First Decolonisation Debate Session a Success
The Durban University of Technology held a pilot debate to look into shared understandings and ideas of the meanings of both curriculum and decolonisation on Friday (4 August 2017) at the University’s Ritson Campus.
The Office of Research in partnership with ICON, Institute for Systems Science and CELT held the first debate on the contentious issue pertaining to “Decolonisation in Higher Education: A Durban University of Technology Introspection”.
This was a debate that offered academics, students and organisations a platform to participate and voice their views on the subject. The panel consisted of ICON’s Crispin Hemson, CELT’s Professor Thengani Ngwenya, Post-graduate Association President Kunle Oparinde and Mercilene Matthew.
According to DUT’s annual performance plan, the University has identified the need for the development of a decolonisation discussion paper by December 2017. The debate featured strong emotions and responses on issues such as transformation, language, reworking of syllabuses, resources and sexism, as well as changing the mindset.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Engagement Professor Sibusiso Moyo said part of the strategic plan was to begin to understand what all the concepts discussed meant. Furthermore, she stressed that there were three major areas that were highlighted, such as that of student, staff and public community engagements and issues of economic power and language, which were all critical.
“The fact is that DUT has an Afrikology Centre, a centre for African studies; a place where diversity can be engaged on various levels, so DUT needs to use this centre to have such discussions on a continuous basis,” said Prof Moyo.
She reiterated that from DUT’s side, the debate on decolonisation was just the first session and that the University would have more debates going forward. Prof Moyo also spoke of a book project that the University was working on and she encouraged students and staff to give their contributions.
Pictured: Academics and staff in attendance at the first Decolonisation debate.
Waheeda Peters
