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Anthropology research team highlights xenophobia at international conference

11 June 2021 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Supplied

Prof Joy Owen_web read more — Prof Joy Owen believes in the mutual intellectual push between research supervisor and student.

Prof Joy Owen, Head of the Department of Anthropology, and two of her students, Ingrid Juries, PhD student and Mamokoena Mokoena, Master’s student, presented a paper exploring the experiences of migrants, at the virtual Oxford Migration Conference that took place from 10 to 11 May 2021 under the theme Borders and Justice.

According to Prof Owen, their paper Bordering on complexity? African migrants’ narratives of boundary creation and dissolution, “tries to make a particular intervention in the transnational migration literature – inclusive of diasporic and refugee studies – which speaks to the complexity of reception in ‘host’ countries”. Their paper and presentation were included in Routed, a special conference magazine.

The mainstream portrayal of migrants and residents is that of one-sided aversion and sometimes violence, which gives rise to xenophobic attacks. However, the work done by Prof Owen, Mokoena, and Juries illustrates the ‘rather messy experiences’ of both migrants and citizens and the interpersonal relationships that may result from it. “These relationships are not merely riddled with negative experiences, but also positive, life-affirming experiences for both migrant and citizen,” says Prof Owen.

Xenophobia in South Africa

South Africa in particular, has seen a rise in xenophobic attacks and xenophobia in general, which begs the questions – do we need more research on the matter? Prof Owen says no. “There’s vast literature on xenophobia, and more recently xenophilia – ‘the love of the other’. We need more research that demonstrates the ways in which non-citizens have become part of the South African socio-economic and political fabric,” says Prof Owen.

The complexities of our history in South Africa, that of migration and settlement. “How we narrate those stories, and what we focus on, confirms how we define ourselves as contemporary South Africans, inclusive of migrants in our midst,” says Prof Owen.

Mutual intellectual push

For Prof Owen, it is important to reiterate that although Juries and Mokoena are under her supervision, they were also her collaborators for the conference presentation. “Their contemporary knowledge and understanding of the intricate and embattled experiences of migrants in South Africa is growing,” she says. It is a privilege for her to witness the fast, immediate intellectual growth of her students and their academic prowess while being pushed intellectually herself. “That is fundamentally the role of education, is it not? To keep pushing beyond the knowledge we have accrued in service to society,” Prof Owen says.

News Archive

Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS) produces 22 graduates

2016-04-26

Lutho Xintolo (right) is one of the Centre for Universal Access and Disability Support 2016 graduates. She is currently pursuing her Honours in Psychology.
Photo: Supplied

Once again, the University of the Free State (UFS) hosted a successful series of graduations from 12-15 April 2016 where 3681 students were conferred qualifications at the Bloemfontein Campus. Among those graduating were 22 students who are affiliated with the university’s Center for Universal Access and Disability Support (CUADS).

Some of these students included Zingisa Ngwenya, who is currently busy with her second degree; Grant Lombaard, Zanele Morerwa, and Lutho Xintolo, all of whom are pursuing their Honours degrees. Louzanne Coetzee, a visually-impaired international champion athlete, was awarded a Communication: Corporate Marketing Honours degree this autumn. “We have five athletes and a cyclist with disabilities, amongst our students who are of world-class standard,” said Martie Miranda, Head of the Center.

“The Center assists students to gain access to study courses, buildings, and lecture venues, learning material such as Braille, audio, enlarged print, and E-text, computer facilities with assistive technology and software and adapted hardware, and a specialised examination and test venue for alternative test and exam procedures,” Miranda added.

Students with disabilities who enrol with CUADS receive support according to their individual needs from registration through to graduation. “During this process we identify challenges experienced in their administrative, academic, support, student life, and physical environments, and then address these challenges,” Miranda said.

Support provided by the Center includes amanuenses and extra time during tests and exams according to the student’s specific needs, (as determined through evaluation by the Extra Time Panel), together with Student Counselling and Development, academic tutors provided by the New Academic Tutor programme in collaboration with the UFS Centre for Teaching and Learning, and Sign Language interpreters or lip-speakers as well as real-time captioning.

Students with specific learning difficulties, mobility, visual, or hearing impairments, psychological, or other chronic conditions that might have a disabling effect on them, as well as those with temporary impairments, are fully supported by the CUADS. The Center strives to ensure that students achieve their full potential throughout their journey with our university.

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