School of Education

Professor Burtram C. Fielding is currently the Dean Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of the Western Cape. Among other positions, he has previously served as the UWC Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), UWC Director Research Development (2018-2021), two terms as the inaugural chairperson of the UWC Animal Research Ethics and the Biomedical Research Ethics Committees, and a three-year term as the inaugural chairperson of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee. As a researcher, Professor Fielding is the principal investigator for the Molecular Biology and Virology Research Group in the Department of Medical Biosciences at UWC

Prof Lesley Le Grange is Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Education at Stellenbosch University. He holds the following qualifications: BSc (UWC), HDE (PG)sec, BA, BEd, MEd cum laude (UCT) and a PhD (SU). He started his professional career as a high school science teacher and during this time also served as Head of Department of biology and acting Deputy Principal. Prior to his appointment to a full-time academic position at Stellenbosch University in 1999, he was a part-time lecturer at different universities, a contract researcher and freelance educational consultant.

At Stellenbosch University he has chaired several committees, served two terms as Vice-Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Education and a stint as Acting Dean in the same Faculty. He teaches and researches in the fields of environmental education, science education, educational research, curriculum studies and higher education studies.

Lesley Le Grange has 244 publications to his credit and serves on editorial boards of twelve peer-reviewed journals. He has delivered more than 170 academic presentations (70+ as invited speaker). In 2015 he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (UK) and in 2019 elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). In 2018 he was appointed member of the Council on Higher Education (CHE) by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology and is also member of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC). He has also been appointed by the Minister of Basic Education as a South African Council for Educators (SACE) Councillor in 2021. After serving two terms as Vice-President, he was elected President of the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies (IAACS) in 2020. This year he was appointed to the Council of Stellenbosch University. Lesley Le Grange is rated as an internationally acclaimed researcher by the NRF and is also convenor of the NRF-rating specialist committee for Education Panel 1. His current research interests include: Sustainability education, education in a post-human(ist) world, history of school biology in South Africa, relationship between science and indigenous knowledge; Ubuntu as ecosophy and its implications for education, curriculum change in South Africa, with reference to life sciences, geography and environmental education; decolonising the university curriculum.

Mr Njabulo Manyoni is a Language Practitioner in the University Language Planning and Development Office, which is part of the Teaching and Learning Portfolio. He specializes in translation, interpreting, proofreading, editing, terminology development and is a student of lexicography. In the University Language Planning and Development Office, he is responsible for the provision of language services to the University Community. His portfolio also oversees the terminology development and literature development programmes of the University Language Planning and Development Office. He is a member of the African Association for Lexicographers and the African Language Association of Southern Africa. He is currently the Secretary of the Kwazulu-Natal Chapter of the South African Translator’s Institute. He has presented papers in local and international conferences.

Professor Paulus Zulu is a social scientist by training, and holds qualifications in Medical Diagnostic Radiography, a post Graduate Diploma in  Marketing Management and BA Hons from UNISA. These were followed by a Masters and PhD in Applied Social Sciences from the University of Natal. Zulu has published extensively in the fields of politics and sociology, both nationally and internationally. Since 1984, Zulu has written numerous chapters in books, including The Hefer Commission: An International Comparative Perspective published in 2004 and Understanding the South African Political Culture published in 2012 to name just a few.  In 2013, Zulu’s debut book, A Nation in Crisis: A Search for Morality, was released.  His second book “Momentous Epochs in the History of the ANC is currently on review for publication.  Zulu has served as chairperson of various boards, including the SABC, Centre for Policy Studies, McCord Hospital and the Human Sciences Research Council, to name just a few.  He is currently Director of the Maurice Webb Race Relations Unit in the School of Social Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and has been a Member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, Vatican City Rome from 1994 to July 2022 when he retired.

Punya Mishra is Associate Dean of Scholarship & Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University where he leads a range of initiatives that provide a future-forward approach to educational research. He is internationally recognized for his work in technology integration; the role of creativity and aesthetics in learning; and the application of design-based approaches to educational innovation. With over 46,000 citations of his research, he is ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide and the top 100 scholars who have the biggest influence on educational practice and policy in the United States. A TED-Ed Educator, he co-hosts the award-winning Silver Lining for Learning webinar, as well as the Value Laden and Learning Futures podcasts. He is also an award-winning instructor, an engaging public speaker, and an accomplished visual artist and poet.