Organisers, panelists and some of students who participated in the round table colloquium
The School of Human and Social Sciences Lecture Series and Symposium started on Monday, 28 October 2018 and ended on Wednesday, 31 October 2018 with a round table discussion. The round table discussion session took place in the University’s Senate Chambers under the topic ‘The meaning of Higher Education for an African Child’.
Amongst the panelists were Prof Ndwamato George Mugovhani who is a Research Professor at the Department of Performing Arts at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT); Prof Thomas Maita Sengani (a Retired Associate Professor in the Department of African Languages at the University of South Africa); Univen’s Dr Elelwani Ramaite-Mafadza, Dr Masindi Sadiki, Prof Geoff Mapaya, Prof Daniel Thobejane and Mr Akil A Cornelius (PhD Candidate from Michigan State University).
The panelists highlighted that students should start to put theories that they learn in class into practice. Students were advised to use what they learn in class to also benefit their respective communities. It was pointed out that most graduates are merely certificated rather than educated. Students were also advised to be hungry for skills before they can even graduate. They were further advised to learn how to become entrepreneurs and create jobs rather than seeking for jobs.
The panelists also touched on the issues of restoration of African culture and African identity, how Africans should empower themselves in order to recover from colonisation, and how students can discover their niche area. There were views that theories in the prescribed books can be converted into skills and graduates can use those skills to make out a living for themselves and their families. Furthermore, students were encouraged to approach careers with a creative mind of creating employment opportunities for those who could not make it to tertiary level.
Students were also given an opportunity to speak their mind and to ask questions.
Panelists, students and organisers of the 2018 Lecture Series and Symposium
Issued by: Department of Communications & Marketing
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525
Date: 05 November 2018
