Social Transformation

STF111
2024

Topic:

Studying at University
Prof Rianna Oelofsen
Staff
• Prof Rianna Oelofsen (Moelofsen@ufh.ac.za)
• Dr Nomzamo Dube (Ndube@ufh.ac.za)
• Ms Sizwe Mqalo (Nmqalo@ufh.ac.za)
• Ms Hlalisa Kula (Hkula@ufh.ac.za)
• Ms Nolubabalo Mbange (Nmbange@ufh.ac.za)
• Ms Sphamandla Nyambo (SNyambo@ufh.ac.za)
Social Transformation
• As the University of Fort Hare Strategic Plan sets out in its vision and
mission, the University is committed to “incorporating the principles of
transformation, equity, and the socio-economic contextualisation of
the plan.” (UFH Strategic Plan 2022-2026 Vision & Mission)
The Social Transformation module has the potential to address issues in
line with this plan such as
poverty
inequality
oppression
climate change
societal and individual health
Content
• The module of Social Transformation has the aims:

to seek to understand and address in general underlying causes

of societal and environmental harm that calls for change
to interrogate these harms through decolonized ethical and
logical thinking.

• This module therefore, will focus on African concepts (and thus

content) as solutions for global problems.
Outcomes: Learners should be able to
Understand critical African Scholarship insofar as it informs our
response to socio-political realities that define our society;
Exercise critical thinking skills;
Demonstrate a critical understanding of the contributions made
by scientific innovation and make a connection between gaining
scientific knowledge and correlative societal actions that improve
our lives and society at large;
Exercise ethical thinking skills and obtain knowledge of African
ethics and critical moral thinking within diverse cultures;
Demonstrate a critical understanding of citizenship and various
democratic principles that embrace diversity;
Outcomes: Learners should be able to
Understand the causes and effects of poverty so as to think about the
potential and prospects of sustainable development in Southern Africa.
Understand a critical approach to detrimental health issues in the
African context and the need to practice responsibility for social and
personal health and wellness;
Understand and appreciate mental health and the implications of the
HIV/AIDS and GBV pandemics in Africa.
Understand how environmental issues such as climate change,
biodiversity and sustainable development impact human beings, while
also appreciating the implications of alternative energy sources that
are sustainable and safer to the environment.
Themes covered in the course:
Theme 1: Studying at University
Theme 2: Health
Theme 3: Critical Thinking
Theme 4: Ethics and Culture
Theme 5: Liberation, Citizenship and Democracy
Theme 6: Environment, Science and Technology
A different kind of Module
• The point of the course is to set up relationships across disciplines
which will result in new solutions, but grounded in concepts rooted in
Africa.
• This module has the opportunity to become a UFH community building
exercise, a journey the students go through which builds community
across disciplines.
• If the friendships, built throughout this module, last and students keep
talking to their friends about their work, you would get graduates who
are well rounded in all respects. Through peer education we can create
students with a good knowledge of all disciplines.
A different kind of Module
• As part of the more practical aspects of the module, we incorporate
skills such as
anger management,
conflict resolution,
goal setting and planning,
personal growth and development,
diversity workshops
Gender sensitivity training
• Having all our students exposed to developing these skills, has
immense implications for the future of Fort Hare as a safe and
communal space for staff and students.
Logistics
• Every second week Amakhaya sessions
• Every second week Village Lectures

• The Amakhaya groups will be up in the Law building tomorrow, and

will also be uploaded to blackboard

• Please see your Learning guide for more information, but next week
we will have a Village Lecture during the 10:45 and 15:30 slots. The
week after we will have amakhaya sessions
Assignments
• Biweekly MCQ tests on blackboard

• Biweekly reflective videos to be created by students.

• Final assignments are to give a presentation on a

practical intervention in the community. This practical
intervention could address economic, social or
educational needs within the community the student
finds herself in.
Theme 1: Education
Some questions:
Why are you here, at Fort Hare?
Why are you at university, studying?
What is it you are meant to gain from getting a
university education?
What is “education”? Is education valuable? If so, why?
What is the function of a university?
Personal Development Plan
• What is it?
• What does it entail?
• Why is it important?
• What are areas of personal development that needs to be addressed
in your PDP?
6 Areas of personal development

• Mental.
• Social.
• Spiritual.
• Emotional.
• Physical.
• Career.
6 Areas of Personal Development

• Imagine where you want to be in 5 years in each of these areas.

• Work out what steps you need to take to achieve these goals in
each area.
• Be specific e.g. I see myself as having a car, or a drivers license,
or hopefully both.
• Now what are the steps that you need to take
• Structure your personal development goals.
Thank you
• Input / comments / questions / recommendations