In May this year (2022) 31 University of Zululand academics from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zululand were given the opportunity to attend a five-day retreat for women researchers. The event took place at the Ocean Reef Hotel in Zinkwazi, about an hour’s drive from the KwaDlangezwa campus. Women Researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences (WoRiHSS) is an initiative and platform aimed at improving the research outputs of women academics. Formerly called Faculty of Arts Women in Research (FAWiR), the initiative was relaunched on 17 May as WoRiHSS by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof MA Masoga, to reflect the Faculty of Arts’ name change to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, while also introducing future plans for WoRiHSS. The plans include a WoRiHSS journal, WoRiHSS conference and WoRiHSS blog, and more.
Marvelling the banner of the newly launched WoRiHSS are members of the Committee members: Frances Ringwood, Dr Simangele Cele, holding the banner are the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof Masoga and the Deputy Dean Research and Internationalization, Prof Lulu Shokane, next her are Prof Thandi Nzama – Deputy Dean Teaching and Learning and Ms Banikele Mashiyane.
Annual retreats, a coaching initiative, workshops and the highlighting of career opportunities are some of the existing FAWiR offerings which will remain part of WoRiHSS activities. In the photo below is the Dean, Prof Masoga addressing women researchers that attended the Retreat.