Degree Held
- Doctor of Philosophy (Adult Education), University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2009
- Research Psychologist (HPCSA, South Africa), 1997
- Master of Arts (Psychology, cum laude), University of Natal, 1996
- Bachelor of Arts Honours (Psychology), University of Natal, 1987
- Bachelor of Arts (Psychology & Sociology), University of Natal, 1986
Experience
- Twenty five years’ experience in Higher Education.
- Teaching and research in the disciplines of Adult Education and Social Justice Education.
- Leading projects involved in peace education and conflict resolution.
- Certified trainer in Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
Accomplishments
- Co-convener of Peace Education Commission of International Peace Research Association (IPRA) ( 2013 – current)
- Executive Member of Standards Generating Body for Conflict Resolution, Peace and Elections.
- Recipient of following grants: University Competitive Research Grant (UN) ( 2005)
- Spencer Foundation grant for PhD study (2006); Thuthuka grant, National Research Foundation (2007-2009); United States Institute for Peace, funding for peace education project (2006); Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, funding for peace education project ( 2006-2010); UTLO Competitive Research Grant (UKZN) (2012-2013)
Research Interests
- Peace Education, Transformative learning, Conflict and Violence, Educator Development, Trauma Healing
Teaching Interests
- Peace Education, Conflict Transformation, Research Methodology, Proposal Development, Adult Learning, Postgraduate Supervision
Complete
Research Record
Books
Journal Articles
Chapters in Books
Peer-reviewed Conference Proceedings
Thesis/Dissertation
Conferences Presentations
Research Reports
Books
- Rule, P. and John, V. (2011) Your guide to case study research. Pretoria: van Schaik
- Aitchison, J., Leeb, W. and John, V. (2010) Political violence in the Natal Midlands: the unrest monitoring project papers 1988-1994. Pietermaritzburg: University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Journal Articles
- John, V. M. (2021). Supporting trauma recovery, healing, and peacebuilding with the Alternatives to Violence Project. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 27(2), 182–190. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000532
- Sayed, Y., Cooper, A. and John, V.M. (2021). Crises and disruptions: Educational reflections, (re)imaginings, and (re)vitalization. Journal of Education, 84, 9-30. https://doi.org/10.17159//2520-9868/i84a01
- John, V.M. (2021) The violence of South Africa’s COVID-19 corruption, Peace Review, 33 (1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402659.2021.1956114
- Anne Hatløy, Silondile Luthuli, Vaughn John, Lyn Haskins, Sphindile Mapumulo, Paulin Mutombo, Thorkild Tylleskär, Ingunn M. S. Engebretsen, Christiane Horwood & Mala Ali Mapatano (2021)‘I am not only beneficial to the community but to the entire country, I am trained as a researcher now’: Developing health research skills in low-income countries, Global Public Health, DOI: 1080/17441692.2021.1974512
- Horwood, C., Mapumulo, S., Haskins, L., John, V.M., Luthuli, S., Tylleskär, T., Mutombo, P., Engebretsen, I.M., Ali, M. M., and Hatloy, A. (2021). A North–South-South partnership in higher education to develop health research capacity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: the challenge of finding a common language. Health Research Policy and Systems 19 (79). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-021-00728-8
- Ali, M.M., Haskins, L., John, V.M., Hatløy, A., Luthuli, S., Mapumulo, S., Engebretsen, I.M., Tylleskär, T., Mutombo, P. and Horwood, C. (2021). Establishing a postgraduate progamme in nutritional epidemiology to strengthen resource capacity, academic leadership and research in the Democratic Republic of Congo. BMC Medical Education, 21 (136), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-021-02557-3
- John, V.M. (2020 ) Deepening understandings about xenophobia through dialogue: workshop design and pedagogy, Education as Change, 24 (November):22 pages. https://doi.org/10.25159/1947-9417/6534
- John, V.M. (2020) Developing peace praxes with conflict mapping, Peace Review, 32 (1), 32-41, DOI: 10.1080/10402659.2020.1823564
- Spooner, V. and John, V.M. (2020) Transformative Learning in a context of deep division: The Importance of learning about self for leadership. South Africa Journal of Higher Education, 34 (6), 275‒293. https://dx.doi.org/10.20853/34-6-4077
- Goga, A., Doherty, T., Manda, S., Nkwenika, T., Haskins, L., John, V. Engebretsen , I.M Feucht, U., Dhansay, A., Rollins, N., Kroon, M., Sanders, D., Kauchali, S., Tylleskär, T., and Horwood, C. (2020). Translating new evidence into clinical practice: a quasi-experimental controlled before–after study evaluating the effect of a novel outreach mentoring approach on knowledge, attitudes and confidence of health workers providing HIV and infant feeding counselling in South Africa. BMJ Open 2020;10:e034770. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2019-034770
- Horwood, C. Haskins, L, Goga, A., Doherty, T., John V.M., Engebretsen, I, Feucht, U, Rollins, N., Kroon, M., Sanders, D., Tylleskar, T (2020) An educational intervention to update health workers about HIV and infant feeding Maternal & Child Nutrition, 2020; 16:e12922. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12922
- John, V.M. (2019) ‘Are We Still Running?’: Violent Migration to Violent Refuge. The Round Table, 108 (1) : 37-47. DOI:10.1080/00358533.2019.1565346
- John, V.M. (2018) Peace Education in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Needs, Responses, and Constraints. Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 6 (1), 55-74.
- John, V.M. and Cox, A.J. (2018) Fostering life-altering change amongst South African youth through non-formal education, Cogent Education, 5 (1), 1-16.
- John, V.M. (2018) Teaching Peace Education at a South African University, Peace Review, 30 (1), 53-61.
- John, V.M. (2017) Understanding displaced and refugee groups in South Africa. Peace Review, 29 (1), 7-14. DOI: 10.1080/10402659.2017.1272278
- Cox, A.J. and John, V.M. (2016) Transformative Learning in Post-Apartheid South Africa: Disruption, Dilemma and Direction. Adult Education Quarterly, 66(4): 303-318.
- John, V.M. (2016) Transformative learning challenges in a context of trauma and fear: an educator’s story. Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 56 (2),268-289.
- John, V.M. (2016) The dangers of educated girls and women. Education, Citizenship and Social Justice, 11(2), 184-196.
- John, V.M. (2016) Peace Profile: The Alternatives to Violence Project. Peace Review, 28 (3), 369-375.
- John, V.M. (2016) Using conflict mapping to foster peace-related learning and change in schools. Education as Change, 20 (2): 221-242.
- John, V.M. (2016) Up close and personal: theorising care work in adult education. Research Papers in Education. 31(3): 337-351. DOI: 10.1080/02671522.2015.1073772
- John, V.M. (2015) Conference report: 25th General Conference of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) 2014 — A report on the Peace Education Commission program. Journal of Peace Education, 12 (2): 204-205.
- John, V.M. (2015) Working Locally, Connecting Globally: The Case of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). Journal of Peacebuilding & Development. 10 (2), 81-86. doi: 10.1080/17400201.2015.1049053.
- Twine, B. and John, V.M. (2015) Picturing community development work in Uganda: fostering dialogue through photovoice. Community Development Journal, 50 (2), 196-212. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsu036
- Rule, P. and John, V.M. (2015). A necessary dialogue: theory in case study research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14 (4), 1-11. DOI: 10.1177/1609406915611575
- John, V.M. (2013) Transforming power and transformative learning in peace educator development. Journal of Social Sciences, 37(1), 81-91.
- John V.M. (2013) Exploring adult education and community development in a rural project: a conceptual framework. Journal of Family Ecology and Consumer Sciences, 41, 49-62.
- John, V. (2011). Community development in a post-conflict context: fracture and depleted social capital. Community Development Journal, 46, 51-65.
- Rule, P. and John, V. (2008). Unbinding the other in the context of HIV/AIDS and education. Journal of Education, No 43, 79-99.
- John, V. & Rule, P. (2006) Shifting ground: making sense of context in examining HIV/AIDS and schooling. Journal of Education, No. 38, 165-186.
- John, V. (2006) Community development research: Merging (or submerging) communities of practice? A response to Van Vlaenderen. Community Development Journal, 41, 50-64.
- John, V. (1990) Pietermaritzburg’s refugees: a profile. South African Outlook, May, 241‑244.
Chapters in Books
- John, V.M. (in press) Peace Education: learning, healing and humanising. In P.R. Rule J. Preece (Eds), Adult Learning in Africa: Perspectives, Practices and Possibilities, Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
- Twine, B. and John, V.M. (2020) The crafting of “critical education”: Experiences of a Ugandan NGO, In K. Holma and T. Kontinen (Eds.), Practices of Citizenship in East Africa: Perspectives from Philosophical Pragmatism, pp. 194-208, Oxon: Routledge.
- John, V.M. (2018) South Africa’s Alternatives to Violence Project: Harmonizing Theory and Practice. In V. Jain and M. Meyer (Eds.) Connecting Contemporary African-Asian Peacemaking and Nonviolence: From Satagraha to Ujamaa, 240-258, Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
- John, V.M. (2018) The complexities and challenges of community development in post-conflict South Africa: a systems framework of a project. In S. Kenny, B. McGrath and R. Phillips (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Community Development, 382-397, London: Routledge.
- John, V.M. (2017) Building peace, solidarity and hope in Africa through popular education. In von Kotze, A. and Walters, S (Eds.) Forging Solidarity: Popular Education at Work, pp. 59-70. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
- Rule, P. and John, V. (2015). Unbinding the Other in the context of HIV and AIDS and education: towards a dialogic humanism. In P. N. Rule, Dialogue and Boundary Learning, 123-139. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
- John, V. (2008). Secrecy and Lies: Sources of strength for militarism and for critical peace pedagogy. In N. Muthukrishna (Ed.) (2008) Educating for Social Justice and Inclusion In an African Context: Pathways and Transitions. pp. 193-206. New York: Nova Publishers.
- Houghton T. & John, V. (2007) Towards sustainable peace education: theoretical and methodological frameworks of a program in South Africa. In Bekerman and C McGlynn (Eds) Addressing Ethnic Conflict through Peace Education: International Perspectives, pp. 187-199, New York, Palgrave Macmillan.
- John, V. & Rule, P. (2006). Carers in contexts of care. In N. Muthukrishna (Ed.) Mapping Barriers to Basic Education in the Context of HIV/AIDS, pp.231-239. Pietermaritzburg, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
- John, V. (1990) Natal’s War: monitoring internal refugees and assessing their In Refugees in their own land ‑ Readings on the Problem of Internal Refugees, pp. 119- 29, Philippines: ECDFC.
- John, V. (1991) Databases in small organisations ‑ keeping a count of deaths. In C. Julie et al (Eds) Computer for Transformation in Education, pp. 297-306, Cape Town: Wyvern Publications.
Peer-reviewed Conference Proceedings
- John, V. (2010) Attempting transformative learning in a context of trauma and fear: the story of Cosmos. Proceedings of the IASK International Conference, Teaching and Learning 2010, 29 November – 1 December 2010, Seville, Spain
Thesis/Dissertation
- John, V. (2009) “Communities of learning and action?”: a case study of the Human Rights, Democracy and Development project, 1999 – 2005. Unpublished doctoral thesis. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
- John, V. (1996) Use of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) in a Zulu-speaking setting: an assessment of translation, reliability and some validity issues. Unpublished masters dissertation. University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
Conferences Presentations
- 2014 John, V.M. On unity, peace and values: the wisdom of Nelson Mandela. Paper presented at the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) conference, 10-15 August 2014, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 2014 John, V.M. Using conflict maps in schools to generate critical reflection and dialogue. Paper presented at the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) conference, 10-15 August 2014, Istanbul, Turkey.
- 2013 John, V. Engaging teachers in exploring school-based conflict, violence and injustice. Paper presented at the Strategies for nonviolence in education Conference, 1-3 July 2013, Durban University of Technology, Durban.
- 2013 John, V. “The farmer does not want us to have similar knowledge to him” – critical remembrances of rural women learners in South Africa. Paper presented at the WLEC Conference, 13 – 15 March 2013, Bangkok, Thailand.
- 2012 John, V. Peace educator learning and development: a South African case study. Paper presented at the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) conference. 24-28 November 2012. Mie University, Tsu, Japan.
- 2012 John, V. National reflections on “Why is feminist popular education still important?”. Invited respondent at colloquium on Beyond Freire – a Feminist Dialogue on Power, Politics and Possibilities, 8 October 2012, University of Western Cape. Belville.
- 2012 John, V. & Barnabas, S. Learning in a community of practice: the Alternatives to Violence (AVP) network. Paper presented at the 6th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, 25 – 27 September 2012, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
- 2012 Rule, P.; John, V. & van der Merwe, M. Projecting post-graduate students’ voices into educational discourse. Paper presented at the 6th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, 25 – 27 September 2012, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
- 2012 John, V. Incorporating non-violence curricula in higher education: a UKZN case. Paper presented at the Roots to Fruits: Nonviolence in Action conference. 31 July – 2 August 2012, Durban University of Technology, Durban.
- 2012 John, V. Critical remembrance as part of commemoration and peace building. Keynote presentation at the 18thcommemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi. 14 April 2012, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
- 2011 John, V. Fostering community learning and development in rural KwaZulu-Natal: an emergent conceptual mode. Paper presented at the 1st SURLEC Colloquim, 24-26 November 2012, University of Free State, Qwa-Qwa.
- 2011 John, V. Developing peace educators at UKZN. Paper presented at the 5th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, 26 – 28 September 2011, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
- 2010 Rule, P. & John, V. Re-imagining case study theory. Paper presented at the Kenton Educational Conference, Golden Gate Hotel, Free State, 28th – 31st October 2010.
- 2010 John, V. (2010) Attempting transformative learning in a context of trauma and fear: the story of Cosmos. Paper presented at the IASK International Conference, Teaching and Learning 2010, 29 November – 1 December 2010, Seville, Spain
- 2010 John, V. Questioning and re-questioning cases of distributed leadership: exploring implications of the multi-case study for further research. Paper presented at the 4th Annual Teaching and Learning Conference, 20 – 22 September 2010, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
- 2009 John, V. Community development in a post-conflict context: fracture and depleted social capital. Paper presented at the International Symposium on Community Development in an Age of Uncertainty: Connections and Fragmentations, 3rd– 5th September 2009, London.
- 2009 Learning Leadership/Leadership Learning Conference 17th October 2009, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Respondent and chair of panel on Transformation, learning and leadership.
- 2007 Rule, P. and John, V. Troubling case study methodology. Paper presented at the Kenton Phumula Conference, 25-28 October 2007, KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2006 John, V. Critical remembrance at a time of a mass literacy campaign. Presented at the Kenton Education Conference, 28 November – 1 December 2006, Wilderness, George.
- 2006 Rule, P.R. and John, V. Unbinding the other: Addressing HIV/AIDS as a barrier to basic education. Paper presented at the Kenton Education Conference, 28 November – 1 December 2006, Wilderness, George.
- 2005 John, V. Adult educator training at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Paper presented at The Training of Adult Educators in Africa and Asia/Pacific Conference, 11-13 April 2005, Cape Town.
- 2005 John, V. & Rule, P. Shifting ground: making sense of context in examining HIV/AIDS and schooling. Paper presented at the International Critical Psychology Conference, Durban, 30 June -31 July 2005.
- 2005 Houghton, T. and John, V. Towards sustainable peace education: theoretical and methodological frameworks of a programme in South Africa. Paper presented the Sustained Peace Educational Efforts for Social Cohesion in International Conflict and Post-conflict Societies Conference, 18-22 May 2005, Jerusalem, Israel.
- 2004 Houghton, T. and John, V. Transforming lives, growing peace, sustaining democracy – towards sustainable peace education in KwaZulu-Natal. Kenton Khahlamba Conference, September/October 2004, Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal.
- 2003 John, V. Educational “Action Research” Partnerships: whose action and whose research? Kenton Education Conference, 30 October – 2 November 2003, Worcester, Western Cape.
- 2002 John, V. Learning for life: training basic health care workers. Paper presented at the International Conference on Lifelong learning for Social Development, 13-15 August 2002, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
- 2001 John, V. Marginalisation removed or remodelled? A special role for learner support in transforming open and distance education in South Africa. Paper presented at the 9th Cambridge International Conference on Open and Distance Learning, Cambridge.
- 2000 John, V. Learner-support needs within the UN/SACTE distance programme: towards broader and more formalised support. Presented at the 2ndNADEOSA conference, SACTE, Pretoria
- 1999 Volunteerism in Adult Basic Education: Can it work? Baatjes, I., Aitchision, J & John, V. Presented at the Kenton Conference, Salt Rock.
Research Reports
- 2014 Executive Summary Report: 2013 Climate Survey of St John’s D.S.G. parents and pupils. Commissioned research for St.John’s D.S.G., Pietermaritzburg. John, V.
- 2003 External evaluation report of the St. John’s Ambulance Lifesaver International First Aid Course (LIFAC) John, V. with Sable, B. & Arbuckle, K. Commissioned research for St. John’s Ambulance, UK.
- 2003 Report on a survey of CBOs in Southern Africa, October 2002 – August 2003. Harley, A., Rule, & John, V. Commissioned research for Fahamu, UK.
- 2000 Evaluation of the Resources in School Pilot Project John, V. Commissioned research for the Media in Education Trust
- 1999 Evaluation of the Whole-school development programme Sejake, S, Ritchie, M. & John, V. Commissioned research for the Zenex Foundation
- 1998 Labour tenants in KwaZulu Natal Kunene, Aitchison, Hlela & John, V. Commissioned research for the Department of Land Affairs
- 1998 Impact assessment and perception audit of the National Communication Directorate Materials. Palmer Development Group, Resource Development Agency and Department of Adult & Community Education. Commissioned research for the National Department of Education
- 1997 An evaluation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s application process for urgent reparation and rehabilitation. John, V. Commissioned research for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
- 1997 Rural Livelihoods in KwaZulu Natal John, V. An atlas of approximately 35 GIS maps produced for the Oxfam-funded research into development needs in KwaZulu Natal.
- 1996 Assessing the plain language working draft of the new Constitution Aitchison, J. & John, V. Commissioned research for the Constitutional Assembly.
- 1996 Non governmental organisations Aitchison, J. & John, V. Commissioned research for the Educator Trainer Development Practitioner project of the National Training Board.
- 1995 ABE Teacher Training in KwaZulu Natal John, V. Commissioned research for the Natal Adult Basic Education Support Agency (NASA).
- 1995 Adult illiteracy in South Africa – an atlas John, V. An atlas of approximately 100 GIS maps produced for the Joint Education Trust (JET)-funded research into adult basic education in South Africa.
- 1994 Learn with Echo Readership Survey -1993. John, V. Commissioned research conducted for the Learn with Echo project.
- 1994 AfraNews Readership Survey – 1993. John, V. Commissioned research conducted for the Association for Rural Advancement (AFRA).
- 1993 Displaced People in South Africa. Aitchison, J, Leeb, W. & John, V. Paper commissioned by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees.
- 1991 Security force collusion in the Natal Midlands conflict. John, V. Occasional paper reported on in the Natal Witness of 29 July 1991.
Community Involvement
- Co-convener of Alternative to Violence Project (AVP) International Research Team
- Board of Governors, St John’s Diocesan School for Girls (2012 – current)
- Executive committee and Board of Trustees, Alternative to Violence Project, KZN Network (2010 – current)
- Executive committee, Standards Generating Body for Democracy, Human Rights and Peace (past)
- Co-convener of Peace Education Commission of International Peace Research Association (IPRA) ( 2013 – 2015)
- Recipient of following grants: University Competitive Research Grant (UN) ( 2005)
- Spencer Foundation grant for PhD study (2006); Thuthuka grant, National Research Foundation (2007-2009); United States Institute for Peace, funding for peace education project (2006); Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, funding for peace education project ( 2006-2010); UTLO Competitive Research Grant (UKZN) (2012-2013)
Research Interests
- Research Methodology (MEd/Phd), Adult Learning (MEd), Research Proposal Development (MEd/Phd), Peace Education (MEd), Conflict Transformation (Undergraduate) & Lifelong learning (Undergraduate)
Student
Supervision
Masters
PhD
Masters
- Louw, W (2019)
- Jasson, L (2017)
- Mabaso, B (2016)
- Barnabas, S. (2014)
- Cox, A. (2013)
- Spooner, V. (2013)
- Maharaj, N. (2012)
- Andersen, I. (2011)
- White, D. (2010)
- Houghton, T. (2009)
- Hlela, Z. (2008)
- Mkhize, V. (2005)
PhD
- Ncube F. (2021)
- Spooner, V. (2019)
- Lungozwana, N. (2015)
- Bananuka, T. (2014)
- Busingye, J (2012)
- Endresen, K (2010)