News

Learning lessons from South Africa

Published 27 April 2012

Can South African universities teach their UK counterparts to be more socially inclusive? A University of Brighton academic thinks they can and has won a major award to help fund a project that will do just that.

Professor Gina Wisker, Head of the Centre for Learning and Teaching, has already been working with academics from three South African universities – the University of Stellenbosch, the University of the Western Cape and Rhodes University.

The £20,000 International Scholarship Scheme from the Higher Education Academy will enable her to build on the network she has established to develop education for social justice in the UK and promote critical professionalism among staff and critical thinking skills among students.

Professor Wisker said research suggests that students taught in this way are more engaged with their learning and that this enthusiasm improves their prospects in the workplace. Moreover, education for social justice in South Africa is having an impact internationally. Work by two of Professor Wisker's partners, Dr Brenda Leibowitz at the University of Stellenbosch and Professor Vivian Bozalik of the University of the West Cape, has led to international collaborations with South America, the developing world and parts of North America.

She plans to visit and observe the South African universities three times in 2012-13 to collaborate on developing education for social justice. All three universities have a strong record on inclusive education, with the UWC being one of the most diverse multiracial universities in South Africa.

Professor Wisker, who edits the journal Innovations in Education and Teaching International, plans to use what she learns from South Africa at the University of Brighton, both in her own teaching and in projects such as the PASS student leadership scheme and the Community University Partnerships Programme. She also plans to share good practice with other UK universities through workshops and conferences.

She said: "The aim is to enable colleagues across the UK to internalise the practices and processes and translate them into their own practice to inspire, develop and empower their own students across a range of disciplines."