The Faculty of Arts and Design at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted its annual Dean’s Seminar at DUT Courtyard last Friday, 27 July, to reflect on Africa’s higher education progress after post-colonisation.

Held under the topic, Decoloniality as the Future of Higher Education, the seminar which was attended by DUT academics and students, provided insight on the colonisation’s impact on higher education systems on the African continent- with South Africa as a key focus country.

Addressing the seminar, the Head of Archie Mafeje Research Institute for Applied Social Policy (AMRI) and Acting Executive Director of the Change Management Unit (CMU) in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office at the University of South Africa (UNISA), Professor Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni said the first step of decoloniality should be the reconsideration of the languages used for teaching, learning and research.

“We really need to consider using indigenous languages rather than the colonial languages, not as a romantic sentiment. Perhaps if we shift to the languages the students speak, they can perform better. A language is part of the identity of a person, I am proud of my own language just as everyone is proud of his or her,” said Ndlovu-Gatsheni.

Prof Ndlovu-Gatsheni further said knowledge needs to be redefined because it is misinterpreted. He also stated that knowledge is everywhere and does not depend on a geographical space.

“There is love a for diplomas and certificates without love for knowledge itself. Among the students, when they come to you for supervision, they already tell you the day they want to graduate in the first meeting.

“Knowledge is here in South Africa, knowledge is here in Africa, knowledge is in the Global South, knowledge is in Europe, and knowledge is everywhere. It depends on which one you value as knowledge,” said Ndlovu-Gatsheni.

Speaking after the seminar, the Research Co-Ordinator for the Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD), Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi emphasized the importance of the seminar in addressing critical issues in Higher Education structures.

“The lecture aimed to address the following issues: what Decoloniality means; why it’s important; why it’s vital for Higher Education to transform; crisis facing the current university models, including hegemony, legitimacy. During the lecture, I was happy with the student engagement, they were excited and asked relevant questions,” said Dr Rapeane-Mathonsi.

Pictured: Convenors and speakers of 2018 Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) Dean’s Seminar.

Sandile Lukhozi