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AUGUST NEWSLETTER

 

FEATURE OF THE MONTH:

      University of Limpopo

UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO & WITS ENTER INTO A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP:

The Wits University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adam Habib and the University of Limpopo Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mahlo Mokgalong, yesterday signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).  

The MOA was on a strategic partnership in the areas of research and postgraduate studies, teaching and learning and community engagement. Read more:

UL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

The University of Limpopo is the result of a merger between the former Medical University of Southern Africa and the University of the North, which merger occurred on 01 January 2005. The Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) was established in 1976 to provide tertiary education and training facilities to the educationally disadvantaged in the fields of Medicine, Allied Health and Nursing Sciences, and Dentistry intended to meet the health needs of the country. Read more:

University of Limpopo Campus life:

VICE CHANCELLOR - Prof Nehemia Mokgaleng:

The University of Limpopo is a leading African University focused on the developmental needs of its communities and epitomising academic excellence and innovativeness . Their MISSION - A University which responds actively to (1) the development needs of its students, staff  and  communities, (2) Through relevant and higher quality education and training, research and community engagement, and (3) In partnership and collaboration with its stakeholders. The university values: Accountability, Transparency, Integrity, Academic Freedom. Excellence and Professionalism.  Read more:

UL, National School of Government sign capacity building partnership:

The University’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Mahlo Mokgalong and NSG Principal, Prof Lekoa Mollo signed the MoA on a five-year agreement, to be piloted in nine provincial legislatures until 2019. The University of Limpopo (UL) and the National School of Government (NSG) signed a legislative capacity building Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to train new Members of Parliament, members of the nine provincial legislatures and their support staff in essential governance and leadership skills needed to executive their daily responsibilities. The signing ceremony took place in Polokwane, on Friday. Read more:

UL - Faculty of Health Science:

Professor Nonceba Mbambo-KekanaProfessor Nonceba Mbambo-Kekana

Professor Nonceba Mbambo-Kekana
Welcome to the website of the School of Health Sciences (SHS) at the Faculty of Health Sciences - University of Limpopo (UL). SHS is one of the five Schools in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The School is situated at the Turfloop Campus of the University of Limpopo. Read more:

University of Limpopo Science Centre:

Background and Purpose:                           The University of Limpopo Science Centre was established and officially opened in 1997.It serves the surrounding community with scientific and technological skills which will be meaningful in improving their ways of living. The Science Centre also aims at promoting Science and Technology awareness and instilling the love of Science subjects in the community. Read more:

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

UIB - hosts SANORD Day 2015 on the topic: Academic freedom and democratic development – a global challenge

Photo from left to right: Professors John Higgins, Gro Lie, and Tor Halvorsen.        Prof John Higgins gave this year’s keynote address at the University of Bergen's SANORD Day.

UIB SANORD DAY 2015: Academic freedom and democratic development – a global challenge?

Gro Lie is the Academic Head of UiB Global and hosted the annual SANORD Day on 9 June 2015. She gave a presentation on “Academic freedom and the north - south experiences compared”. Tor Halvorsen is UiB’s SANORD contact. He gave a presentation on SANORD and the upcoming conference. The event was opened by Vice Rector for International Affairs, Professor Anne Christine .(standing)         Read more:

The University of Lusaka (UNILUS) is a modern private university established under the University Act No. 11 of 1999. The University commenced its operations in 2007, initially as Institute of Corporate Training and Research (ICTAR) and served as sorrage of the Masters Degree programmes offered by the Copperbelt University.Our Vision is to be a benchmark University for professional and academic training coupled with value adding research in the public and private sectors.

 

The University of Lusaka Pioneer Campus is located in Mass Media off Alick Nkhata Road (opposite the United Nations Headquarters). The campus was officially opened on 18th October, 2012 by the Honorable, Dr. John T. Phiri, Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education, represented by the Honourable Deputy Minister, Mr. David Mabumba.           Read more:

Postgraduate, Research, Innovation, Consultancy and Development (PRICED)

The department was created to support research and consultancy services and to create a reservoir of publications emanating from such activities. These activities are anchored under The Postgraduate, Research, Innovation, Consultancy and Enterprise Development (PRICED) Centre. Read more:

Vice Chancellor, Prof. Pinalo Chifwanakeni

Farewell Ceremony for International Students: 

Every semester around 120-180 students from other countries study at Karlstad University. This year, a ceremony to celebrate the international students was arranged for the first time. Read more:  

Riana Meide Mojela, Paulina Amakali and Berry Gande from Namibia were very happy with their semester in Sweden. “This is the start of new tradition that we will continue to recognise international students every semester from now on, said Thomas Blom. It is a good way to demonstrate what they mean to us!

KAU Alumni Emmanuel Mutisya revisited Karlstads university:

Emmanuel Mutisya is originally from Kenya and studied mathematics and economy in 2004 - 2006. With a Master’s degree he went to Japan and earned a second Master’s in Public Administration at the International Christian University. Finally, he was awarded his Doctor’s degree in Sustainability Science at the University of Tokyo. He is one of Karlstad University international alumni and his career in Japan brought him back to Sweden in pursuit of research partners.          Read more.

Merger improves competitiveness:         Stronger academic communities and a greater degree of national competiveness are likely outcomes of a merger between university colleges in Nord-Trøndelag and Nesna and University of Nordland. Read more:

Merger partners meet: from left, Prorector Hanne Hansen, HINT, Assistant University Director Anita Eriksen and Dean Hanne Thommessen (UiN). Behind: Dean Joar Nyborg (HiNT) Photo: Svein-Arnt Eriksen.

UNIVERSITY OF TAMPERE - FINLAND JOINS THE SANORD NETWORK:

The University of Tampere, Finland, embraces the membership of SANORD with enthusiasm. The University is proud of having become a new member of the network and foresees active involvement in promoting the objectives of SANORD and in building stronger ties with partners from Southern Africa and the Nordic countries.

RECTOR OF UNIVERSITY OF TAMPERE:

Prof Kaiija Holli - Head of Institution:

The University of Tampere looks forward to engaging with SANORD and its fellow members and hopes to make a valuable contribution to the network. The profile of the University is wide-ranging and its research crosses disciplinary boundaries. The University of Tampere bears its global responsibility and educates visionaries who understand the world and change it.

UTA celebrates its 90th anniversary:

The 90th anniversary gala and benefit concert on 7 March brought the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra to the university’s main auditorium. The proceeds were used to support the work of young scientists. Read more:

UTA - Globelics Academy looks at development:

Caption: Mika Kautonen (left), Patricia Cabero and Sha Shohan Prasad participate in the tenth Globelics Academy, an international summer school on innovation in developing countries.        Read more:

UTA - Prize awarded to Pirkko Pitkänen for research on global migration:

The University of Tampere awarded Professor of Education Pirkko Pitkänen with its Annual Science Prize. Pitkänen and her research team investigate global migration in a research project that started in 2014. Read more:

UTA - A building for the future:

The new university building on Kauppi campus, Arvo 2, has now risen to its full height. The first visitors enjoyed the opportunity to see what the new building on Kauppi campus, called Arvo 2, looks like. The building has now reached its full height and will be completed already in one year’s time. Read more:

UZ Celebrates Diamond (60 Years) Anniversary:

Humble Beginnings:
In 1945, Manfred Hodson formed the Rhodesia University Association, inspired by the promise of £20,000 by J.F. Kapnek for establishing a university in the colony of Southern Rhodesia.              Read more:

UZ – A VIBRANT CENTRE OF ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE:

Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe Professor Levi Nyagura. The University of Zimbabwe (UZ) continues to offer its services to the nation as a vibrant centre of academic and professional excellence in many fields, including Teacher Education and professional teacher development. Read more:

UZ Food Science and Technology Lecturer Wins Prestigious Schlumberger Foundation Fellowship:

Felicitas Pswarayi, a University of Zimbabwe Food Science and Technology lecturer has been awarded a prestigious Faculty for the Future Fellowship from the Schlumberger Foundation. Read more:

UZ VC Awards 2015:

The University of Zimbabwe held its Annual Vice Chancellor’s Awards Ceremony on Thursday, 7 May 2015.  Simbarashe Moyo (above) won the prestigious Vice Chancellor’s Ambassador of the Year Trophy. Read more:

UZ DEAN MANYERUKE PROMOTED:

University of Zimbabwe has promoted Charity Manyeruke, who was also appointed Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, in January 2015 to the grade of Associate Professor. She is also the Senior Proctor for the University of Zimbabwe. Read more:

JYV - Music Psychology Training:

Training focuses on social, religious, recreational and cultural occasions. Many people spend a considerable amount of time daily listening to music or playing a musical instrument. Music can affect and regulate our mood and emotions, and can be used as a therapeutic medium. Read more:

Doctoral School of the Faculty of Social Sciences: The Doctoral School is a multidisciplinary cooperation network the task of which is to support the students of licentiate and doctoral studies in the different phases of the research process. The Doctoral School belongs to University of Jyväskylä Graduate School for Doctoral Studies. Read more:

Yearly about 20 people graduate with doctoral degrees from the Faculty of Social Sciences. The faculty’s own doctoral programmes are doctoral programme of department of psychology and doctoral programme of the department of social sciences and philosophy.

JYV - Four disciplines ranked among the world’s best:

Research in education at the University of Jyväskylä was ranked high in the QS World University Rankings by Subject. Education was ranked 51–100, the same position as in the last year. Delightfully, new disciplines climbed on the list. Physics was ranked 201–250, languages 251–300 and mathematics 301–350. Read more:

The University of Jyväskylä has placed well in global rankings:

The University retains its position among the best . In global rankings, research activity at the University of Jyväskylä is among the top 2%–3% of all universities. Read more:

Bergen University College is a state institution of higher education, established in August 1994 by the merging of six former independent colleges in Bergen, Norway. Bergen University College is organised in 3 faculties: - Faculty of Education - Faculty of Engineering - Faculty of Health and Social Sciences The total number of students is about 6000, and there are 600 academic and administrative staff. Read more:

Bergen is the second largest city in Norway. Framed by mountains and the sea, Bergen is known as the gateway to the magnificent fjords of Western Norway. Bergen is a vibrant student-friendly city, every year welcoming more than 30 000 students. Bergen University College has about 7300 students, and welcomes around 90 exchange students every year.

Students are an important part of Bergen’s lively cultural scene, which provides them with rich and varied experiences in return. The seven mountains surrounding the city offer excellent recreational opportunities, and the sports department of the Student Welfare Organisation (SiB) invites students to participate in a variety of sports activities.    Read more:

Bergen, home to Bergen University College, is located on the south-western coast of Norway, in the county of Hordaland, in between a group of mountains known as De syv fjell ("the Seven Mountains"), although the number of mountains is a matter of definition. It harbors everything from small pleasure boats and cruise ships to large cargo and fishing vessels.

OPINIONS:

Science Nordic - Are leaders born or bred?

Genes explain some reasons — but not all — for why certain people seem to be born leaders. Researchers have found that leaders often have a certain key leadership gene that makes them more decisive and able to take action. Depicted is Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Wagram in 1809. Napoleon is regarded as one of history's strongest leaders. Read more:

Why indigenous knowledge has a place in the school science curriculum:  I posed this question to university foundation students for a research project into place-based science learning. Read more:

Is indigenous knowledge important in education? Can it be discussed in the formal science curriculum? Read more:

Let’s not abandon the humble lecture quite yet:

Last month the University of Adelaide has boldly declared that it is phasing out lectures. Replacing them will be “flipped” classrooms, where students are expected to do pre-work before they come to class, and where classes are focussed on problem solving and collaboration.           Read more:

RESEARCH:

A wide range of musical phenomena are researched at the Department of Music. The research is interdisciplinary and can be divided into two main categories: cognitive and socio-cultural. Additionally, some of the research can be regarded as residing at the intersection of these two main categories. The main themes within cognitive research include music perception, music motorics, and musical emotions. Within socio-cultural research, the main topics include cultural music research and research on music history.

Department of Music -  Research: 

Themes residing at the intersection of the two categories include theoretical and clinical research on music therapy, psychology of musical development and learning, multi-cultural music education, and cross-cultural music cognition. Read more:

Small animal diversity important for seagrass ecosystems:  Loss of small animals has surprisingly big effects on the health of valuable seagrass ecosystems.

Published in Ecology Letters: Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture has participated in the research project that was recently published in the leading journal Ecology Letters, available here. Read more:

UIN - Society and Media:

A story about people in a community. A moment in time - an emotion - captured in a photo. To understand the world around you, you must learn to see – and to understand what connects us. In an increasingly globalized world, your knowledge will be crucial in the decisions that concern us all. Read more:

DEMOCRACIES BUILT FROM TOP  TO BOTTOM:                           

Contrary to what many have believed, public participation in forming constitutional laws does not contribute toward more democracy in conflict-ridden countries. Functioning democracies are more likely to be created from above, by the political elite.  Norway has decades of experience in peace and democracy building initiatives round the world.  New constitutions were written in the 1990s in a number of countries emerging from wars, conflicts or authoritarian governments.  Read more:

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci casts his vote in the country’s local elections of 2009. This was the first democratic election after Kosovo declared its independence the previous year. According to a new study, Kosovo is a good example of a state where despite the citizens having scant influence on the formation of its constitution, democracy has made headway.

Science Nordic Scientists warn: creationism is on the rise in Europe:

More and more people in Europe are beginning to believe that a god -- not evolution -- shaped life on Earth and there are no signs this development will stop. Creationism, the belief that a god -- not evolution -- shaped life on Earth, is by no means restricted to people from the Bible belt in the US or illiterates in remote corners of civilisation. Read more:

Science Nordic - Painkiller use during pregnancy damages baby boys' testicle development:

Pregnant women should avoid taking painkillers containing paracetamol because doing so may affect the development of their child. Paracetamol, the main component in over the counter painkillers, can damage the testicles of embryos and reduce the amount of testosterone they produce, shows a new study. Read more:

Science Norcid - Ants - man's best friend?

The relationship between humans and ants is far more complex than you might think. Norway’s highest anthill is 238 cm and is found in Hedmark county. Kvamme is on the left. (Photo: Oskar Puschmann, Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute)       Read more:

UTA - Information Sciences’ patent factory is working overtime:

Inventions are created in this room. Grigori Evreinov enjoys working as a researcher so much that he does not even want to use all of his holiday allowance. The School of Information Sciences produces most of the inventions at the University of Tampere. Read more: