cum laude graduands. One hundred and two doctorates were conferred and there were 55 disabled graduands. The

African Centre for Food Security (ACFS) on the Pietermaritzburg campus awarded its first two doctoral degrees. Women constituted 59 percent of the total number of graduates.

ALMOST 28 percent of our gradu-ands are from the Faculty ofManagement Studies. This is note-worthy when one considers thatgrowing the economy, and localeconomic development, arenational and regional priorities.Around 23 percent of the gradu-ands are from the Faculty ofHumanities, Development andSocial Sciences; young men andwomen who are poised to make acontribution to welfare, adminis-tration, the fine arts and a wholerange of other economic sectors.

This is followed by Education with17.3 percent, Science and Agr-iculture 13.5 percent, HealthSciences five percent, Law 4.1percent, Engineering 4.8 percentand the Medical School 3.9 percent.

The graduation ceremonies were acolourful, indigenous celebrationof academic excellence. In keepingwith its vision to be The PremierUniversity of African Scholarship,UKZN’s new academic dress is anexciting fusion of colours, designsand beadwork that reflects the

University’s roots in our continentand our province.

The UKZN anthem IHELE per-formed in isiZulu, was written especi-ally for the University by PhelelaniMnomiya from UKZN’s School ofMusic, with a view to celebratingthe University’s intellectual pursuitswhich impact on communities.

This year’s graduation ceremonieswere also significant because it wasthe first time that UKZN conferredHonorary Degrees on individuals

who have made a unique andremarkable contribution in theirrespective fields and in the widercommunity.

Distinguished Teachers’ Awardswere presented to six academicmembers of staff in recognition oftheir contribution to the teachingand learning process at UKZN.

Vice-Chancellor, ProfessorMalegapuru Makgoba, congratu-lated the graduands: “A gradu-ation ceremony is a rite of passage.

It marks the successful conclusionof years of hard work by studentsand of supervision by staff. Thisinteraction of staff and studentsworking towards a common goalcharacterises much of what auniversity is about and whensuccess is achieved, both aredeserving of congratulations.” Healso paid tribute to parents, whomade tremendous sacrifices to sendtheir children to university.

- Neesha Maharaj and InduMoodley

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Honorary DegreesHonorary DegreesHonorary DegreesHonorary DegreesHonorary Degrees

Doctor of Law conferred onProfessor Kader Asmal –Tuesday, 22 April

During his term of office asMinister of Education ProfessorKader Asmal contributed a largeand important legacy in the formof transforming the educationsystem both with respect to school-ing and Higher Education. His isan outstanding intellectual whodrove the implementation of majorand substantial school curriculumreforms that represented a radicalbreak from apartheid education. Hecan also be credited for an immense

The University conferred six honorary degrees on distinguished individuals who have made a significant contribution to society at the graduation ceremonies. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba said: “They are outstanding and special people in their contributions to their respective fields and society or public life in general.The University is not only honoured but privileged to be associated with these very unique individuals.” The following honorary degrees were conferred:

The late David Rattray.

The late Sri Swami Sahajananda.Professor Kader Asmal.

contribution to CODESA, the Billof Rights and the Constitution ofSouth Africa.

Doctor of Social Science con-ferred on Professor LenaDominelli – Monday, 21 April

Professor Dominelli is regarded asone of the most critical thinkers inthe field of social work and socialdevelopment. With a backgroundin Sociology, she has an out-standing record in the fight forhuman rights and the pursuit ofsocial justice. She is highly soughtafter in the international arena forher contribution to curriculumdevelopment in the area of anti-oppressive practices and socialdevelopment. Professor Dominellihas single handedly done a great

Professor Lena Dominelli.

deal to transform the InternationalAssociation of Schools of SocialWork to be representative ofwomen and ethnic minoritygroups.

Doctor of Theology conferredon Father Michael Lapsley –Saturday, 19 April

Father Lapsley is a well knowntheologian and human rightsactivist. He joined the ANC in exilein 1976 and was a victim of a parcelbomb attack, three months afterNelson Mandela’s release fromprison in 1990, in which he lostboth hands and an eye. On return-ing to the country in the spirit ofubuntu he established the Institutefor the Healing of Memories inCape Town. He served as a chap-lain to the Trauma Centre forVictims of Violence and Torture inCape Town, chaired the Board of

Father Michael Lapsley.

the Agency for Refugee Education,Skills Training and Advocacy andwas on the shortlist of 25 namesfrom which the Truth Commissionwas selected by the President.

Doctor of Science conferredon Mrs Elsa Pooley – Thurs-day, 17 April

Mrs Pooley is a self taught, practi-cal botanist who has made a tre-mendous contribution to con-servation in our province andcountry by bringing sound environ-mental science to a wide audience.She was voted the KZN Wildlifeand Environment Society’s 1996‘Conservationist of the Year’ andmore recently was awarded theprestigious Marloth Medal fromthe Botanical Society of SouthAfrica. In addition she is a skilledbotanical artist whose work has

Mrs Elsa Pooley.

been published and widely exhi-bited. Her knowledge and versa-tility bridge the divide between thepopular and the academic.

Doctor of Social Science con-ferred posthumously on MrDavid Rattray – Tuesday, 15April

World renowned historian DavidRattray was a champion of SouthAfrican history, rural development,tourism and conservation. Hepopularised the history of theAnglo-Zulu conflict in the contextof reconciliation in our post-apartheid democracy. As a national

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and international ambassador hepresented this message to SouthAfrica and the world. He was atrustee of World Wildlife Fund –South Africa (WWF) and a patronof the British-based WildernessTrust.

Doctor of Theology conferredposthumously on Sri SwamiSahajananda – Friday, 18April

Sri Swami Sahajananda was theHead of the Divine Life Societyand an educationist and a humani-tarian. He led over 300 develop-ment projets including building200 schools for the disadvantaged.His noteworthy contributionsinclude the establishment of theSivananda Technikon in KwaMashu, the first learning institutionfunded and built by the Divine LifeSociety. He forged unity between

various population groups inKwaZulu-Natal by assisting inprojects such as building schools,cultural halls and tunnel farming.He was honoured by the Premierof KwaZulu-Natal, Mr S’buNdebele, for his excellent work inhelping the poor in the fields ofeducation, housing and healthcare.

- Xoliswa Zulu

The Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Mr Tito Mboweni, (first left) attended one of the College of Lawand Management Studies’graduation ceremonies.

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UKZN Academics from the Faculty of Management Studies with the Class of 2007.

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Each year the Universitypresents four DistinguishedTeachers Awards during the

graduation ceremonies. TheAwards recognise excellence incurriculum or module developmentand design; teaching strategies ormethods; assessment of studentlearning; and educational mediaand learning materials.

This year’s Awards were presentedto:

* A group from the School ofNursing, Professor Busi Bhengu,the Head of the School of Nursing,Senior Lencturer in General Nur-sing and HIV and AIDS, Dr BusiNcama, and Dr Petra Brysiwicz,a Senior Lecturer in Trauma andCritical Care Nursing

Professor Bhengu and DrsNcama and Brysiewicz arespecialists in teaching medical-surgical nursing, critical care,oncology, HIV and trauma. Theyare committed to innovative teach-ing methods that encourage studentparticipation.

Dean of the Faculty of HealthSciences, Professor Sabiha Essacksaid: “All three awardees epitomisethe qualities and credentials ofUniversity academics, boastingexcellent research profiles andcommunity engagement in additionto their exceptional commitmentand dedication to teaching and

learning. They are outstanding rolemodels.”

* Dr Pat Caldwell, Senior Lec-turer in the School of Biochemistry,Genetics, Microbiology and PlantPathology

Active learning is at the core of DrCaldwell’s teaching philosophy.Her participatory approach in-cludes community engagementwhere her students and herself as ateam are directly involved withsolving real life problems; forexample helping rural communitiesto grow organic vegetables incommunity and home gardens.

“It was a great honour for me toreceive a Distinguished Teacher’sAward … This acknowledgment …is a wonderful reward for dedi-cation and devotion of time, energyand creativity to my teachingduties. I would like to encourageother staff members to submitteaching portfolios for this awardto maintain high standards anddedication to teaching at UKZN,”she said.

* Professor Jennifer Lamb, De-puty Head of the School of Bio-logical and Conservation Sciences

Professor Lamb said that she tries“to avoid the type of teaching thatinvolves rote learning, and todevise ways of breaking topicsdown so as to require students to

Distinguished TDistinguished TDistinguished TDistinguished TDistinguished Teacherseacherseacherseacherseachers

actively engage with the material,and to use a variety of thinkingskills. I also supervise a relativelylarge number of postgraduatestudents. I try to approach this in aholistic and supportive way, and toprovide training in all aspects, fromlaboratory and analysis techniques,to familiarity with the literature,step-by-step thesis planning andcomputer skills.” She adds that“there are many good teachers inour School, who are passionateabout teaching. We work hard andput a lot of energy into planning ourcurriculum.”

* Associate Professor in Psycho-linguistics at the School of Langu-ages, Literature and LinguisticsProfessor Heike Tappe

Receiving the Award was an“amazing” experience for Pro-fessor Tappe. She said that “Overand above teaching knowledge andskills, I am of the conviction thatthe greatest gift we as teachers canmake our students is to instill inthem a joy of thinking. If wesucceed to show them that there isa wealth of knowledge at theirfingertips and that to explore this

knowledge is rewarding and fun,then we have truly accomplishedour principal objective.”

Professor Tappe describes thediversity of students she teaches asone of the most fascinating aspectsof her work. In her teaching, sheemphasises the value of bi-andmultilingual language acquisitionand the value of linguistic diversity.

- MaryAnn Francis, NeeshaMaharj and Thembeka Nyaba

Dr Petra Brysiewicz, Dr Busisiwe Ncama and Professor Busisiwe Bhengu.

Professor Jennifer Lamb. Professor Heike Tappe.Dr Pat Caldwell.

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Law and Management StudiesLaw and Management StudiesLaw and Management StudiesLaw and Management StudiesLaw and Management Studies

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The Faculty of Law Students’ Awards Ceremony preceded the Graduation Ceremony on 15 April. Ms RonelleMahabeer received the Butterworths Prize for being the best final year part-time LLB student in 2007.Congratulating her are Subendri Naidoo, Butterworths; and Professor Michael Cowling, Dean of Law.

Ms Kineta Naidoo graduated with her BCom Accounting on 15 April. Hermother, Mrs Poonitha Naidoo completed her Masters in Medical Law andgraduated on 22 April.

Professor Kanti Bhowan with top model and TV personality, Ms Nicole Ogle, who graduated with a BCom degree.Ms Gizelle Boyce’s LLB was awarded summa cum laude.

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A champion forA champion forA champion forA champion forA champion forthe Blindthe Blindthe Blindthe Blindthe Blind

“MY disability is my advan-tage,”says Ms Nyalleng Potloane(26) a blind student who receivedher Bachelor of Social Sciencedegree.

Ms Potloane sees her blindness asa stepping stone that ensured hersuccess at university. She said shewas challenged to work harder andfaster to keep up with the class.

“All my text notes had to be trans-ferred to JAWS (an electronicsystem for reading text) for editingand then read back to me. I lost alot of time because of this,” she said.

She hopes her achievement willinspire many other disabled stu-dents to achieve their dreams. Sheadded that with modern technologythere is no excuse, “I have accessto everything because there istechnology available to assist me.We can do everything they (ablebodied people) can do.”

Ms Potloane said she was happy tohave studied at a university that had

Ms Nyalleng Potloane.

Coinciding with its gradu-ation ceremony in Pieter-maritzburg, the Faculty of

Science and Agriculture paidtribute to its top students in anAwards Ceremony on 14 April.

Thirty-five awards sponsored bycorporate and individual sponsorswere presented to students in theSchools of Agricultural Sciencesand Agribusiness; Biochemistry,Genetics, Microbiology and PlantPathology; Bioresources Engin-eering and Environmental Hydro-logy; Biological and ConservationSciences; Mathematical Sciences

Awards for top studentsAwards for top studentsAwards for top studentsAwards for top studentsAwards for top studentsand Statistics and ActuarialScience.

In his welcome address, Dean ofthe Faculty of Science andAgriculture, Professor John Cookesaid, “the national importance ofthe continued work of our Facultyin human resource development inScience and Agriculture cannot beunderestimated.”

Surprise visitor at the awardsceremony was Professor RichardMkandawire, guest speaker at theFaculty’s evening graduationceremony. Professor Mkandawire,

(l-r) Professor Richard Mkandawire, Ms Lindsay Everson, Professor Sheryl Hendriks, and Professor John Cooke.

the New Partnership for Africa’sDevelopment (NEPAD) advisor onagriculture and principal of theComprehensive Africa AgricultureDevelopment Programme, pre-sented the Agriculture andDietetics Dux award to Ms LindsayEverson.

The Faculty of Science and Agri-culture graduated more than 1 000students at its 2008 graduationceremonies. More than 40 percentof these received Honours, Mastersand Doctoral qualifications.

- Vicky Crookes

a support system in place fordisabled students. “When I was atschool it was not that easy, as adisabled pupil I felt that I cameafter everyone else and even whenthey gave me an award it felt asthough they were giving it to mebecause of my disability,” shesaid.

Her dream is to host a TV showwhere she could put women withdisabilities on the agenda: “I wantto show the world that women withdisabilities can achieve all. I am myown stylist, I dress myself up, putmy make up on my own. I don’twait for others to give me a hand”.

She also wants to educate com-munities about the worth of thedisabled.

Ms Potloane, who hails fromFicksburg in the Free State, is nowworking towards an Honoursdegree in Gender Studies.

- Sejal Desai

Nelson R Mandela SchoolNelson R Mandela SchoolNelson R Mandela SchoolNelson R Mandela SchoolNelson R Mandela Schoolof Medicineof Medicineof Medicineof Medicineof MedicinePROFESSOR Willem Sturm, Deanof the Nelson R Mandela Schoolof Medicine welcomed graduates,parents and guests to the graduationceremony on 18 April. He paidtribute to graduates who, throughsacrifice, hard work and dedicationare now “Doctors with a Licenseto Cure.”

This year the Medical Schoolproduced four PhD graduates. DrClaus Hallwirth wrote a disser-tation on “Incidence of HIV infec-tion in rural KwaZulu-Natal”.

Dr Eleanor Gouws developedcomplex mathematical models tobetter understand the scientific

basis of the growth of the HIVepidemic in South Africa.

Corticosteroids are key drugs in thetreatment of asthma. Dr ElvisegranIrusen investigated the potentialmechanisms of resistance to theaction of corticosteroids usingstate-of-the-art molecular bio-logical techniques.

Dr Shamala Moodley’s uniquestudy provides new and novel dataon the implication of HLA-G inMother to Child Transmission ofHIV.

Dr Tumelo Moyaba, final yearclass representative in 2007 of theNelson R Mandela School ofMedicine is now serving an inter-nship in Port Shepstone Hospital.His message to the final year classwas, “The challenge is upon us tocreate the new generation con-sultant – a leader that looks beyondpigment and creed and understandsand respects everybody’s role inacademic training.”

- MaryAnn FrancisDr Tumelo Moyaba.

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Bumper harvestBumper harvestBumper harvestBumper harvestBumper harvestfor Afor Afor Afor Afor ACFSCFSCFSCFSCFSTHE African Centre for Food Security (ACFS), based in the School ofAgricultural Sciences and Agribusiness on UKZN’s Pietermaritzburgcampus celebrated the graduation of its first PhD students – a first forUKZN and for the world.

The ACFS is the only facility in the world to offer accredited post-graduatequalifications in food security. It contributes to building and sustainingthe critical mass of African expertise required to alleviate hunger on theAfrican continent. The Centre was appointed by NEPAD as the leadagency in the food security activities of the Comprehensive AfricanAgricultural Development Programme. In 2007 it won a competitive bidfor formal recognition as the SADC Regional Centre of Excellence inVulnerability Assessment and Analysis.

Eight UKZN students graduated with postgraduate qualifications in foodsecurity at the Faculty of Science and Agriculture’s graduation ceremonyon 14 April at the Royal Agricultural Show Grounds in Pietermaritzburg.Mr Samuel Chingondole and Ms Joyce Chitja had PhD degrees conferredon them while the other students received Masters Degrees andPostgraduate Diplomas.

Head of the ACFS, Professor Sheryl Hendriks said that the ACFS graduates,together with those from UKZN’s African Centre for Crop Improvement,represent a real boost “in terms of addressing the looming food crisis”.

- Vicky Crookes

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The College of Health Sciences graduated 497 Health Science Professionals in various Disciplines. In addition, there were nine PhDs, 42 Masters Degrees, and 52 HonoursDegrees. The College produced 43 cum laude passes and 12 summa cum laude passes.Three lecturers from the School of Nursing received a joint Distinguished Teachers’ Award.Professor Sabiha Essack, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences congratulated the Faculty’s five PhD graduates, three from the School of Nursing and two from the School of

Medical Sciences.

Health Sciences starsHealth Sciences starsHealth Sciences starsHealth Sciences starsHealth Sciences stars

Dr Gugu Mchunu explored the extent to which South Africanworkplaces promote health and how health promotion can beincorporated into workplace health services.

Dr Eleanor Msidi’s study on the impact of nurse migration inZambia will inform policy on managing nurse migration notonly in Zambia but in the other sub-Saharan countries.

Dr Joan Shepherd proposed a model for adolescent-friendlysexual reproductive health programmes after undertaking aninsightful analysis of the content and context of adolescentreproductive health programmes in Ghana and South Africa.

Husband and wife, Mr Ismail and Mrs Samirah Bayatgraduated together with a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. MrBallim attained a cum laude pass.

Dr Davie Kamadyaapa investigated the effects of medicinalplant extracts on cardiovascular functions.

Dr Mavuto Gondwe investigated the effects of medicinal plantextracts on blood glucose, renal function and blood pressurein diabetic rats.

Summa cum laudeSumma cum laudeSumma cum laudeSumma cum laudeSumma cum laude for for for for forScience studentScience studentScience studentScience studentScience student

WWWWWelcome to newelcome to newelcome to newelcome to newelcome to newalumnialumnialumnialumnialumniTHE Alumni Affairs Office had avery busy March preparing for theApril 2008 graduations. One ofthe biggest tasks was thesecuring,printing and collating of materialsfor the nearly 7 650 GraduationPackages which were distributedto the graduates at the 21 gradu-ations. These Packs contained ajoint congratulatory letter fromAndré Young (President and Chairof Convocation) and FinnChristensen (Alumni AffairsManager), information on Entre-preneurship and Project Manage-ment Workshops specificallyorganised for these graduates, aConvocation Membership Form,a Change of Address Form and acopy of the alumnus publication,UKZNTOUCH.

The Alumni Affairs Office alsoliaised with all members of theConvocation Executive Com-mittee in order to secure and co-ordinate the Robing Officers foreach graduation. All graduates arerobed by a member of the Con-vocation Executive – a symbolicgesture that they are now part ofthe larger fraternity of UKZNgraduates.

A childhood interest in naturestarted it all for Mr Peter Wragg(26) who has now graduatedsumma cum laude with BScHonours in Biological Sciences.

Mr Wragg said while he may havegraduated summa cum laude, it’snot the title that mattered, but thejourney that got him there. He said:“It’s nice to graduate summa cumlaude, but the label doesn’t meanmuch to me – It’s the journey toget to this point and the prospects

that my degree has opened up.That’s rewarding.”

Mr Wragg chose to study Biologybecause he had been interested inplants, birds and other animals sincethe age of five. This interest wasenhanced when his family homemoved near to extensive grasslands.

He added that he chose to study atUKZN because of the University’senormous expertise in KZN’sgrasslands.

He has also been working as avisiting researcher in the laboratoryof Professor Steve Johnson inPietermaritzburg since he com-pleted his degree. He is extendinghis Honours project work and hasother projects in the pipeline.

“I plan to do a PhD in grasslandecology. I have been offered placesby several PhD programmes inecology and evolution in the UnitedStates which I visited in February.I am also exploring some greatopportunities here at UKZN,” hesaid.

He added that he was grateful toUKZN, especially the staff andstudents of the School of Biologicaland Conservation Sciences inPietermaritzburg and in particularProfessor Mike Lawes and Pro-fessor Steve Johnson, for a greatundergraduate and Honours edu-cation which has prepared him wellfor further study.

- Xoliswa ZuluPict

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Mr Peter Wragg.

After each series of graduations theinformation on each graduate issecured by the Alumni AffairsOffice and imported onto theAlumni Database. This Databasecurrently has information on nearly138 000 alumni – including anumber of such well known peopleas: Alec Erwin, Alan Paton, JontyRhodes, Ina Cronje, MamphelaRamphele, Ela Gandhi, FatimaMeer, Pravin Gordhan, AlbertinaLuthuli, John van de Ruit, VirendhSomers, Ayanda Ntsaluba, ShamilaBatohi and Stephen Saad. Addi-tional information received fromthe 2008 graduates – via the Con-vocation Membership and Changeof Address Forms – will be updatedon the system by the two full-timeAlumni Database Officers – EsméEstrice and Desiree Govender.

This information will assist theAlumni Affairs Office to maintainlife-long contact with these gradu-ates via the alumnus publication,the email newsletter and throughinvitations to events which arehosted both within South Africaand abroad.

- Finn Christensen

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NINE years ago Mr MjabuNgidi was performing domesticchores at a guest house inEmpangeni while completinghis high school education. To-day he is busy with his Doctor-ate in Food Security at UKZN’sPietermaritzburg campus.

Raised in a rural area inHluhluwe on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, Mr Ngidi wasone of seven students whorecently graduated with a Mas-ters degree from the AfricanCentre for Food Security(ACFS).

He attributes his academicsuccess to three women: MrsBalinganisile Ngidi, his mother,who although uneducated, wassupportive and allowed him tocontinue studying; Ms AmandaBreedt, his former employerwho recognised his potentialand encouraged him to apply touniversity; and his supervisor,Professor Sheryl Hendriks whoprovided him with the moti-vation and assistance to per-severe with his studies.

In 2000 Mr Ngidi started hisacademic career as a student inthe Science Foundation Pro-gramme (SFP) on the Pieter-maritzburg campus. Universitywas not an easy transition.Language proved a major stum-bling block and he had to forgohis dream of studying medicinebecause he lacked the necessaryentry requirements. Money wasscarce and he was obliged tofind ways of providing hisfamily back home with somefinancial support.

Making a differenceMaking a differenceMaking a differenceMaking a differenceMaking a difference

Professor Sheryl Hendriks congratulates Mr Mjabu Ngidi on attaining hisMasters Degree in Food Security

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I n 1997, Ms Nelisiwe Mvuna was 24 years old and had just given birth to her third child

on her family farm in Mapepetheni,KwaZulu-Natal. Nelly, as she isaffectionately known, had droppedout of school in Standard 7.

She heard Nelson Mandela on theradio encouraging African womento go back to school and educatethemselves. She was so inspired byhis talk that in 2000, when her sonwas three years old, she left herchildren in the capable and lovingcare of their grandmother to goback to school. She matriculatedfrom Khamangwa High School in2003.

After receiving her Senior Certi-ficate she enrolled at UKZN for a

Nelisiwe Mvuna.

BSc degree, majoring in Statistics.She completed her degree in theminimum period of three years.Towards the end of 2007, Eskomvisited the School of Statistics andActuarial Science and were soimpressed by Nelly’s remarkablestory that they offered her a fullscholarship for Honours inStatistics and hired her on the spot!Eskom is sponsoring her 2008tuition fees and she will join theirworkforce in 2009.

“We in the School of Statistics andActuarial Science are very proudof Ms Mvuna for finding thecourage and spirit to uplift herselfto where she is today,” said Pro-fessor Delia North.

- Delia North

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StatisticsStatisticsStatisticsStatisticsStatisticsStarStarStarStarStar

Despite the difficulties, MrNgidi’s determination and in-genuity stood him in good steadand he succeeded in risingabove the challenges. In aneffort to improve his communi-cation skills, he served as ahouse committee member at hisuniversity residence and lateradvanced to become a residenceassistant and residence lifeofficer. He also joined an activeZulu dancing group on campusthat involved interaction with awide variety of people.

He changed his mindset aboutstudying medicine and on com-pletion of the SFP he enrolledfor a Bachelor of Science degreemajoring in Biochemistry andMicrobiology. His interest infood security was piqued whena friend highlighted the direneed for skilled people in thisarea. Determined to add valueto the country, Mr Ngidi com-pleted a Postgraduate Diplomain Food Security followed by aMasters Degree in which hefocused on the impact of crop

production on household foodsecurity.

At the beginning of the year MrNgidi attained a LEAP Positionin the School of AgriculturalSciences and Agribusiness andlectures food science to first andsecond year students. He is alsoregistered as a full time PhDstudent and continues his extramural activities by teachingZulu dancing, co-ordinatingorientation activities and work-ing as a residence life officer.

Motivated by a “need to go outthere and make a difference”and to translate his skills topeople at street level, Mr Ngidihas not forgotten his roots.During the university holidayshe makes regular visits to hishome town, encouraging highschool learners in his commu-nity to view university as aviable option and not one thatis reserved for the elite.

- Vicky Crookes

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KVVADUKUZA couple Sibusiso and Thembisile Mthembu at their graduation ceremony with their eldest daughterand fellow student, Silondiwe (centre).

A family affairA family affairA family affairA family affairA family affairFriday 18 April marked a very

special day in the Mthembuhousehold.

Mr Sibusiso and Mrs ThembisileMthembu have known each sincechildhood. They went to school to-gether, married, and now, 35 yearsand four children later have gradu-ated together with their MastersDegrees in Education.

Mr Mtehmbu’s research focused onthe causes of a poor performancein Euclidean geometry especiallyin grade eleven classes. He investi-gated educator techniques inMaphumulo.

Mrs Mthembu’s research topic was‘Gendered perceptions of womenin management positions in Prim-ary School in the KwaDukuzaregion.’

The couple said their toughestmoments were when they could notspend enough time with theirchildren. “As a mother I felt guiltynot being able to give my kids muchsupport with their studies. But Ialways promised them that it wouldpay off once we had our qualifi-cations,” said Mrs Mthembu.

“At times, the studying was verystrenuous …we used to have long

sleepless nights and our familythought we were ignoring them,”said Mr Mthembu. They supportedeach other throughout, and alsoreceived firm support from theirchildren: Silondiwe, who is a thirdyear Psychology student at UKZN,Nonhlanhla, who is studying for aBachelor of Science at the Uni-versity of the Witswatersrand,Siphiwe, who is in Grade 12, andNala in Grade 1.

- Thembeka Nyaba

(Additional reporting from TheMercury, 28/4/08)

Age no barrierAge no barrierAge no barrierAge no barrierAge no barrier“AGE is not a criterion for me.”

UKZN’s oldest graduate this year, Mr Kista Applesamy Naidoo (73) beamed with pride as he prepared himselfto graduate with a Masters in Linguistics, Telegu. He is the first and only student to graduate with such aqualification in South Africa.

He believes that his achievement will make a great contribution to the study of social linguistics nationally andinternationally. Mr Naidoo spent three years compiling his thesis – ‘An investigation into the factors exertinga subtractive influence on Telegu and its culture’.

A retired Principal, Naidoo lives in Umhlatuzana. He is an educator who continues to impart knowledge to themembers of his community. He has been honoured for his previous research and for keeping Andhra culturealive, by the Andhra Maha Sabha of South Africa (AMSSA), an organisation that represents the Andhracommunity of SA. He is currently the Vice-President of this organisation.

Mr Naidoo is now aiming for his PhD. He said, the Indian Consulate in South Africa was impressed with hisachievement and were looking into the possibility of providing financial support for him to complete a PhD ata University in India.

Professor Rambhajun Sitaram, a Senior Research Associate in the school of Language, Literature and Linguistics was one of the supervisors of Mr Naidoo’s thesis. He said that Teleguwas the only Indian language in which a student was graduating this year. “UKZN was the first university in the history of South Africa to offer an Indian language and Telegu as a subjectin 1949,” said Professor Sitaram.

“I am very proud of Mr Naidoo’s achievement. He did a lot, without constant supervision and produced a credible piece of work. In the spirit of scholarship he wanted to promote thislanguage and he has accomplished just that,” said Professor Sitaram.

- Sejal Desai

Mr Kista Applesamy Naidoo graduated with a Masters in Linguistics, Telegu.

OvercomingOvercomingOvercomingOvercomingOvercomingobstaclesobstaclesobstaclesobstaclesobstaclesBEING born with a hearing impair-ment did not stop Honours studentMiss Kashveera Chanderjith frompursuing her goals. Ms Chanderjithreceived her BCom in Accountingat a graduation ceremony on 23April.

Miss Chanderjith, who lip reads,said when she started universityfour years ago she faced a numberof difficulties: “Sitting in a class of800 students was a challenge.When the lecturer’s back wasturned to me I couldn’t hear whatwas said.” Although she did notencounter any discrimination,fellow students were “shocked” tofind a deaf student in their class.With the help of a group of friends,who help out with notes, and verysupportive parents, she overcamethe obstacles.

Miss Chanderjith is looking for-ward to serving her articles atDeloitte and Touche next year. Shecompleted her degree on a bursaryprovided by the company.

“For a long time I have been drivento become a chartered accountant.I have a passion for accountingand a flair for numbers. Being aCA is a demanding yet rewardingcareer.” One of her goals is tomotivate other deaf people to entertertiary institutions. She hasstarted giving motivational talks tothe deaf.

When she’s not busy studying MissChanderjith loves to read, writepoetry, watch Bollywood moviesand listen to music.

Her parents Ousha and RonnieChanderjith said: “We are proud ofher achievements. We felt in ourhearts she will do well. As parentswe offered her all the support wepossibly could. She’s passionateabout any task she takes on andoften inspires us.”

- Neesha Maharaj

Miss Kashveera Chanderjith.

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Miss Nellie Ndlovusurvived a viciousattack five years ago

that resulted in her losing her legsand an arm.

On 19 April, she received herBachelor of Social Science inPsychology.

“My disability motivated andchallenged me to be more drivenand focused” she said. Miss

“THE people that I have met here have been some of the most specialand dear to me and I cannot imagine life without them.” Those arethe words of Ms Kiara Worth, who studied towards a Bachelor ofAgriculture Honours Degree and graduated summa cum laude.

Miss Worth chose to study towards a B Agriculture Honours Degreebecause she has always been interested in rural development. She isalso a delegate for the UN Commission on Sustainable Developmenttaking place in New York in May.

She said: “Agriculture is the fundamental basis of community and ifwe strive to make this an effective component of our society, then weare on the right track to building a better society.”

The 25-year-old has also been working with Mpophomeni youth in interactive theatre as part of herdegree, of which she is specialising in Rural Resource Management and Theatre for Development.

She said: “I believe that we need to go back to a spiritual nature that is inherent within us and this canbe done through the use of the creative arts. I believe that the arts have a tremendous effect on our souland it is a means of communication that is not bound by culture, creed, language or past experiences.The time has come to open our minds to new ways of thinking and of being and I want to be a part ofthis new world, rather than of the dying world of the past.”

Miss Worth is currently studying towards her Masters and is working for Zitholele Consulting, aconsultancy that offers environmental engineering and communication solutions.

She added that because of the support her family and friends have given her, she has had amazingexperiences and opportunities in life.

“I have enjoyed the experience of being at University, be it good or bad, and I feel that all of this hascontributed to the person that I am today and will continue to do so for the rest of my life.”

- Vicky Crookes

MS Sarah Pudifin received her LLB summa cum laude on 22 April. Sheis currently clerking for Justice Albie Sachs at the Constitutional Courtin Johannesburg and finds the job exciting and demanding.

Ms Pudifin has been awarded the Emma Smith Overseas Scholarshipand has recently been accepted to do her Masters Degree at Cambridgein the UK.

At a recent Faculty Students’ Awards Ceremony, she was awarded theAbel Torf prize, the Natal Law Society prize and she is the recipient ofthe Prestige Scholarship for being the top law graduate at UKZN for2007. Last year, she competed on the South African team in theCommonwealth Moot Competition in Nairobi.

She believes that studying law is a springboard to many opportunities.“From the worlds of academia to commercial work to politics tojournalism and litigation, lawyers are everywhere”, said Ms Pudifin.

Amog her many talents, she has represented South Africa as a leader ofthe SA National Youth Orchestra for the past four years.

- Hazel Langa

A role modelA role modelA role modelA role modelA role modelNdlovu has excelled academi-cally throughout her universitycareer, while also playing aleadership role in a number ofstudent societies.

She was Community ServiceDirector of the Golden Key Inter-national Honour Society at theHoward College campus in 2007and the Deputy Chairperson ofDASAG (Differentially Able Stu-dents Action Group) in 2006.

“The greatest challenge … waswalking to lectures. I struggled towalk up steep areas and stairs. Irelied a lot on my friends and thepeople that I lived with. Over theyears I became stronger and I learnthow to do things on my own”, shesaid.

She hopes her degree will “opendoors for me.”

- Thembeka Nyaba

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Miss Nellie Ndlovu with her parents at her graduation.

Off toOff toOff toOff toOff toCambridgeCambridgeCambridgeCambridgeCambridge

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Ms Sarah Pudifin.

Inspired by AgricultureInspired by AgricultureInspired by AgricultureInspired by AgricultureInspired by Agriculture

Ms Kiara Worth.

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Dr Ghamiet Aysen was awarded a doctoral degree in Business Manage-ment – his thesis focused on motivating staff in the Public Service. Hisson, Mr Zaid Aysen, graduated the night before his father with a BComdegree.

- Hazel Langa

Father and son graduateFather and son graduateFather and son graduateFather and son graduateFather and son graduate

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UKZN achievers

A Time of Memory – Reflectionson Recent South African Writingby Senior Research Associate inthe School of Education Dr BettyGovinden was launched at theSuncoast Casino on 5 May.

The book is a collection of criticalessays on Durban writers AzizHassim, Imraan Coovadia, andSita Gandhi. Other essays are onZuleikha Mayat’s A TreasureTrove of Memory– A Reflection onthe Experiences of the People ofPotchefstroom, and Darryl Accone’sAll Under Heaven – The Story ofa Chinese Family in South Africa.

Welcoming guests, the Dean of theFaculty of Education ProfessorRenuka Vithal said that DrGovinden is a role model forwomen: “Betty has reallyweathered many of the challengesthat academia has foisted onwomen… She always makes theinvisible visible.”

Mr Satish Dhupelia, son of SitaGandhi, and great-grandson ofMahatma Gandhi, expressed hisappreciation for the way the essayon his mother’s Memoir wasthoughtfully developed.

In her speech, Dr Govinden high-lighted the need for opportunitiesand material resources to be made

Dr Govinden with her new book.

Mr Mark Horan from thePietermaritzburg cam-pus was recognised as

one of “SA’s top performers inScience, Engineering, Technologyand Innovation”. He was theworthy recipient of the NationalScience and Technology Forum(NSTF) Category K award:‘Science Communicator awardover the last 5 years’. Minister ofScience and Technology, MrMosibudi Mangena presented MrHoran with the award at the 10th

NSTF Awards gala dinner held atthe Emperors Palace in Gauteng on27 May.

The NSTF awards, which compriseten separate categories, recogniseand acknowledge the wide range ofcontributions by South Africanindividuals or groups of individualsto Science, Engineering, Techno-logy and Innovation. The Scienceand Technology Communicator’saward “is intended to recognise acommunicator who has made anoutstanding contribution to Science

Science Communicator AwardScience Communicator AwardScience Communicator AwardScience Communicator AwardScience Communicator Award

(left - right) Pictured at the National Science and Technology Forum Awards ceremony: Minister of Science andTechnology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, Mr Mark Horan and Executive Director of the South African Agency forScience and Technology Advancement, Mrs Beverley Damonse.

M-Net EDiT winnerM-Net EDiT winnerM-Net EDiT winnerM-Net EDiT winnerM-Net EDiT winnerUKZN’s Drama Department wasamong the winners at the M-NetEmerging Dynamics in Television(EDiT) Awards held at The Venuein Johannesburg. The film, Com-mando, by Drama and Media stu-dent Stephen de Villiers won theM-Net EDiT Award for Cinema-tography.

Mr de Villiers was given an M-NetEDiT grant last year to make theBoer War epic. He and his crewshot the film in September over sixdays in the Kamberg Nature Reservein Lesotho and at McCrorie Housein Pietermaritzburg.

Mr de Villiers is currently in NewZealand before he begins hisMasters Degree at UKZN. Col-lecting the award on his behalf wasthe Director of Photography ofCommando, Mr David Willert.

M-Net Commisioning Editor MrSibusiso Ndebele, who spearheadsthe EDiT project, said: “We havebeen nurturing student film makingfor many years. EDiT has been ahuge success and we take pride andjoy when we see how young filmmakers who got their first breakthrough this initiative proceed tobuild solid film and televisioncareers.”

The EDiT initiative is open totertiary institution students who arein their final year of study or post-graduates as well as to individualsdoing their apprenticeship or whoare interns at production companies.

Drama Co-ordinator at the Pieter-maritzburg campus, Ms VeronicaBaxter, said credit should be givento the Lecturer in Script writing, MsJanet van Eeden, who coaches thestudents in writing treatments(specialised film-selling docu-

ments) which are then submitted tothe M-Net selection panel.

The five students chosen fromtertiary institutions are given aR40 000 grant to make their ownfilms on the basis of the quality ofthe treatments alone. The M-NetEDiT Awards are awarded after thefinal film productions have beenjudged by a panel of experts in theindustry.

- Article and Picture: Supplied

Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, Commissioning Editor of M-Net EDiT; Director ofPhotography of Commando, Mr David Willert; and Supervising Producerand part-time Lecturer in Scriptwriting at UKZN’s Drama Department,Ms Janet van Eeden.

New BookNew BookNew BookNew BookNew Book

and Technology through making asubstantial impact in terms ofpublic awareness”. Key criteria forthe award include an approachthat is “innovative, objective, re-

sponsible and scientifically cor-rect”.

Mr Horan, who is passionate aboutpromoting science, engineering

and technology to youngsters, hasbeen an integral part of UKZN’sroad show team for the past10 years. He possesses a uniqueability to transfer complex

scientific and technological con-cepts and ideas into practicalexamples. He has been the master-mind behind many of the Univer-sity’s exhibits and models displayedat a range of science festivals,shows, school gatherings, OpenDays and university expos.

Mr Horan’s work as a ‘ScienceCommunicator’ is conducted inaddition to his day-to-day responsi-bilities as an academic in UKZN’sSchool of Bioresources Engineeringand Environmental Hydrology.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Horanpaid tribute to his dedicated teamof friends and colleagues at UKZNwho have played a pivotal role inhis success. He said, “We see thisaward, not as a reward for the pastfive years of achievement, but ratheras a launch pad into the next fiveyears of innovative, engaging andrelevant research – something thatour country so badly needs”.

- Vicky Crookes

available to more South Africanwomen to write books. She em-phasised that her intention was to readthe texts she had selected, not in anarrow ethnocentric way, but as “partof our collective history” of theAfrican continent and of thecolonised world.

Guests at the launch includedDeputy Vice-Chancellor and Headof the College of Humanities,Professor Fikile Mazibuko;eThekwini Deputy Mayor, Coun-cillor Logie Naidoo; the ConsulGeneral of India, Mr Harsh VardhanShringla; and the Chancellor of theDurban University of Technology,Mrs Ela Gandhi.

- Thembeka Nyaba

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UKZN achievers

UKZN featured amongst thegold medallion winners atthe Royal Agricultural

Show which took place in Pieter-maritzburg from 23 May to 1 June.

More than 400 organisations exhi-bited at this year’s Show. Judgingcriteria for the awards includedexternal attraction, method ofcommunicating benefits, origin-

Gold at RGold at RGold at RGold at RGold at Royal Showoyal Showoyal Showoyal Showoyal Showality and presentation of personneland customer care.

The primary purpose of the Univer-sity’s exhibit was to showcase theCollege of Agriculture, Engin-eering and Science’s wide range ofexpertise.

Microbiology’s mini biogasdigester was a huge draw card

which attracted agriculturalists andentrepreneurs seeking new ways ofgenerating power from animal andplant waste. The GeologyMuseum’s interactive displayhighlighting natural disasters suchas volcanoes and earthquakesappealed to children and students.The School of Biological andConservation Sciences focused onbirding while Computer Sciencesfeatured a display on computerequipment through the ages.

In celebration of its 60 years ofexistence the School of Agri-cultural Sciences and Agribusinesscompiled a pictorial display ofAgriculture at UKZN since 1948.The School of Bioresources En-gineering and EnvironmentalHydrology contributed severalinnovative models highlightingtheir research activities. Alsopresent was the Centre for ElectronMicroscopy’s scanning electronmicroscope and an automaticweather station from the School ofEnvironmental Sciences.

- Vicky CrookesUKZN staff and students manning displays at the Royal Agricultural Show(l-r) Mr Shaun Groenink, Ms Winnie Gininda, Ms Bernadatte Baye, MsKewreshini Naidoo, Mr Gabriel Lekalakala, Dr Nick Richards and Mr VijayBandu.

TWO top second year students from the Faculty of ManagementStudies have been recognised for their exceptional academicexcellence and leadership potential.

Ms Jodie Rei and Ms Nabilah Soobedaar are members of a groupof six South African students who have been selected asGoldman Sachs Global Leaders by the Institute of InternationalEducation (IIE) and awarded $3 000 each towards theiruniversity studies. They are now part of an international networkof 150 young leaders who will be able to work in collaborationtowards common global goals. Each of the students has anexciting opportunity to access seed money to set up an enterprisethat responds to social needs in their country.

The six South African winners recently underwent a furtherselection process, including a simulated negotiation, inJohannesburg. As a result of this, three students, including bothMs Rei and Ms Soobedaar, were selected to go to New York fortraining that aims to enhance their leadership abilities and theirunderstanding of international issues. This will take place atthe annual global Leadership Institute Conference in July. Forour University and our Faculty to boast two of the three SouthAfrican representatives is an achievement indeed.

The Global Leaders Program was created by the Goldman SachsFoundation in partnership with the IIE in 2001. According totheir website, the goal of the Program is to provide studentleaders “with a unique international network through which theycan share ideas, learn from established leaders, workcollaboratively and address global challenges.”

“By exposing participants to the complex issues and oppor-tunities arising from an increasingly inter-dependent globaleconomy, the program aims to expand perspectives and enhanceskills critical for leadership in a changing world.”

For more on the Goldman Sachs Global Leaders Program sehttp://www.iie.org/programs/global_leaders

- Caroline Goodier

StudentsStudentsStudentsStudentsStudentsare globalare globalare globalare globalare globalleadersleadersleadersleadersleaders

Ms Jodie Rei and Ms Nabilah Soobedaar.

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UKZN lecturer Professor SuriaGovender and three dancers of theSurialanga Dance Company per-

Surialanga in South KoreaSurialanga in South KoreaSurialanga in South KoreaSurialanga in South KoreaSurialanga in South Koreaformed at the SA Freedom Weekcelebrations held in Seoul, SouthKorea, recently.

The Surialanga Dance Company performing in Seoul, South Korea.

South Africa’s Ambassador toKorea, Mr Stefanus Schoeman,invited them to the event aimed atcelebrating South Africa’s freedomand cultural diversity which ranalongside a trade and industry fair.

Hundreds of Korean people andAmbassadors representing about70 countries experienced theunique dance fusion – a blend ofIndian classical dance and music ofthe different cultural groups inSouth Africa. Performers fromCape Town and Durban singing inisiZulu, English and Afrikaans,supported the dancers.

Artists had the unusual experienceof performing on a train whichtravelled through the Koreancountryside on a four-hour journey.

The Surialanga Dance Company’srenditions, which were spread overfour days, included a performanceat a banquet for over 70 Ambassa-dors from the surrounding area andtheir guests.

Another highlight was interactionwith Korean orphans who benefitfrom a special project under theauspices of the South AfricanEmbassy in Seoul.

- Article and picture: Supplied

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UKZN achievers

Two students within theFaculty of Science andAgriculture who this year

obtained their undergraduatedegrees cum laude have beenawarded the prestigious CrowhurstBond Memorial Scholarship.

Miss Santhiska Pather who isstudying towards an Honoursdegree in Marine Biology and MissHeidi Du Clou, pursuing anHonours degree in Chemistry, wereinformed in May that they were therecipients of the scholarship valuedat R20 000 each.

Crowhurst BondCrowhurst BondCrowhurst BondCrowhurst BondCrowhurst BondMemorial ScholarshipMemorial ScholarshipMemorial ScholarshipMemorial ScholarshipMemorial Scholarship

According to the Student FundingCentre this scholarship is awardedannually to a deserving studentwithin the Faculty of Science andAgriculture or the Faculty ofEngineering. As no student wasselected for the scholarship lastyear, the two recipients wereawarded this year on the basis ofacademic excellence.

Miss Pather who was the onlygraduate within the Faculty ofScience and Agriculture to haveobtained her Bachelor of ScienceDegree in Biological Sciences cum

Miss Heidi Du Clou and Miss Santhiska Pather.

GOOD leadership skills have enabled a third year UKZN medicalstudent to earn a prestigious position within a student organisation.

Miss Mathabo Hlahane has been appointed as Africa Presidentfor the International Federation of Medical Students. This positiontakes effect in August. She was nominated to this position bymembers of an international student leadership committee. Sheis currently President of the South African Medical StudentAssociation.

In her new role Miss Hlahane will be tasked with the responsibilityof maintaining and recruiting new member countries. “I’m a littleapprehensive because I have a daunting task ahead,” she said.“However, I will do a good job with the support of fellowstudents.”

Of importance to Miss Hlahane is for medical students to devisea plan of action to deal with Africa’s medical challenges. Sheidentified these as HIV and AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. Shesaid the internal financial instability of health systems in Africaonly made these challenges worse.

Being in student leadership has meant much travel for MissHlahane over the past four years. She has represented medicalstudents at conferences in Serbia, Ghana, Kenya andMozambique. “My people and communication skills havedeveloped. I’m able to make independent decisions. My exposureto other cultures has inspired me to implement some of the thingsI’d learnt during leadership courses,” she said.

Miss Hlahane who grew up with parents who themselves werestudent leaders stressed the importance of student involvementin leadership roles. “I have been equipped with skills in fundraising and conflict management. Attending internationalconferences exposes one to the global village and ensures thatyou are globally competent. I’ve had the opportunity to networkwith members of 108 affiliate countries which enabled me toexperience great diversity,” added Miss Hlahane.

Inspiration for the young woman comes from her motivatingparents and the belief that she was born to heal.

Miss Hlahane who is also the Africa Co-ordinator for theInternational Federation for Alumni plans on attending the nextmeeting of International Federation of Medical Students whenthey meet in August in Jamaica.

Proper time management has ensured that she strikes a balancebetween her studies and social life. When she isn’t studying orinvolved in student leadership issues, Miss Hlahane loves outdoorsports like swimming, basketball and taibo.

- Neesha Maharaj

Student leaderStudent leaderStudent leaderStudent leaderStudent leader

Miss Mathabo Hlahane second from left.

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laude said she was “grateful andhonoured” to have received thescholarship. She said it wouldenable her to continue studyingtowards her Master’s degree nextyear. Inspiration for Miss Patherwhose project for her Honoursdegree is on Sandy Beach Ecology,comes from her academicallyinclined parents who instilled in herthe importance of knowledge andtertiary education.

Miss Du Clou said as a singlemother studying would not havebeen possible without scholarships.She was also the recipient of theEmma Smith Scholarship for thepast two years. Miss Du Clou whograduated with her Bachelor ofScience degree in Pure and AppliedChemistry cum laude said:“Opportunities like this are soimportant for students because itallows us access to education.”

The advice of her grandfather whostressed the importance ofeducation is what motivates MissDu Clou. “My grandfather advisednever to rely on anybody else tomake it in life – education issomething that can never be takenaway from you. This motivates meto improve my standing in life.”

- Neesha Maharaj

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THE Department of Science and Technology has awarded Vice-Chancellor and Principal, ProfessorMalegapuru Makgoba, the 2008 Philip Tobias Lecture Award.

The Award is presented biannually to a distinguished scientist in recognition of their outstandingcontributions to science and as role models in their respective fields. The lecture series wasestablished by the Department of Science and Technology in 2004, providing a platform forprominent scientists from all over the world to share their experiences with the country.

Professor Makgoba said: “I feel inspired and humbled by the honour, in particular because it wasPhilip Tobias who has been a great inspiration and unifier for science and society in South Africafor many years. To be asked to give a lecture named after him is special to me.”

In a letter to Professor Makgoba, the department acknowledged the contribution he has made asan intellectual and scientist. “Your ongoing contributions to our country’s science systems aretruly valued,” said the letter.

The lecture will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre on 17 September, 2008.

- Xoliswa Zulu

Philip TPhilip TPhilip TPhilip TPhilip TobiasobiasobiasobiasobiasLecture AwardLecture AwardLecture AwardLecture AwardLecture Award

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Arecent collaborativeUKZN-Eskom exhibit atthe Eskom Convention

Centre in Midrand attracted theattention of Minister of Trade andIndustry, Mr Alec Erwin.

The exhibit showcased the jointinitiative between the Universityand Eskom of creating a Scienceand Technology Innovation Park

(STIP) at UKZN’s Westville cam-pus. It also highlighted the collabo-rative MSc Power and EnergyProgramme and featured the pro-minent Vibration and ResearchTesting Centre and the High Volt-age Direct Current Laboratory.

The primary purpose of MinisterErwin’s visit to Eskom was to viewthe training facilities at the com-

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IN August last year UKZN introduced indigenous counselling on theHoward College campus. This prompted an Anthropology andDevelopment Studies Masters student from the Netherlands to conductresearch on the importance and effectiveness of indigenous counseling.

Wiebe de Jong, from Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, who has been atthe University since January this year, said one of the reasons he wantedto conduct the research was to change people’s mindsets about traditionalhealers and sangomas.

He said that “Many people, especially in the Netherlands, don’t realisehow important this type of counselling is and look down on it.” He addedthat he admires the courage of the University for introducing indigenouscounselling and hopes that other institutions follow in its footsteps.

“I’m convinced that they do a good job. Although I was not raised in thisculture, I have seen how effective their counseling style is and how theyhelp students. If I were faced with a situation where a western practitionerwould be unlikely to solve my problem, I would definitely visit atraditional healer.”

de Jong’s supervisor, Dr J Kommers, said: “Here in the West we areslowly but surely coming to understand that healing diseases impliesmuch more than only biomedical treatises. But it will be a long waybefore in the Western world people can accept legitimate ways of healingnext to formal medical treatment. Wiebe started his research in reactionto pejorative views phrased by medical students here and he hopes toreach at least some understanding and respect for alternative ways ofhealing amongst these students.”

Deputy Dean of Students, Dr Bhekithemba Ngcobo, said since theintroduction of indigenous counseling, over 800 students have consultedwith the traditional healer on site. He added that R20 000 from theDevelopment Fund has been set aside for the project each year.

He said “We had observed that students had socio-cultural problems thatimpacted on their academic studies, yet student counselling arrangements,as they stand, could not deal with these problems. The response fromstudents has been very positive and the impact has been visible.”

- Xoliswa Zulu

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FOLLOWING an intense pro-gramme on 14 March, nine admin-istrative and16 academic new staffmembers were inducted into theFaculty of Education. Following adecision by the Faculty Executive,Professor Dennis Francis wastasked with putting together aninduction programme for all newstaff who joined the Faculty ofEducation since January 2007. Theprogramme included presentationsby the Faculty Manager, HumanResources, Research Office,Quality Promotion Unit, EquityOffice and the unions. After the

New staff members in EducationNew staff members in EducationNew staff members in EducationNew staff members in EducationNew staff members in Educationdays programme staff in the Faculty,including inductees and the newlyappointed SRC let their hair downand relaxed at a cocktail function.

Dr Yolisa Nompula, Mrs JabuNgwenya, Mr Simone Chili,Fumane Khanare and Skhura Yanifrom the School of Social SciencesEducation, were some of the newacademic staff who were inductedthat day.

Professor Francis, Head of Schoolof Social Sciences Education, saidthat the new staff members’ added

depth and value to the variousdisciplines in the school.

Dr Nompula, who lectures in MusicEducation, joined the School ofSocial Science Education inJanuary. She had previously taughtmusic in the United States for 10years. She said: “I have had quite agood experience with my students.They are a very diverse bunch. Iwant to empower them and to learnfrom them as well. It’s not onlyabout teaching, but you need toknow where they come from.”

Mrs Ngwenya, who lectures inAccounting Education, joined theFaculty in December 2007. Beforejoining the University, she had beenin a high school environment for15 years. She said: “I needed a newexperience and I’m enjoying theexperience at the University so far.While it may be completely differ-ent to what I’m used to, it has beenextremely fulfilling.”

Mr Chili, who lectures in Travel andTourism and Geography, said hisexperience in the School andFaculty has been extremely goodand added that he hopes to grow inthe field of research and in his work.

- Xoliswa Zulu

(Back) Ms Rosemarie Milburn, Professor Dennis Francis, Mr Simone Chili,Mr Patrick Hlangu.(Front) Mrs Jabu Ngwenya, Dr Yoli Nompula, Ms Fumane Khanare.

pany’s College that seeks to ad-dress the dearth of skills availableto deal with the present energycrisis.

Mr Pravesh Moodley fromUKZN’s Engineering Faculty hadthe honour of escorting MinisterErwin and his delegation aroundthe exhibit. He explained how theUKZN-Eskom initiatives willstrengthen science, engineering andtechnology for the power andenergy industry in South Africa.Minister Erwin was impressed withthe exhibit which also receivednumerous compliments from seniorEskom executives.

The University and Eskom havejointly engaged in several inno-vative projects over the years.Eskom funder, Mr Logan Pillaysaid, “the projects have beenexceptionally successful and havefulfilled a strategic need for SouthAfrica to develop world-classengineering facilities”.

- Vicky Crookes(l-r) Seen at the UKZN-Eskom exhibit are Mr Pravesh Moodley, UKZNEngineering Faculty, Minister Alec Erwin and Mr Logan Pillay, Eskomfunder.

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