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Dr Mutshidzi Mulondo first UFS academic to join the Global Young Academy

24 April 2025 | Story Reuben Maeko | Photo Supplied

Dr Mutshidzi Mulondo, an academic in the Division of Public Health within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of the Free State (UFS), will make history when she becomes the first academic from the institution to be inaugurated into the Global Young Academy (GYA).

Dr Mulondo is one of two South Africans that are part of the 2025 cohort of incoming members who will be inaugurated to the sought-after prestigious Academy in Hyderabad, India. The other South African is Dr Mbuzeleni Hlongwa, a Senior Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council.

The Global Young Academy is a network institution of the United Nations Scientific Advisory Board which allows young scientists from around the world to collaborate on research, set the global agenda, and contribute to global policies. The GYA develops, connects and mobilises young talent from six continents, and empowers young researchers to lead international, interdisciplinary and intergenerational dialogue and contribute to societal challenges. The GYA aims to elevate the voice of young scientists in evidence-informed and inclusive global, regional and national decision making.

The membership is comprised of passionate young scientists, typically who obtained their PhD degrees three to 10 years earlier, are between 30 to 40 years of age, and in the early stages of their independent academic careers. Members are selected for their scientific excellence and commitment to engage with society, and serve five-year terms.

Global Young Academy

“I feel honoured to be selected. The selection further cements the ingenuity of young African scientists and our ability to shape the global agenda. It allows us to envision a future together which leans towards empathy, kindness and unity,” said Dr Mulondo.

The Academy hopes to bridge the gap between established and new academics as well the gap between academics from the Global North and Global South. Further positioning academics from the south for interdisciplinary collaboration and publication in high impact journals to address complex and emerging challenges such as public health issues. The Academy selects young academics who display contribution to research, dedication to serving society and the ability to make an impact on the Academy’s community.

Aspirations in the academy

The recognition is testament that Africa is still producing globally competitive academics. This achievement is even better as it comes during the G20 presidency when Africa is showing what the developing world can produce. Coincidentally, Dr Mulondo, was one of the invited speakers at the G20 Research & Innovation Working Group, joining other selected young academics.

According to Dr Mulondo, who won the Zenith Global Health Award under the category ‘Mental Health and Well-being’ last year and was first runner-up in the category Emerging Leader at the South African Health Excellence Award. Academics from Africa have a responsibility to contribute to the development of the continent through evidence-based advice and solutions to policymakers. This membership allows young academics to stay in touch with global scientific trends and shifts in order to be better informed about resolving some of humanity’s most pressing crises.

She hopes to continue to advance public health strategies that prioritise mental health and health equity. With geopolitical complexities, climate changes and technological advancements shaping our future, the Academy allows for voices from the Global South to contribute to global policies and influence global policy decisions. “As a mentor and supervisor of master’s and PhD students in Public Health, I hope to contribute to ushering in a new generation of well-rounded public health researchers who are societally engaged.”

Prof Anthea Rhoda, UFS Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, congratulated Dr Mulondo, saying the UFS is extremely proud of her. “Being selected as one of two South African scholars to the Global Young Academy demonstrates her dedication as a public health scholar passionate about making a difference in the health and well-being of society. Well done, on this great achievement.”

News Archive

New challenges for animal science discussed

2006-04-04

Some of the guests attending the congress were from the left Dr Heinz Meissner (honorary president of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) and senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council), Mr Paul Bevan (President of SASAS) and Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS).
Photo: Lacea Loader

New challenges for animal science discussed

The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is presenting its 41st Congress at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

The congress started yesterday and will run until Thursday 6 April 2006. The theme is New challenges for the animal science industries.

It is one of the largest congresses in the 45 years since SASAS was founded in 1961. Among the delegates 12 African countries are represented, with the biggest delegation from Kenya. Delegates are also from the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal and African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

“Many of our members play an important role in the training of animal scientists at universities. The congress is specifically industry orientated so that scientists can interact with farmers through the respective producer organisations,” said Prof HO de Waal, Chairperson of the organising committee and lecturer at the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

According to Dr Heinz Meissner, honorary president of SASAS and a senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, the National Livestock Strategy (NLS) Plan clarifies the role and responsibility of the livestock sector.

“Through this strategy we need to focus on enhancing equitable access and participation in livestock agriculture, improve global competitiveness and profitability of the livestock sector and ensure that the ventures implemented do not over utilise our resources,” said Dr Meissner.

In her welcoming address, Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector: Academic Planning at the UFS highlighted the related challenges that the UFS will be focusing on specifically over the next five years. “We have identified five strategic clusters that represent broad areas of excellence in research and post-graduate education. Two of these are food production, quality and safety for Africa and sustainable development,” she said.

“The food safety and security cluster will focus on the production of food in all its varieties within the African context, encompassing the entire value chain – from production to consumption and nutrition related issues. This would include a strong emphasis on sustainable production systems,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie the rural development cluster will engage in questions around the role of higher education in sustainable development. “One of the focus areas in this strategic cluster pertains to sustainable livelihoods. It refers to a way of approaching development that incorporates all aspects of human livelihoods and means by which people obtain them,” she said.

Prof Fourie said that the challenges we are facing such as food production can only be effectively addressed through collaborative efforts. “That is why it is important that collaboration takes place between different scientific disciplines, researchers, institutions and countries who are confronted with similar difficulties,” she said.

According to Prof de Waal the congress will give key role players a unique opportunity to present a profile of what they perceive an animal scientist should be and state their specific requirement regarding the animal sciences and its applications.

“In this way we can determine what the industry’s needs are and we can re-align our curriculum to suit these needs,” said Prof de Waal.

During the next two days, various areas of interest will be discussed. This includes ruminant and monogastric nutrition, animal physiology, beef, dairy, sheep and ostrich breeding and sustainable farming covering the range from commercial to the small-scale farming level.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 April 2006

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