Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology recently concluded a significant three-day conference, marking the culmination of the “Indexing Transformation” programme, a groundbreaking endeavour funded by the Mellon Foundation. The event took place from 23 to 25 August at Mont Fleur in Stellenbosch.
The conference served as a platform for scholars, alumni, and students to present their research and celebrate the scholarship of the “Indexing Transformation” programme, which had a remarkable seven-year journey.
“Indexing Transformation” was unique in its approach, combining international scholarly development with scholarships offered at the Honours and Masters levels. The programme focused on nurturing pre-doctoral level research and creating an intellectually stimulating environment for student growth. The initiative included a seminar series featuring prominent global researchers, workshops, and the provision of 24 Honours and 48 Masters scholarships over its duration. Notably, 23 Honours and 30 Masters graduates have already emerged from the programme, with an additional 10 expected in upcoming graduations.
Prof Bernard Dubbeld, one of the architects of the programme, highlighted its significance, “This event was the closing conference of ‘Indexing Transformation’, a Mellon-funded project that has run in the department over the last 7 years. Funding was initially given for 5 years, but the pandemic meant that we were able to stretch out the project for 7 years”.
Prof Dubbeld explained that the conference featured 20 research presentations spread across two and a half days. A notable departure from the norm was the extensive discussions each paper generated, promoting deeper engagement with the research. The interaction between current students and alumni from different years was particularly inspiring, reflecting the peer learning objectives of the programme.
“We brought in four of our graduates including, Angelique Michaels (PhD, Manchester University), Esethu Monakali (PhD, Lund University), Vanessa Mpatlanyane (PhD, University of Cape Town), and Adriaan Steyn (PhD, Harvard University). Handri Walters, a lecturer at SU, was at centre of the conference as she interacted with recent Masters graduates and current scholarship students. The conference also featured three speakers from outside the department including, Prof Peter Redfield, Prof Karl von Holdt, and Prof Ronelle Carolissen,” said Prof Dubbeld.
Themes addressed during the conference encompassed a wide range of sociological and anthropological studies, including education experiences, social mobility, urban marginality, development, and its constraints, and discussions of transformation in various sectors, touching on aspects like race and infrastructure.
Vanessa Mpatlanyane shared insights into her research on black middle-class families in Mbombela Mpumalanga. Her work, part of her doctoral research, focuses on intergenerational family dynamics. She expressed her satisfaction in finding resonance between her work and the broader themes of transformation, resilience, and future-centric thinking.
Mpatlanyane praised the programme for fostering a supportive scholarly community, stating, “Seeing how much the ‘Indexing Transformation’ grant assisted students not only journey through their studies but also build community and reflective scholarship was definitely a highlight”.
The conference not only celebrated academic achievements but also inspired critical thinking and growth. Mpatlanyane noted, “The panels reflected, in various ways, how transformation is required in and beyond the university. Whatever the consideration, all of us were left intellectually stimulated and challenged. That is, we were left with a sure sign of rigorous scholarship. That is definitely worth celebrating”.
Angelique Michaels expressed how it marked a significant milestone in her academic journey. Attending the conference proved to be a momentous occasion for Michaels, offering a chance to reflect on her academic path and connect with the broader context of social and institutional transformation.
“The ‘Indexing Transformation’s’ closing conference has been the highlight of my academic career to date,” said Michaels, emphasising the depth of the impact the event had on her. She highlighted the unique opportunity the conference provided to not only reflect on individual academic trajectories but also to discover common threads within the research of former and current students, as well as professors from diverse disciplines who all shared a common interest in societal transformation.
A significant theme that emerged from the conference was the importance of representation, particularly the inclusion of historically marginalised perspectives within curricula, institutional climates, bureaucratic processes, and systems of evaluation, said Michaels. Prof Ronelle Carolissen, from SU’s Department of Psychology, emphasised the violence inherent in the absence of self-reflection within the institutions individuals affiliate with, and this perspective resonated throughout the discussions at the conference.
Michaels noted, “The conference was a reminder that a commitment to the kind of change and redress that the ‘Indexing Transformation’ initiative advocates, calls for an awareness of this relationship between the institution and the students it cultivates and primes.”
Michaels underlined the significance of the conference as a platform for introspection and change within academia. She praised the University’s receptivity to transformation, suggesting that for meaningful change to occur, institutions themselves must undergo the same process of transformation that they advocate for. The conference’s impact left attendees invigorated and inspired to contribute to societal change. “The experience foregrounded the pivotal role that critical engagement and intergenerational conversations play in attempts at redress, and in sustaining and working towards a legacy we can be proud of”, she said.
As the programme’s conclusion approaches, it remains clear that “Indexing Transformation” has left an indelible mark on the Department, nurturing a new generation of scholars poised to transform society through their research and insights.
The Indexing Transformation programme, which has played a crucial role in fostering critical and reflexive scholarship, is set to conclude later this year.
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