Academics in the Education Faculty say they learnt a lot from organising the 45th Annual International Conference of the Southern African Society for Education (SASE).
Recently hosted by CPUT, the three-day conference saw scores of delegates from universities in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique descend on the Lagoon Beach Hotel.
Prof Lungi Sosibo, chair of the conference’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), said the way the conference unfolded exceeded their expectations. This was Sosibo’s debut as conference LOC chair.
“It was a great learning experience to lead this project and to overcome all the hurdles which came our way. The research papers were of a very good quality and as a result attendance was good throughout the three days of the conference.”
“The delegates were very happy with the organisation and support from the LOC both before and during the conference,” she said. “They praised the students who volunteered to work during the conference. They were in awe of the services rendered by the students.” The volunteers were dressed in T-shirts sponsored by Van Schaik.
Ten papers presented during the conference will be published in a South African journal which is accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training while other papers will be selected for an academic textbook with an accredited publisher.
Sosibo thanked Prof Thobeka Mda, Dean of the Education Faculty, for paying for the accommodation of six CPUT students who were delegates at the conference. She added that the students looked good in their CPUT-branded T-shirts and caps supplied by the university’s Marketing and Communication Department.
She also thanked CPUT Vice-Chancellor, Dr Chris Nhlapo, for sponsoring a successful gala dinner at the hotel.
LOC member Mvemve Mdingi said they worked as a team motivated by the goal of making the conference a success.
“When you look behind and realise what great work we did with my colleagues both from Mowbray and Wellington Campuses, you become very proud,” he said. “What I enjoyed more was the fact that the conference provided us with a platform to receive education in Africa without borders. It was a great learning curve.”
