WOMEN RESEARCHERS IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (WoRiHSS)

Introduction

The Women Researchers in Humanities and Social Sciences (WoRiHSS) is an initiative aiming to support women academics to make significant strides in research and contribute to scholarly publications under the mentorship of senior and seasoned researchers. This initiative is one of the commitments by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences to empower female academics improve academically. The plan is to focus on enhancing female academics publication and improve their research skills.

Objectives

  • To learn and apply formula in extracting papers from dissertations and theses.
  • To practically structure, organise, align papers such that they take size and shape that is suitable for publication in SAPSE accredited journals.
  • To give timeframes for the finalisation of papers that each member of the group is working on during retreats.

Writing-for-Publication Retreats are organised to offer participants both time and conducive space to write and exchange with fellow colleagues. Writing-for-Publication Retreats are organised to give each participant an opportunity to focus on papers that had already been drafted. This format offers spaces for giving feedback and consultations with allocated mentors. Participants indicated that they benefited immensely from attending these retreats as they were able to give their undivided attention to paper writing without any interruption and having face-to-face engagements with allocated mentors.

Figure 1: WoRiHSS Writing for Publication Retreat 2019

Figure 2: WoRiHSS Participants 2019

ERASMUS+ PROJECT

It is an honour for the University of Zululand, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in particular to be part of the prestigious Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education Joint Project – Strengthening university-enterprise cooperation in South Africa to support regional development by enhancing lifelong learning skills, social innovations and inclusivity (SUCSESS).

The project has been embraced by all Faculties of the University of Zululand. Some colleagues and students (final year and postgraduate) across the University have participated in the research that is part of this project – led by the University of Pretoria. The Coordinator of the Erasmus+ project is: Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences Ltd. The project duration: 15 January 2020 – 14 January 2023.

Six universities that participate in this project are as follows: (1) University of Pretoria (SA) ; (2) University of Johannesburg (SA); (3) University of Zululand (SA); (4) Oulu University (FIN); (5) Hagga-Helia University (FIN) and (6) Sheffield Hallam University (Britain).

I would like to thank the Dean of the Faculty Humanities and Social Sciences, Prof MA Masoga for granting the UNIZULU Team: Prof AT Nzama, Prof IO Ezeuduji and Dr GS Nkosi the opportunity to attend the project kick-off meeting which was held at University of Haaga-Helia UAS, Porvoo & Helsinki, Finland on 4-6 February 2020.

The focus of the meeting was on the introduction to the project and its work packages, pedagogical approaches of partner universities, networking, industry presentations and ended with a field trip to Suomenlinna island off Helsinki. Each participating University is responsible for delivering a specific work package (WP) of the project.

The University of Zululand is a work package leader for WP5 – Dissemination and Exploitation and our responsibility is to ensure that information about the project reaches the project target groups and stakeholders through a number of communication channels. We are looking forward to hosting the 1st information seminar at the University of Zululand in the near future.

Kick-off of the Erasmus+ SUCSESS project in Finland

Participants: Back row from the left: Jarkko Saarinen (University of Oulu), Berendien Lubbe (University of Pretoria), Annika Konttinen (Haaga-Helia UAS), Jarmo Ritalahti (Haaga-Helia UAS), Tembi Tichaava (Johannesburg University), Alisha Ali (Sheffield Hallam University), Eva Holmberg (Haaga-Helia UAS), Ikechukwu O.Ezeuduji (Zululand University), David Egan (Sheffield Hallam University)

First row from the left: Outi Kulujärvi (University of Oulu), Diane Abrahams (Johannesburg University), Kaarina Tervo-Kankare (University of Oulu), Reba Letsholo (University of Pretoria), Ana Timonen (Haaga-Helia UAS), Gugu Ngosi (Zululand University), Natalie Haynes (Sheffield Hallam University), Hannes Engelbrecht (University of Pretoria), Antonia Thandi Nzama (Zululand University). Missing from the picture Leena Grönroos (Haaga-Helia UAS), who took the photo.

The SUCSESS project focuses on strengthening the cooperation between higher education institutions (HEI) and businesses in South Africa. The core of the project is on enhancement of the knowledge triangle (student-teacher-enterprise cooperation) and the employability of students.

The SUCSESS project includes several themes such as regional and community development, as well as improved employability of students through transformational and life-long learning skills. The idea is to support an inclusive and sustainable economy by enhancing strategic partnerships and collaboration between HEIs and businesses by improving prerequisites for innovation and knowledge sharing.

Main Objectives of the SUCSESS Project
  • Capacity building of university teachers in two rounds in contemporary pedagogical approaches to enhance the use of knowledge triangle
  • Implementation of contemporary pedagogical approaches in education
  • Foster university – business cooperation through the idea of knowledge triangle
  • Increase student and graduate employability with real life projects during the studies
  • Enhance community development and prosperity due to modern development tools gained in knowledge triangle activities
Main Target Groups of the SUCSESS Project
  • Participating HEIs’ teachers and other members of academia
  • Students of participating HEIs
  • Enterprises and other organizations of knowledge triangles created
  • Communities as development activity environments
  • Participants of the various dissemination events of the project
Main Outputs of the SUCSESS Project
  • Contemporary pedagogical approaches taken into use in the participating HEIs
  • Knowledge triangles as networks of cooperation between HEI teachers, students and enterprises and other organizations
  • Inclusive community development especially in less privileged areas of South Africa