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#AfricaMonth2024: Championing global citizenship and African higher education

31 May 2024 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Matome Mokoena

The University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted a compelling event at its Bloemfontein Campus in celebration of Africa Day. Under the theme “World Citizenship and African Higher Education: Preparing Students for a Connected World”, the gathering, organised by the Office for International Affairs, brought together distinguished speakers and scholars to explore the significance of Africa Day and the pivotal role of African institutions of higher learning in shaping a global mindset.

In his opening address, Prof Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS, emphasised the importance of commemorating Africa Day as a means to honour the continent's history, celebrate its diversity, and reaffirm commitments to unity, peace, and progress in Africa. “Events of this nature remind us that Africa is rising and increasingly claiming its rightful place as a thought and leadership influencer in the global community of nations. How we, as the UFS, embrace this as an opportunity for innovation and impact is of critical importance to our institutional vision, which we call Vision 130, setting out our collective intent to the year 2034, when the university will mark the 130th anniversary of its founding,” he added.

Addressing inequality and colonial legacies

A panel discussion featuring prominent speakers delved into critical issues affecting African society and higher education. Advocate Thando Gumede, a respected human rights and feminist activist, passionately advocated for substantive equality and the dismantling of systemic barriers to empower black women in society, with a particular focus on academic institutions. Gumede emphasised the persistent issues facing African women and girls, particularly black women, in the economy and leadership roles. “It’s now 2024, and yet a black government has purposefully and intentionally failed to meaningfully address the laws, systems, and colonial ideologies that ultimately led to the socioeconomic and political paralysis and violation of African women and girls today, especially black women within the economy and roles of leadership,” she asserted.

She further elaborated on the metaphor of tiptoeing around a house, symbolising the cautious and ineffective efforts to address these deep-seated issues. Advocate Gumede’s call to action was clear: "We have been tiptoeing in this house for 30 years, not wanting to bump the nice transparent vases around the house. We have been silently tiptoeing around this house so as to not wake up the masters. We have been unable to breathe in this house because we have been giving excessive amounts of oxygen to those who don't need it as much as we do. And so, what I'm trying to say is that unless we are willing to tear the entire house down and smash the foundation that it once stood on, there ain’t nothing going to change. Folks, we need to destroy the house and go build something new somewhere else."

Decolonising academic discourse and promoting inclusivity

Other panelists included Prof Itumeleng Mosala, an academic specialising in theology and religious studies, who passionately highlighted the need to decolonise theological discourse and challenge Eurocentric narratives for a more inclusive academic environment. Additionally, Prof Vasu Reddy, Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation of the UFS, stressed the value of embracing diverse perspectives and knowledge systems to cultivate critical thinking and intercultural understanding among students.

Promoting social justice through higher education

Dr Phethiwe Matutu, CEO of Universities South Africa (USAf), spoke about the pivotal role of higher education institutions in promoting social justice through global engagement and addressing historical injustices to build a more equitable society. “Success in higher education hinges on multiple components, including access, resources, and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems. Embracing indigenous knowledge is vital not only for cultural affirmation but also for global advancement, with numerous universities and organisations making significant strides in this area.”

“Pedagogies that promote social justice, such as peer learning and reflective teaching, are essential. These methods validate students' knowledge and encourage comprehensive learning. The Ubuntu pedagogy, which emphasises care, collaboration, and language, is particularly affirming and relevant in advancing education,” she added.

Towards equity and renewal

Three recommendations were proposed for consideration: undoing the residue of colonial leadership ethos, leveraging African knowledge systems in education, and continuously questioning and reflecting on practices to ensure alignment with values and genuine progress.As the event concluded, Prof Petersen urged attendees to reflect on the insights shared and consider their roles in driving positive change within their communities and institutions. The UFS Africa Day event served as a platform for robust discourse on advancing global citizenship and African higher education, reaffirming the institution's commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and the pursuit of knowledge for societal transformation.

News Archive

To tan or not to tan: a burning issue

2009-12-08

Prof. Werner Sinclair

“Some evidence exists which implies that sunscreens could indeed be responsible for the dramatic rise in the incidence of melanoma over the past three decades, the period during which the use of sunscreens became very popular,” says Prof. Werner Sinclair, Head of the Department of Dermatology at the University of the Free State. His inaugural lecture was on the topic Sunscreens – Curse or Blessing?

Prof. Sinclair says the use of sunscreen preparations is widely advocated as a measure to prevent acute sunburn, chronic sun damage and resultant premature skin aging as well as skin malignancies, including malignant melanoma. There is inconclusive evidence to prove that these preparations do indeed achieve all of these claims. The question is whether these preparations are doing more harm than good?

He says the incidence of skin cancer is rising dramatically and these tumours are induced mostly by the ultra-violet rays.

Of the UV light that reaches the earth 90-95% belongs to the UVA fraction. UVC is normally filtered out by the ozone layer. UVB leads to sunburn while UVA leads to pigmentation (tanning). Because frequent sunburn was often associated with skin cancer, UVB was assumed, naively, to be the culprit, he says.

Exposure to sunlight induces a sense of well-being, increases the libido, reduces appetite and induces the synthesis of large amounts of vitamin D, an essential nutritional factor. The use of sunscreen creams reduces vitamin D levels and low levels of vitamin D have been associated with breast and colon cancer. Prof. Sinclair says the 17% increase in breast cancer from 1981 to 1991 parallels the vigorous use of sunscreens over the same period.

Among the risk factors for the development of tumours are a family history, tendency to freckle, more than three episodes of severe sunburn during childhood, and the use of artificial UV light tanning booths. He says it remains a question whether to tan or not. It was earlier believed that the main carcinogenic rays were UVB and that UVA merely induced a tan. The increase in UVA exposure could have severe consequences.

Prof. Sinclair says the UV light used in artificial tanning booths consists mainly of pure UVA which are highly dangerous rays. It has been estimated that six per cent of all melanoma deaths in the UK can be directly attributed to the use of artificial tanning lights. The use of an artificial tanning booth will double the melanoma risk of a person. “UVA is solely responsible for solar skin aging and it is ironical that tanning addicts, who want to look beautiful, are inflicting accelerated ageing in the process,” he says.

On the use of sunscreens he says it can prevent painful sunburn, but UVA-induced damage continues unnoticed. UVB blockers decrease vitamin D synthesis, which is a particular problem in the elderly. It also prevents the sunburn warning and therefore increases the UVA dosage that an individual receives. It creates a false sense of security which is the biggest problem associated with sunscreens.

Evidence obtained from the state of Queensland in Australia, where the heaviest and longest use of sunscreens occurred, boasted the highest incidence of melanoma in the world. A huge study in Norway has shown a 350% increase in melanoma for men and 440% for women. This paralleled the increase in the use of UVB blocking sunscreens while there was no change in the ozone layer. It did however, occur during that time when tanning became fashionable in Norway and there was an increase especially in artificial tanning.

Prof. Sinclair says: “We believe that sunscreen use does not directly lead to melanoma, but UVA exposure does. The Melanoma Epidemic is a reality. Sunscreen preparations are not the magical answer in the fight against melanoma and the irresponsible use of these preparations can worsen the problem.”

Media Release
Issued by: Mangaliso Radebe
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2828
Cell: 078 460 3320
E-mail: radebemt.stg@ufs.ac.za
7 December 2009

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