Tackling the dynamics of research, teaching and learning was the aim of the ‘Demystifying Research’ lecture workshop which was presented by Professor Livingstone Makondo at DUT’s Midlands campus, last week.

Prof Makondo delivered the first lecture which was well-received and considered a great success by the 22 workshop attendees. Dr Green, who is assisting with research coordination at the campus, added it was great to have such a good attendance of staff from both the Indumiso and Riverside campuses at the much-needed and informative workshop.

The Midlands staff members welcomed the research discussion and saw it as a way of creating and building a research culture at the campuses, going forward.

Prof Makondo is the associate professor at the Centre for Excellence in learning and teaching. He is a graduate of the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts special Honours, has a graduate certificate in education and a Master of Arts in Language. He has also obtained a Master of Business Administration from the North West University and a Doctorate of Literature and Philosophy from the University of South Africa.

Before making his way to DUT on 1 January, 2014, Prof Makondo worked as a tutor, lecturer and senior academic development advisor in universities such as Morgan ZINTEC, University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University, University of South Africa (Sunnyside campus), North West University (Mafikeng campus) and the University of Venda.

He has published in journals, music, has an array of articles and has three books in onomastics (which is the study of history and origin of proper names), has edited five books and is the member of the International Advisory Board for the Association of Educational Science.

The feedback given from the lecture workshop, in the form of questionnaires, has indicated that there was a need for more focus to be given on publication writing, productivity measurements as well as NRF grant opportunities for the staff.

The next guest lecture will be delivered by Dr T Waetjen and Prof S Moyo on Publication Writing and Productivity Unit Measurements-The South African Context, on 28 August 2014.

-Talent Buthelezi

Pictured: Staff members at the first lecture workshop on the dynamics of research, teaching and learning.