Ideas around cross-border tourism, indigenous storytelling, and film tourism were the focus of a keynote address delivered at the recent World Federation of Tourist Guides Association (WFTGA) Convention by Professor Karen Harris, Head of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Historical and Heritage Studies.
Dr Eddie Michel, a research fellow in the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria, was recently awarded three prestigious research grants from presidential foundations in the United States. Dr Michel will use the grants – from the Gerald R Ford, Harry S Truman and Lyndon B Johnson foundations – to expand the source base for his research project entitled “The Whites are there to stay! The United States and apartheid South Africa, 1948-1994”.
While the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) may conjure up images of “apprehension and fear”, it also creates opportunities, said psychologist Professor Norman Duncan, Vice-Principal: Academic at the University of Pretoria, at the first lecture in the Psychology Seminar Series on Industrial Revolution 4.0: Implications for the Discipline and Profession of Psychology.
The diverging perspectives of speakers at a recent University of Pretoria colloquium titled “Unlaagering Afrikaans” made for a productive, stimulating discussion on the place of Afrikaans literature and its teaching in South Africa.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2019 have been released, and the University of Pretoria (UP) has achieved new rankings in two subjects: Physical Sciences and Psychology.
Humanities Day 2018 was hosted on 24 October 2018. A total of 89 personnel members turned up for this event. The event started with Prof Vasu Reddy giving a welcome address and sharing some of the many successes of the Faculty during 2018. Prof Stander, Chair: Teaching and Learning, followed with the announcement of the Lecturers of the Year. The joint winners were Heather Thuynsma and Roland Henwood. Both presented a lecture about the Global Classroom initiative. This is a real time engagement across academic, geographical, cultural and language boundaries. It opens a window to a global view and takes our students outside their classroom and their focused academic material. Two teaching merit awards were also given to Prof Alta Kritzinger and Sonja Mostert for outstanding work with their students. Following the presentations of the Lecturers of the Year, Prof Maxi Schoeman, Deputy-Dean, Postgraduate Studies and Research Ethics, announced the Researcher of the Year and the Emerging Researcher of the Year. The Researcher of the Year was Prof Shakila Dada and she talked about Alternative and Augmentative Communication facilitating the participation of people with significant communication difficulties in society. Dr Ian Macqueen, the Emerging Researcher of the Year spoke about studying South Africa in the 70s and how his research is moving beyond a polarised understanding of Black Consciousness. Five faculty staff members received the Dean’s Award for outstanding work, namely: David Kabwa – student award for outstanding work Daniel Letsoalo – for outstanding work Prof David Medalie – Supervisor of the Year Kotie Odendaal – (posthumous) for outstanding work Dr Mpho Tshivhase - for outstanding work
“History is being washed away” and “Graffiti is art” were just some of the provocative statements that prompted discussion at the recent Culture in Crisis Conference held at the University of Pretoria (UP) in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Yale’s Global Cultural Heritage Initiatives, and Berlin’s Natural History Museum.
In celebration of Heritage Month the UP Campus Tours team conducted a tour for guests from the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SARHA) and the National Heritage Council.
The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2019 have been released, and the University of Pretoria (UP) has achieved new rankings in three subjects: Education; Business and Economics; and Social Sciences. Additionally, UP’s Law subject ranking improved by 16 positions, bringing UP’s Law faculty into the top 80 in the world.
On 9 October 2018, the Faculty of Humanities hosted its 6th annual Postgraduate Conference at the Graduate Centre on the Hatfield Campus. Prof Maxi Schoeman, Deputy Dean: Postgraduate Research and Ethics, opened the conference followed by a key note address by Prof Innocent Pikirayi on ‘Repositioning the Humanities at the University of Pretoria through leveraging benefits of transdisciplinary research in Africa’ Honours, master’s and doctoral students were afforded an opportunity to present their research in plenary sessions, 68 papers and 10 posters were presented. The conference is an important event on the Faculty calendar as it highlights and pays tribute to the excellent research that our postgraduate students are currently engaged in. The conference has also provided a platform for students and staff to engage and network on various humanities and social sciences research interests. Don’t miss out on the next conference in 2019.
Nearly 200 scholars from across South Africa, Africa, Asia and Europe gathered at the University of Pretoria recently for the 14th biennial conference of the South African Association of Political Studies (SAAPS).
With more than 40 productions on offer this year, ranging from physical theatre and comedy to drama and musical theatre, audiences will be able to enjoy new, original works by up-and-coming writers, directors and performers at the UP Drama Department’s annual Kopanong Student Arts Festival, under way until Saturday 20 October at theatres on the University of Pretoria’s Hatfield Campus. And at just R35 per ticket, this is your invitation to an affordable, entertaining – and likely thought-provoking – outing.
Where does Afrikaans fit in in today's world? This question was asked by Heindrich from KLOP! kykNET during his interview with Hein Willemse.
The annual Dutch Winter School (organized by the Southern African Association for Netherlandic Studies with funding by the Netherlandic Language Union) is considered a highlight in the academic careers of students who are fortunate to attend. Three UP students shone at this event: Marno Swart, Lielie Viljoen and Hardus Engelbrecht..
On 27-28 June 2018, Dr Thula Simpson and Dr Eddie Michel from the Department of Historical and Heritage Studies at the University of Pretoria hosted a colloquium entitled ‘Rhodesia to Zimbabwe: The Diplomacy of Isolation and Liberation under UDI’.
The University of Pretoria (UP) has launched a new Master’s in Social Science programme focusing on Tangible Heritage Conservation, which is the first degree of its kind in South Africa. The degree is made possible by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (AWMF), which has been involved in South African higher education for the last 30 years. The first cohort of students will enter the programme in 2019. The degree will provide scarce skills to the field of arts conservation which is a multidisciplinary, applied science.
The Department of Music at the University of Pretoria (UP), in conjunction with the Javett Foundation, is proud to announce the Javett Music Award, a new annual music award programme for young South African musicians.
University of Pretoria students have won 10 out of 20 seats in the Tshwane region to participate in this year’s Gauteng Youth Parliament sitting, which meets on 15 June from 10:00 to 14:00 to discuss issues affecting South Africa’s youth. The event will be televised on DSTV Channel 408 and the House will vote on resolutions drafted by commissions comprising young people. It will be attended by Gauteng Premier David Makhura; Head of the Independent Electoral Commission in Gauteng, Masego Sheburi; and Speaker of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Vasco da Gama.
Willie Burger discuss Tom Wolfe and Philip Roth as well as the book "Die Dao".
CJS in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan hosted Dr Tomoko L. Kitagawa.