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Debate series on Broadening Curricula tackles decolonisation in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences

09 June 2025 | Story Tshepo Tsotetsi | Photo Tshepo Tsotetsi

Debaters from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences’ 2025 Broadening Curricula Debate.

In an engaging and thought-provoking session, the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of the Free State hosted its Broadening Curricula Faculty Debate Series under the motion: The current Economic and Management Sciences curricula, pedagogical approaches, and research endeavours perpetuate colonial legacies. Held on the Bloemfontein Campus on 3 June 2025, the debate brought together academics and, for the first time, students – making space for dynamic, intergenerational dialogue on the transformation of teaching and learning in higher education.

Creating space for critical pedagogical reflection

Annari Muller, manager of Teaching and Learning Manager in the faculty, said the aim was to provide a platform for constructive, sometimes challenging, engagement. “We create a platform for staff to debate these things and ultimately inform our practice, policy, pedagogy, and what we teach and how we teach,” she said.

For the first time, students were formally included in the debating teams, following feedback from previous events. “It is very important to include student perspectives as well,” Muller noted. “We want to continue these discussions, take them forward into our research practices and learning and teaching committees, where we will dissect them and act on the next step.”

This inclusion added new layers to the debate. Elda Nhalunga responsible for master’s student administration, said the topic immediately resonated with her. “When I saw decolonisation and curriculum in one motion, I found it very interesting and decided that this was something I wanted to be part of. I also wanted to hear what other scholars were saying.” She added: “Through these small initiatives, we are working towards transformation. And it’s important that students be there so that their voices are heard.”

Towards a more inclusive and just Academic Project

Prof Frans Prinsloo, Vice-Dean for Learning and Teaching, Innovation and Digitalisation, believes that debates of this nature play a vital role in shaping inclusive academic spaces. “Debates, such as the one on decolonisation, enable us to engage with and reflect deeply on complex issues and to challenge existing assumptions. Through this process, the faculty can enhance its teaching practices and curriculum development.”

According to Prof Prinsloo, this kind of engagement is just the beginning. “The debate is but the start of the faculty’s plan to ensure that its Academic Project is decolonised. Research is currently in process to gather perceptions of staff and students on the topic. This research will drive action.”

Lukhanyo Lekeno, Economics master’s student, echoed this sentiment, calling the topic timely and essential. “We’re living in a world where there are certain standards and norms that, in most cases, exclude and marginalise people,” he said. “When we start having conversations about decoloniality, we are taking a step closer to actually dismantling certain legacies and ideologies that keep people constrained within a mindset.” Lekeno encouraged others to engage in such conversations, describing it as an ‘exchange of knowledge, systems, and perspectives’, which contributes to both personal growth and academic transformation.

Previous sessions in the series, such as the 2024 debate on socio-environmental sustainability, have prompted internal curriculum reviews, underscoring the faculty’s intention to link dialogue with institutional reflection.

News Archive

UFS to award honorary doctorate to Maria Ramos

2004-12-08

The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) recently approved the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Ms Maria Ramos, Group Chief Executive of Transnet in April 2005. A total of five honorary doctorandi will be honored.

The other doctorandi are Proff Jan Groenewald (D Sc (hc)), Jaap Durand (D Phil (hc)), Sampie Terreblanche (C Dom (hc)) and Anthon Heyns (MD (hc)).

Me Ramos will receive an honorary doctorate in Economics (P hD (Economics) (hc)) for the large contribution she made to the establishment of a prudent fiscal and macro-economic policy in South Africa and hence, to the restoration of the financial credibility of the country in the eyes of domestic and foreign investors. Ms Ramos was the Director General of the National Treasury from 1996-2003.

She obtained the MSc-degree in Economics in 1992 from the University of London and was awarded a British Council Scholarship (Helen Suzman award) in the same year and in 1991. During the early nineties she was among others project leader of the ANC’s Macro-economic Research Group and also a member of the team that negotiated chapters on finance in the interim Constitution of South Africa. She was a research associate at the Centre for the Study of the South African Economy and International Finance at the London School of Economics and also lectured at the Universities of South Africa and the Witwatersrand.

“It is a great privilege for us to honor Ms Ramos and the other doctorandi in their different fields of expertise. This once again serves as an example of the UFS’s policy to give recognition to people who excel and make a difference,” said Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS.

Prof Jan Groenewald will receive an honorary doctorate for his life-long commitment to the establishment and development of Agricultural Economics as a subject field in South Africa and in Africa and his various contributions to the UFS. During his career, Prof Groenewald received various awards among others in 1998 when he received the Stals Prize for Economics from the South African Academy for Science and Art and in 1990 when he received an honorary medal from the South African Society for Agricultural Economics.

Prof Jaap Durand will receive an honorary doctorate in Philosophy for his pioneering work on various fields in the South African society. He obtained his Masters degree in Philosophy from the UFS and contributed to almost 60 articles and collections. Prof Durand has a colourful career as academic manager: from professor in Systematic Theology and dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University of the Western Cape to Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the same university. He was the ombudsman of the University of Stellenbosch from 2002-2003.

Prof Sampie Terreblanche will receive an honorary doctorate in Economics for the important role he played, and is still playing, to keep the debate about and the need for socio-economic and socio-political reform in South Africa going. Prof Terreblanche started his career as a lecturer at the UFS. In 1992 the Stals Prize for Economics was awarded to him by the South African Academy for Science and Art. Prof Terreblanche was also a founding member of ASSET, an organisation addressing the problems of poverty, inequality and social injustice in South Africa.

Prof Anthon Heyns, Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Blood Service, will receive an honorary doctorate in Medicine. Prof Heyns is a well-known international researcher in Hematology and recently received a Centenary Medal from the UFS for his strong role and national prominence as expert and leading figure in establishing and developing Hematology at the UFS. He was the first head of the UFS’s Department of Hematology and is also co-editor of the only Afrikaans hand book of Hematology. He serves among others as a council member and member of the executive management of the South African Medical Research Council. On the international front he serves on at least five committees of the World Health Organisation based in Geneve, Switzerland. He has two honorary appointments as professor respectively at the UFS and University of the Witwatersrand.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
8 December 2004

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