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Qwaqwa Campus lecturer to join University of Michigan’s prestigious scholar programme

03 February 2022 | Story NONSINDISO QWABE | Photo UFS Photo Archive

Dr_Makombe_web read more — Prof Rodwell Makombe, Associate Professor in the Department of English on the Qwaqwa Campus.

Prof Rodwell Makombe, Associate Professor in the Department of English on the university’s Qwaqwa Campus, will be joining a prestigious group of more than 100 academic staff from African universities for this year’s University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars (UMAPS) programme.

Each year, the programme hosts more than 180 academics from different universities in Africa for a five-month fellowship, providing academics with access to the university’s research libraries and facilities, on-campus housing, health insurance, and a stipend to cover living expenses.

Fellowship an opportunity for collaboration and career growth

The fellowship comes at just the right time for Prof Makombe, who said he is looking forward to mentorship for his growth and career development in a new environment and atmosphere. “I am very excited about this opportunity, which I think has come at the right time. It will expose me to a broad network of scholars, which I need for collaboration purposes, and it will also give me an opportunity to share my research and learn from the experiences of other scholars from different parts of the world. Given that I will be working closely with a faculty member of the university for the duration of the fellowship, the programme will also provide me with the mentorship that I need for my growth and career development.”

Apart from the exposure to broad academic and research scholars, he said he was looking forward to having the time and resources to finish writing his second book.

“I have just published my first book in October 2021, and I have already started doing research for my second book. The fellowship will give me time and space to focus on writing the book without the usual interruptions associated with my teaching responsibilities. The book focuses on cultures of resistance in post-Mugabe Zimbabwe. It is a sequel to my recent book,Cultural texts of resistance in Zimbabwe: Music, Memes, Media, which explores discursive resistance in Zimbabwe in the context of crisis.”

News Archive

First-year wellbeing a top priority at Harmony residence

2017-06-07

Ladies from the House Harmony, a unique residence
that focuses on first-years’ experience.
Photo: Supplied

A unique residence that focuses on first-years’ experience, is exactly what Harmony sets out to provide for all first-year students at the University of the Free State.

A residence focusing on mentoring

Entering the adult world can be a daunting experience, but Harmony, unlike other residences on campus, focuses on mentoring. Harmony came to life in 2014 and has assisted many first-years in adapting to the university environment.

According to Pulane Malefane, Residence Head of House Harmony, they have witnessed a significant change in the pass rate of first-year students. “We have realised that first-years gain confidence much quicker than in other residences where they still need to find their way around seniors,” she says.

Adapting to the varsity environment

Harmony makes use of a Residence Assistants (RA) system, not Residence Committees (RC). The RA stay in corridors with their mentees in order to have close contact with them. An RA’s primary role is to be a mentor to first-years and also expose them to different co-curriculum activities on campus. They assist them in adapting to the varsity environment quicker, so as to be able to focus and concentrate on their academics.

Nicole Rabe, RA First-years, says the Harmony belles never cease to amaze her. “Watching these first-years grow from the high school girls that arrived at the start of this year, to the independent women they are now, has truly been a blessing.”

Malefane mentions that they intentionally try to place students from one faculty in the same corridor. In that way, mentors and residence assistants are in close proximity to them. “We have study rooms in each and every corridor of Harmony, making it easy for students to study close to their rooms at any time,” she says.

Phathutshodzo Nekhavanmbe, a first-year LLB student, says she could not have asked for a better house to be placed in. “The Harmony experience has been great so far, as the people living there are approachable and eager to lend a helping hand.”

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