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05 December 2019 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Stephen Collett
Justice read more
Social justice is the promotion of just societies and treatment of individuals and communities based on the belief that we each possess an innate human dignity.

The power of research lies in the possibility to move from theory to practical outcomes that can change society for the better in some way. In essence, scholars have the ability to create the future in collaboration with government and civil society. At a recent international colloquium hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) programme, researchers deliberated on social justice issues and possible resolutions.

Delegates from institutions across the UK, Zimbabwe, and Sweden presented findings from studies conducted around the world under the theme ‘Making Epistemic Justice: An international colloquium on narrative capabilities and participatory research’. The UFS SARChI Chair in Higher Education and Human Development Research Programme, under the leadership of Professor Melanie Walker hosted the colloquium from 21-22 November in Bloemfontein.

The importance of psychological liberation

In her welcoming address, Prof Walker quoted the late Black Consciousness activist, Steve Biko, who anticipated many of the current debates on epistemic power and exclusions when he wrote that “the most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed”.

Prof Walker reiterated that epistemic justice matters, as affirmed by Kenyan writer, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o who in 1981 stated that, “colonialism imposed its control over social production of wealth through military conquest and subsequent political dictatorships. But its most important area of domination was the mental universe of the colonised, the control through culture, how people perceive themselves, and their relationship to the world”.

The relationship between storytelling and social justice

Dr Holly Henderson from the University of Nottingham in the UK was the first speaker to make a presentation, titled ‘Resisting the narrative conclusion in educational research’. According to Henderson, storytelling is an essential part of the long road to social justice.  

Henderson’s keen interest in the complexity of the narrative developed when she started working in further education many years ago. A significant part of her research focuses on the concept of ‘possible self’ which requires the art of storytelling in order to come to life. A study she conducted on university students delved deeper into this concept and found that environment plays a major role in the way individuals perceive the future. 

“The more detailed you imagine something, the more likely you are to achieve it,” said Henderson. However, the correct structures enable the future to be imagined. Hence, curriculum decolonisation, equal access to quality education, and social justice become all the more important in achieving future success among students globally.
 
The art of activism and advocacy 

The joint work of Dr Faith Mkwananzi from the UFS and Dr Tendayi Marovah from the Midlands State University in Zimbabwe looked at street art, otherwise known as graffiti, as a way to foster epistemic justice and collective capabilities among marginalised youth. 

According to Marovah, storytelling using art gives a voice to the voiceless and assigns dignity to the excluded. “Narrative offers an opportunity in which the unheard and unseen are heard and seen.”

Delegates of the colloquium unanimously agreed that researchers are in the business of providing much-needed direction on how to stop discrimination, challenging unjust government policies and the abuse of power, promoting peace instead of violence, eradicating poverty, opening access to quality education among other social justice issues. Therefore unity in research diversity provides fertile ground for manifesting social justice.


News Archive

New guidelines to increase diversity in student residences at the UFS
2007-06-08

As from 2008, the University of the Free State (UFS) will implement new policy guidelines for student residences so as to increase diversity on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein.

These new policy guidelines were approved by the Council of the UFS today (Friday 8 June 2007) after consultations with a range of stakeholders, especially students currently in residences, student leaders and student organisations, with inputs received from alumni and parents as well.

According to a statement by the Chairperson of the UFS Council, Judge Faan Hancke, and the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, Prof. Frederick Fourie, the guidelines are based on an educational rationale with a definite educational objective.

“What the UFS seeks to do with these new policy guidelines, is to overcome the racial divides of the past and equip students in residences with the knowledge and skills to understand people from other cultures, appreciate other languages and to respect differences in religion but also economic background,” Judge Hancke and Prof. Fourie said in their statement.

“This will give students in UFS residences a distinct advantage over many other work seekers in South Africa, because the workplace today is a very diverse place with people of many backgrounds,” Judge Hancke and Prof. Fourie said in their statement.
They said the UFS wanted to establish a new model of residence life in which students will voluntarily embrace diversity and learn about diversity so as to add value to their educational experience in a residence.

In the late 1990s the UFS made the first attempt to integrate its residences which led to violent clashes between white and black students. A compromise agreement was reached based on freedom of association but this has over the years led to the current situation of largely white and largely black residences.

To support students during the implementation of the new policy guidelines, the management of the UFS will establish several mechanisms and programmes for students to empower them, to build their capacity and to facilitate a smooth transition to a new model of student life in the residences.

Judge Hancke and Prof. Fourie said the decision is another important milestone in the ongoing transformation of the UFS and in the provision of quality higher education for all UFS students, and that the decision had been taken in the best interests of the students.

“This is a very carefully managed transition to bring about a non-racial character to our student residences in line with the Constitution and the ethos of a democratic South Africa,” Judge Hancke and Prof. Fourie said.

How the new policy will work in practice

As from 2008, the new policy aims to bring about an important shift in the way first-years are placed in a residence. From 2008 first-year students are to be placed to achieve a minimum diversity level of 30% in each junior residence.

In senior residences a mix of approximately 50-50 will be the goal from 2008.
Residences will be responsible for placing 50% of first-years, which gives them the scope to increase diversity. The university’s accommodation service will place the other 50%. All these placements must occur in accordance with the educational rationale and the related diversity objective.

If a residence cannot reach the diversity objectives, the university will use the 50% of placements that it controls to achieve sufficient diversity in a particular residence.

Support mechanisms for students

According to Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Vice-Rector: Student Affairs, students in the residences will not be left on their own to deal with the issues of diversity. The management of the UFS has identified several important areas where the process may need support, especially in the early stages of implementation. Students and student leadership will be involved in the further design and finalisation of the implementation details.

These areas where support will be finalised are the following:

  • Providing properly trained and qualified personnel (such as live-in wardens, residence heads etc.) to supervise the implementation of the policy on a 24-hour basis;
  • Ongoing orientation workshops for all students in residences to deal with diversity in a mature way;
  • Support to deal with language issues, including interpreting services so that language rights of all students can be respected; and
  • Assistance with the review of residence governance, administrative and other procedures that have been used in residences up to now.

“There can therefore be no doubt that the management is committed to the well-supported and successful implementation of this new policy and to giving the best possible education to all our students,” Judge Hancke and Prof Fourie said.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za
8 June 2007
 

 
 

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