Too much of what we know about Africa is still coming from outside the continent. ShutterstockThis article is a foundation essay. These are longer than usual and take a wider look at a key issue affecting society African scholarship on Africa is operating at only a fraction of its true potential. It is hampered by the preferences, policies and politics of the Western academy. … [Read more...] about African academics face a huge divide between their real and scholarly selves | The Conversation
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How South Africans can use their constitution to fight for social justice | The Conversation
AIDS activists protest outside South Africa's parliament in Cape Town. ReutersSeasoned South African social rights activist Mark Heywood is of the view that the country’s constitution can be championed by any citizen, in the courts if need be, to achieve almost any objective for social justice. Heywood sets out his argument in an absorbing chapter – Seize the power! The … [Read more...] about How South Africans can use their constitution to fight for social justice | The Conversation
Academics can change the world – if they stop talking only to their peers | The Conversation
What's the point of academics producing amazing research if they don't share it widely with the general public? ShutterstockResearch and creative thinking can change the world. This means that academics have enormous power. But, as academics Asit Biswas and Julian Kirchherr have warned, the overwhelming majority are not shaping today’s public debates. Instead, their … [Read more...] about Academics can change the world – if they stop talking only to their peers | The Conversation
Why lecturers need to know all about their students’ lives, fears and hopes | The Conversation
Every student has their own story and their own concerns. Lecturers need to listen. Reuters/Mike HutchingsKnow your students and where they come from. This, in my opinion – and research confirms it – is one of the key ingredients for an enabling teaching and learning environment. The life experiences hiding behind the faces one sees every day in the lecture room are equally as … [Read more...] about Why lecturers need to know all about their students’ lives, fears and hopes | The Conversation
South Africans are demanding more of their leaders, and democracy | The Conversation
Protestors against a lack of housing and other services in central Cape Town. More South Africans are taking to the streets to hold government accountable. Reuters/Mike Hutchings South Africa’s peaceful transition to democracy is widely admired on the continent and around the world. This year, the country marks the 22nd anniversary of this transition. President Jacob Zuma … [Read more...] about South Africans are demanding more of their leaders, and democracy | The Conversation
