UFH SCHOLARS ADD TO THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

A team of esteemed scholars and postgraduate students from the University of Fort (UFH) were among academics, mainly from South Africa, who gathered for the 29^th South African Sociological Association (SASA) conference hosted at Stellenbosch University from 1- 4th July to present their research and chair panel discussions that promote the discipline and the profession of sociology.

Established in 1993, the association’s core objective is to enhance research, teaching, and debate about society; and promote cooperation at the national, regional, and international level among persons engaged in the study of society.

Among the UFH scholars were the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sakhela Buhlungu, and Prof Andries Bezuidenhout, revered sociologists. The Fortharians presented groundbreaking research papers that centered around the conference theme: “Sociology and its Publics: Institutions, audiences, and vocabularies in a new era of contestation.”

Prof Buhlungu and Prof Bezuidenhout delivered compelling keynote addresses during the closing session titled: Critical Engagements with the Legacy of Edward (Eddie) Webster.

The VC centered his address on “Organising, Studying and Managing Labour: Reflections on the Activist and Intellectual Legacy of Professor Edward Webster while Prof Bezuidenhout delved into the “Structure, agency, and power: Conceptualisating labour’s bargaining leverage.”

Among the highlights of the conference for UFH was the re-election of Dr Siyabulela Christopher Fobosi, Senior Researcher at the UNESCO ‘Oliver Tambo’ Chair of Human Rights at the Faculty of Law as a council member of the association.

The University of Fort Hare continues to uphold its legacy of academic excellence and research innovation, further solidifying its prominent role within the academic community both regionally and internationally.