Individual fellows celebrated at special event at the University of Fort Hare in South Africa.
Twenty-one teaching and learning fellows were celebrated at a prestigious event at the University of Fort Hare (UFH) in South Africa.
The UFH Vice Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Awards gala dinner honoured outstanding educators who have demonstrated unwavering dedication to teaching and student development.
Formal recognition was given to 21 colleagues who successfully achieved Advance HE’s teaching and learning fellowships in a ceremony where each received an award and certificate marking their achievement. This inaugural ‘Fellowship Class’ celebration at the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards is set to become an integral part of the VC Teaching Excellence ceremonies in the future.
Fellows from various faculties were honoured for their enhancement of teaching, innovation, leadership and dedication to creating engaging learning environments, including:
Associate Fellows
Dr Vuyelwa Dondolo, Mr Nathunathi Mvunge and Ms Khanyisa Mabece
Fellows
Dr Lulekwa Baleni, Dr Martha Mushunje, Dr Desiree Hunter, Mrs Elzette van Niekerk, Ms Bongo Mqukuse, Ms Nobulali Tsipa-Booi, Mr Bramwell Gavaza
Senior Fellows
Prof Vuyisile Nkonki, Prof Arthur van Coller, Prof Liezel Cilliers, Prof Tendai Chimucheka, Ms. Siyanda Ntlabathi, Dr Nomakhaya Mashiyi, Dr Darlington Chigori, Dr Ellen Chigori, Dr Juliet Townes, Dr Palesa Makhetha-Kosi and Dr Kim Schmidt.
Reflections
Several fellows from across all four categories share their thoughts here on the impact of recognition and their vision for the future:
Prof Liezel Cilliers, Senior Fellow and Acting Dean: Health Sciences
“Senior Fellowship was a fulfilling experience, marking a significant milestone in personal and professional growth. It felt rewarding to have my dedication and passion for education recognised. Others can learn from this achievement that continuous learning and commitment to teaching excellence are invaluable. It’s a reminder that investing in professional development not only enhances our own skills but also positively impacts the learning experiences of others.”
Dr Juliet Townes, Senior Fellow and Head of Department and Senior Lecturer: Business Management
“Senior Fellowship was an incredibly validating and humbling experience for me. It affirmed that my dedication to innovative teaching methods and student engagement was recognised and appreciated by my peers and institution. Presenting my work to Executive Management provided a platform to showcase the impact of my teaching practices, fostering a deeper understanding and support for pedagogical innovation. My achievement highlights the importance of perseverance, creativity and student-centred approaches in enhancing learning outcomes, offering valuable lessons to others aspiring to excel in teaching and learning. I encourage all UFH academic staff to put their names forward for this fellowship so that their teaching and learning experiences can be validated and appreciated.”
Dr Kim Schmidt, Senior Fellow and Senior Lecturer: Social Work and Social Development
“My participation in all of these teaching and learning programmes has consistently reminded me that curriculum is way more than just the subject material I bring to the classroom. It has challenged me to answer the question of ‘who I am’ in the classroom, what choices am I making and what is the impact of my choices on my students, our university and our community? I am grateful for each of these lessons learnt and encourage staff at UFH to engage in the opportunities offered. While it may seem like more work, the learning and connections made through participation in these programmes is well worth it.”
Dr Nomakhaya Mashiyi, Senior Fellow and Senior Researcher: Teaching and Learning Centre
“I was ecstatic about receiving this recognition for my contribution to teaching and learning in higher education. For me, the award ceremony reinforced the importance of reflective practice, continuous self-improvement, life-long learning and dedication to improving student learning outcomes. It is my firm belief that mentoring others, engaging in the scholarship of teaching and learning to improve my practice as a university lecturer, and showing a commitment to improving the teaching-learning experience of students are responsibilities that come with being a recipient of teaching fellowships.”
Prof Vuyisile Nkonki, Senior Fellow and Director: Teaching and Learning Centre
“The fellowship application process is a reflection exercise that brings together agreed upon core knowledge and professional values that underly my own teaching and learning support practice. Senior Fellowship recognition validates my practice as meeting standards, while the post-nominal, that is, the string of alphabets after my name add to my professional credentials.”
Mrs Elzette van Niekerk, Fellow and Consultant: Teaching and Learning Centre
“Receiving the trophy and certificate for my Fellowship at the VC awards ceremony was a deeply rewarding experience that instilled a sense of pride and gratitude. This recognition affirms my commitment to excellence in teaching and motivates me to further enhance my educational practices. Presenting my work to the Executive Management has positively influenced my future by fostering opportunities for collaboration and innovation in my teaching. Ultimately, I hope to inspire others to pursue their own paths of excellence in higher education.”
Dr Vuyelwa Dondolo, Associate Fellow and Consultant: Teaching and Learning Centre
“Although I received my fellowship in 2017, being formally awarded my certificate and trophy in front of faculty members and the Executive Management of the University meant a great deal to me. It felt as if I were being awarded the fellowship for the first time, due to the recognition and appreciation shown for teaching excellence. I felt valued in academia and proud to have contributed, along with my fellow recipients, to highlighting how UFH invests in the professional development of its academics. Standing on that stage with my colleagues gave me a profound sense of belonging – we were a community, and the University recognised that. As the team leader of this initiative at the Teaching and Learning Centre, it was a deeply personal project for me, and I was immensely proud of all the fellows who applied and succeeded. These fellowships demonstrate that we are on par with international scholars and fellows. I plan to use this award and experience to inform future scholarship of teaching and learning research within my department. Already, 15 academics are in the pipeline for next year’s fellowship awards, which is truly exciting.”
Ms Khanyisa Mabece, Associate Fellow and Consultant: Teaching and Learning Centre
“Receiving this institutional recognition has been an incredible honour. It serves as further validation of the value and significance of the work I am committed to. Meeting the rigorous international standards required for this fellowship has been both rewarding and deeply motivating. I look forward to continuing my professional development and collaborating with esteemed individuals associated with Advance HE fellowship. This opportunity marks an important milestone in my career, and I am excited for the path ahead.”
What’s your Fellowship story?
Join Fellows from around the globe for the #FestivalofFellowship – a celebration of educational excellence and transformation. Share your journey and connect with Fellows worldwide using #FestivalofFellowship. Find out more: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/festival-of-fellowship
