NWU Optentia to host lecture by world-renowned professor on opportunities, challenges of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact – not only on people’s health, but also disrupting the general way of life.

To explain how the COVID-19 pandemic can present opportunities and challenges in the future, the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area will host a virtual lecture by world-renowned researcher, Prof Ian Goldin, on 9 March from 12pm to 1:15pm.

Prof Goldin is an award-winning expert on globalisation and development at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

During the lecture, titled: “The COVID-19 pandemic: From global crisis to a better world”, Prof Goldin will shed light on the opportunities and challenges the pandemic can pose in future with regard to jobs, geopolitics, the climate crisis, income inequalities and more.

Optentia’s project manager Anjonet Jordaan says they are honoured to host a distinguished scholar such as Prof Goldin.

“Prof Goldin is an accomplished intellectual who has exhibited exceptional leadership skills in various organisations, including the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the OECD Development Centre in Paris.

“We are grateful to him for sharing his knowledge with the NWU community. We believe the lecture will lead the way in influencing an intellectual dialogue on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our daily lives.”

More about the expert

Prof Goldin is a professorial fellow at Balliol College, Oxford University in the UK. He is also the director of the Oxford Martin Programme on Technological and Economic Change, and founding director of the Oxford Martin School, the world’s leading centre for interdisciplinary studies focused on finding solutions to the biggest global problems.

Prof Goldin, who has published over 60 journal articles and 22 books, holds a BAHons and a BSc degree from the University of Cape Town, an MScEcon from the London School of Economics, and a master’s and doctorate from the University of Oxford.

Contact Person: Zenoyise John
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