Associate Professor Faith Mkwananzi
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8381-4007
Google Scholar here
Faith Mkwananzi is a Researcher with the SARCHI Chair’s Higher Education and Human Development Research Programme under the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State, South Africa. She holds a Master’s and a PhD in Development Studies, as well as an Honours Degree in Public Administration, all from the University of the Free State. She has experience in postgraduate teaching and mentorship, thesis examination, grant writing, and capacity strengthening with early-career researchers. In addition, she has extensive experience engaging with a diverse range of education stakeholders.
Faith’s research sits at the intersection of higher education and global development. It is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing insights from migration, gender, youth, policy, and development studies, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Grounded in collaborative stakeholder partnerships and cross-cultural learning, she has contributed to multiple projects and enjoys working with students and researchers in the following areas:
- University access and learning experiences
- Educational technology
- International staff and student migration
- Internationalisation in higher education
- Peace education in Africa
- Inclusion and exclusion in education
Other areas of interest include:
- South–South partnerships
- Negotiation in global research partnerships
- The place of higher education in local community development
- Education in conflict settings
- Girls’ education
Faith is currently pursuing research that develops operationalisations of the capability approach and employs creative, participatory methodologies. She tailors research methods to contextual needs and is particularly interested in subjectivity and reflexivity in research processes.
The overarching aim of Faith’s work is to bridge the gap between academic research, development practice, and civil society. The interdisciplinary nature of this work contributes to the following Sustainable Development Goals: Quality Education (4), Good Health and Well-being (3), Gender Equality (5), Reduced Inequalities (10), and Partnerships for the Goals (17).
Click here to view List of Publications for Prof Mkwananzi up to 2025
Click here to view List of Conferences, Worshops and Symposia attended by Prof Mkwananzi