NWU academic appointed into Codesria College
Abiodun Salawu, professor of Journalism, Communication and Media Studies in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences at the NWU Mafikeng Campus, has been selected to serve in the College of Senior Mentors of the Council for the Development of Social Science in Africa (Codesria).
The College is part of the Council's African academic Diaspora support to African universities programme. This new initiative seeks to tap into the academic resources of the African academic Diaspora in North America, Europe and elsewhere, as well as the Diaspora within Africa, to help strengthen capacity in teaching, research and mentoring in the social sciences and humanities in African universities.
The Dakar (Senegal)-based Council notes that Prof Salawu's selection into the College "speaks to the strong application you put in as evidenced from your curriculum vitae and therefore the critical value that your participation will lend to the initiative".
The Council further notes that the college of senior academic mentors will play an important role in various initiatives that the council will implement in the 2016-2020 programme cycle aimed at strengthening capacity in teaching, research and mentoring in the social sciences, humanities and higher education in African universities.
A specific goal is to strongly focus on peer mentoring and the retooling of senior academics involved in managing graduate degree programmes, PhD supervision and curriculum review and development.
Prof Salawu had this to say about his appointment: "I feel elated and honoured to be part of this college of distinction and I am resolved to contribute positively to its activities".
Codesria is the pioneer African social research organisation and also the apex non-governmental centre of social knowledge production on the continent. It was established in 1973 as an independent pan-African research organisation primarily focusing on social sciences research in Africa.
Prof Salawu's appointment contributes to the NWU's aims to maintain and increase their research activity and to sustain its relevance to the various communities they serve.