Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Previous Archive
01 March 2024 Photo Unsplash
Africa
Collaborating across continents, the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), alongside the Centre for African Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in India and the African Studies Association of India (ASA India), held a pivotal international webinar titled 'Africa’s Global Engagements: Opportunities and Challenges,' on 27 and 28 January 2024.

In the midst of a global landscape marked by rapid changes, Africa finds itself at the epicentre of a new wave of international interest. This intrigue stems from a myriad of factors, ranging from the continent’s abundant natural resources to its strategic geopolitical positioning. However, amidst this renewed attention, questions arise regarding Africa’s agency and its place in the evolving global order.

In recent times, there has been a notable surge in global actors vying for influence in Africa. From former colonial powers to emerging economies like China and India, various stakeholders seek to engage African nations on multiple fronts, spanning from economic cooperation to security collaborations. Against this backdrop, it becomes imperative to delve into Africa’s international engagements to grasp the nuances of its evolving role on the global stage.

Addressing this imperative, the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies at the University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with the Centre for African Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in India and the African Studies Association of India (ASA India), convened an international webinar titled, Africa’s Global Engagements: Opportunities and Challenges. Held on 27 and 28 February 2024, the event was jointly opened by Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Internationalisation at the UFS and Prof Ajay Dubey, former Pro Vice-Chancellor at JNU and currently a professor in the Centre for Africa Studies at JNU. The conference brought together scholars and policymakers from diverse backgrounds and regions, united in their quest to comprehensively understand Africa’s evolving position in the global arena.

In his opening remarks, Prof Vasu Reddy, underscored the timeliness of the conference aligning it to the institution’s visionary framework, Vision 130. He highlighted the centering of Africa as a focal point for addressing broader global challenges emphasising the interconnectedness of Africa’s experiences with broader global narratives. Prof Reddy articulated how Africa serves as a nexus for transnational interactions, intertwining diverse histories, politics, and socio-economic dynamics with the larger global discourse.

Moreover, the conference shed light on the concept of the “Global South” and its implications in the contemporary global order. Participants deliberated on the complexities of African agency within this framework, examining how African states navigate their engagements with a myriad of international actors while asserting their own interests and priorities.

The event not only symbolised a collaboration between the UFS and JNU, as outlined in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), but also signified a shared commitment towards prioritising engagements within the Global South. Through platforms like these, institutions like UFS and JNU demonstrate their dedication to fostering meaningful dialogues and scholarly exchanges that transcend geographical borders.

As Africa continues to navigate its place in the fast-changing global landscape, initiatives such as this webinar serve as critical platforms for fostering mutual understanding and cooperation among scholars and policymakers worldwide. By engaging in nuanced discussions and collaborative efforts, stakeholders can collectively contribute to shaping a more inclusive and equitable global order.

News Archive

Leading African Studies scholar to represent UFS as research fellow at Leiden University
2016-03-10

Description: Dr Stephanie Cawood Tags: Dr Stephanie Cawood

Dr Stephanie Cawood to devote three months at the African Studies Centre Leiden as a visiting research fellow to further her research on the rhetorical imprint of Nelson Mandela.
Photo: Supplied

Dr Stephanie Cawood, Programme Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of the Free State (UFS) Centre for Africa Studies has been offered a visiting research fellowship to the African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL) at Leiden University in the Netherlands. The ASCL is entirely devoted to the study of Africa transcending multiple faculties and is known for its extensive library.

As a visiting research fellow from April to June 2016, Dr Cawood looks forward to expanding her network as well as intellectual horizons with the broad spectrum of knowledge archived by the ASCL. “Working so closely with the scholars at the African Studies Centre Leiden will enrich my research and broaden my international footprint as a scholar,” Dr Cawood says.

Her research at ASCL follows on her doctoral research on the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela’s rhetorical imprint, and will explore the conceptual, cultural, ideological and historical influences that shaped the thought and rhetoric of Nelson Mandela. She is particularly interested in studying the intertextual dynamics in Mandela’s rhetoric with historical figures such as Jawarharlal Nehru, Martin Luther King Jr and Winston Churchill.

According to Dr Cawood, this research “will deepen the understanding of Nelson Mandela’s rhetorical journey from struggle to liberation and unpack the various influences that made him the political figure he ultimately became.”

During her tenure at Leiden University, Dr Cawood will prepare a manuscript to be published by the ASCL as a working paper and also present seminars.

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept