2014 Annual Report

2014 has been an intensive yet fascinating and rewarding year. A year of changes that engendered new opportunities. A year of re-structuring and transition, during which we streamlined our output and closer aligned it with the University of Pretoria’s 2025 plan. The staff component changed, bringing new momentum to our work and sharpening our focus, with Dr Shakila Dada becoming a full-time staff member, Dr Kerstin Tönsing being promoted to senior lecturer (as of 2015), Dr Alecia Samuels starting a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Jönköping in Sweden, Mrs Robyn White completing her Master’s degree, Mrs Karin van Niekerk embarking on a PhD journey, whilst Mrs Ensa Johnson is in the final stages of completing her PhD after returning from a one-year period of study leave. These appointments and qualification upgrades allow the Centre to confront head-on the challenges and opportunities of an increasing number of postgraduate students and shorter completion times for Master’s and PhD degrees.