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UFS scholar recognised as emerging leader in climate adaptation research

19 August 2025 | Story Martinette Brits

Dr Tlou Raphela-Masuku, Senior Lecturer in the University of the Free State (UFS) Disaster Management Training and Education Centre for Africa (DiMTEC), has been selected as one of only 15 early-career researchers from Southern and Eastern Africa to participate in the prestigious British Academy-funded International Writing Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation.

Her selection follows a highly competitive process involving applicants from across the region, underscoring her growing influence in climate research. “Being selected as one of only 15 early-career researchers from the SADC and East Africa region was truly humbling. It affirmed the value of my research and passion for climate adaptation and further motivated me to keep making a meaningful contribution in this field,” she said.

Strengthening research visibility and collaboration

The workshop is jointly organised by York St John University (UK), the University of the West of England (UK), the University of Nairobi (Kenya), and the University of Cape Town (South Africa). It brings together emerging scholars from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen academic writing and publishing skills, and develop grant proposal expertise.

For Dr Raphela-Masuku, the programme is a natural fit with her work at DiMTEC. “At DiMTEC, my work spans ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. I am the core teacher for this module for master’s students. My recent and upcoming research, including work on flood risks and climate vulnerability among subsistence farmers, directly aligns with the themes of the workshop,” she explained.

Her focus within the programme will be on climate-induced vulnerabilities and resilience, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities, with a strong emphasis on extreme weather events and nature-based solutions. She looks forward to both the online and in-person engagements in Nairobi and Cape Town, which will run between 2025 and 2027. “These offer a fantastic opportunity for peer learning, mentorship, and deeper engagement with fellow climate researchers. Exchanging ideas face to face is always energising and often leads to lasting collaborations,” she said.

Advancing DiMTEC’s mission

Participation in the workshop will not only advance Dr Raphela-Masuku’s own academic profile but also strengthen DiMTEC’s regional and continental footprint. “My participation directly supports DiMTEC’s mission to build climate resilience and disaster preparedness across Africa. It strengthens our footprint in the region and facilitates collaboration with other institutions working on similar challenges, especially in rural vulnerability and adaptation,” she noted.

She sees the experience as a vital platform to amplify her work on flood resilience and the health impacts of climate change to audiences that include academics, policymakers, and practitioners. “The workshop will enhance the visibility of my work and provide the tools and strategies to navigate high-impact publishing, which is crucial for emerging African scholars,” she added.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr Raphela-Masuku said it has been “rooted in both academic enquiry and real-world impact”, driven by the urgent need to support vulnerable communities. Her advice to aspiring researchers is clear: “Stay curious. Stay rooted in the needs of your communities. And don’t be afraid to ask hard questions or chase ambitious goals. Climate adaptation research is not just about publishing papers – it’s about finding real solutions for real people.”

News Archive

Statement on protest at the UFS

2005-03-04

Following a protest by student and non-student organisations today, the management of the University of the Free State (UFS) would like to place the following facts on record:

1. There is a well-documented process underway to further transform the UFS. At the official opening of the UFS on 4 February 2005 , the Rector and Vice-chancellor, Prof Frederick Fourie, announced that the UFS would draft a comprehensive Transformation Plan to guide the next phase of transformation at the institution.

The UFS appeals to student formations, staff associations, trade unions and other role-players to make a constructive input into this Transformation Plan.

The UFS management has been - and always will be - willing to engage with role-players and is prepared to do so even after today’s protest.

2. There is thus no regulation or policy prescription which separates students in hostels according to race.

The reality is that students exercise their freedom of choice as to which hostel they wish to be placed in. This was agreed upon by black and white students in 1997/8.

However, the unintended consequence and practice of this hostel placement policy has been that students themselves have tended to choose to stay in hostels which have over time become black hostels and white hostels.

This is a matter of concern for the management of the UFS as such a situation does not promote interaction across language, cultural and socio-economic groupings of students.

This matter is receiving attention and an intensive consultative process, which will include students, will be launched to review this policy.

The management is convinced that such interaction will enhance the learning experience of all students and sensitise them to the reality of a multicultural South Africa and a multicultural world.

3. No student organisation has been banned from operating at any of the three campuses of the UFS.

In the past few weeks, SASCO, the Young Communist League and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) have held meetings on all three campuses, namely the Qwaqwa campus, the Vista campus and the main campus.

There are also regular interactions between top management and the leadership of SASCO and the ANCYL on campus.

In fact, the UFS upholds the right of students and staff to associate freely and to organise themselves as they see fit.

The UFS also upholds the rights of staff and students to engage in legal and peaceful protests.

The management however remains committed to discussing issues that affect staff and students in a constructive manner and appeals to student organisations in this case to engage with management.

4. The issues of registration, fees, debt and financial aid are continually monitored, and interventions to assist students are made regularly. To assist as far as possible those academically deserving students who face financial difficulties, the UFS management has put in place a structure called the Monitoring committee that includes management and student representatives.

The purpose of the Monitoring Committee is to review the cases of individual students to determine how best they can be assisted.

This applies to the Qwaqwa campus, the Vista campus and the main campus.

It is generally the case that students who perform academically will not have any difficulty in obtaining financial assistance. However, according to the requirements of National Student Financial Scheme, students who perform poorly will have difficulty in obtaining such assistance.

5. With regard to student governance, the process to institute an inclusive Central Student Representative Council (SRC), on which all three campuses will be equitably represented, was launched in July 2004, and a preliminary constitution has just been drafted. At the same time an inclusive process to review certain elements of the constitution of the main campus SRC was initiated at the end of 2004. This process, which includes all relevant student organisations and structures, is planned to produce an outcome within the next couple of months.

6. There is no policy at the UFS that is based on racism or that discriminates on the basis of the race of students and staff.

As part of the building of a new institutional culture within the broader transformation process, the UFS management is determined to eradicate all elements of racism that may occur on its campuses, and has already instituted inclusive forums on campus to discuss the issue of values and principles for a non-racial university.

Issued by: Mr Anton Fisher
Director: Strategic Communication
Cell: 072 207 8334
Tel: (051) 401-2749
4 March 2005

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