Several members of the UFS research group made significant contributions to the conference through research presentations, chaired sessions, and panel discussions, highlighting the university’s engagement in global scholarly debates and reinforcing its reputation as a research-led institution.
Participation in this international forum also allowed members of the group, including PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members, to engage deeply with leading scholars from around the world. According to Dr Judith Sikala, a postdoctoral research fellow in the group, presenting research grounded in African and South African contexts “contributed to diversifying and enriching global debates that have traditionally been dominated by perspectives from the Global North. This helped ensure that local experiences and challenges informed the international discourse, thus strengthening the relevance, inclusivity, and reach of the capability approach worldwide.”
Advancing human development scholarship and global collaboration
The group’s contributions spanned a wide range of topics, including inclusive higher education for international students, youth employability and sustainable livelihoods in Southern Africa, leadership and policy innovations to reduce social inequality, and decolonial approaches to curriculum and knowledge production.
“Our presentations highlighted ecological and human flourishing, social justice, and transforming higher education systems in the Global South,” Dr Sikala said. Several members also chaired sessions and facilitated panel discussions that explored global perspectives on human development and sustainable development, while others engaged in discussions on advancing social and ecological well-being.
Gloria Frimpong Adjei, a PhD candidate in the group, said the Summer School provided a unique opportunity to situate her research in the Capability Approach and Human Development Framework. “This was my first international summer school, and it served as a space where I could engage with peers and faculty members who enlightened participants on the Capability Approach and how it can be applied to my study,” she said. Adjei also noted that the conference created “an informal space to build connections for future collaborations”, underscoring the networking value of these global engagements.
Participation in the conference also enhanced the university’s international profile and facilitated collaboration with leading institutions worldwide. Dr Sikala highlighted that the conference “created pathways for joint publications, collaborative research grants, co-hosted workshops, and student or staff exchanges”, while also providing a platform for mentoring emerging scholars. She added that engaging in these conversations not only strengthened individual researchers but also “elevated the overall quality and global impact of research conducted at UFS”.
Prof Melanie Walker, chair of the research group, reflected on the broader impact for the university community: “The outstanding international profile the research group holds demonstrates the excellence of work being produced in our Global South context. The group is considered remarkable in what it has achieved, and this brings enormous credit to the university.” She emphasised that events like the HDCA Summer School and Conference offer early career scholars “tremendous opportunities to reflect critically on their own research, engage with peers from many countries, and form international professional networks that can lead to future collaborations, grant opportunities, and co-writing projects”.
For both the university and its researchers, such international engagement is invaluable. Adjei noted that, an early-career researcher, participating in the conference “enriched my research profile and offered a platform to build a strong network for future collaborations”. Dr Sikala echoed this, saying that these engagements ensure “that the voices and experiences of UFS researchers are represented in shaping global scholarship and policy on human development”, while also enhancing professional growth and confidence.
Through these contributions, the group demonstrated the depth and breadth of expertise of its members, positioning the UFS as a globally engaged, research-led institution and a key contributor to knowledge creation and dissemination on human development issues.