On Monday 18 March 2019 the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria (UP), welcomed the 2019 cohort of its Master’s degree students. The Centre’s 2019 Master’s programmes brings together 91 students from 28 countries across the African continent in order to further their postgraduate studies in human rights and related fields.
The 2019 LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA) marks the 20th year of this programme. The graduates of 2019 will join 537 alumni of this programme, who are working to advance human rights in various capacities across the continent — ranging from Chief Justice of Sierra Leone to member of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and members of national cabinets.
In attendance were Justice Johann van der Westhuizen and Justice Johann Kriegler, both retired judges of the Constitutional Court of South and Centre Board Members. Ms Abigail Noko, the Head of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in South Africa also showed support. Other guests included representatives of the High Commissions of various African countries, diplomats, academics, students and friends of the Centre.
The Centre is proud to welcome the 2019 Master’s students and extends its gratitude for the generous and continued support to the following donors:
European Union
Royal Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria
Kingdom of the Netherlands through its Embassy in Pretoria
Deutscher Akadmischer Austauschdienst (DAAD)
General Representation of the Government of Flanders
Open Society Foundations
The welcoming ceremony was held at Tuks Monate on the UP’s HillcrestCampus
Norway is honored to support these outstanding programmes of the Centre for Human Rights at University of Pretoria and its brilliant African students committed to advance human rights for all, in Africa and globally. https://t.co/cosV8w1q7l
Regional office attends the opening ceremony of the 2019 human rights masters programme @CHR_HumanRights. May the bright minds of this programme become the human rights champions of our future! Closing remarks by the Director of the Centre, Prof Viljoen pic.twitter.com/I1QKBkDBaN
— @UN Human Rights Southern Africa (@ohchr_sa) March 18, 2019
SOURCE-www.chr.up.ac.za
Thanks for Subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.
Higher Education Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande revealed that the rising Covid-19 cases within universities are a cause for concern as this will lead the department to shut down these universities.
During a briefing on the reopening of universities, the Minister mentioned that there were 3888 confirmed positive cases. The department’s duty will be to closely monitor universities to ensure that both students and staff are safe.
Minister Nzimande also mentioned that the department is expecting to receive statics this week which will determine the action the department should take in terms of allowing students and staff access to universities.
“In universities, there were positive cases that were reported of about 3 888 with 1 499 staff and 1 588 students. The total number of deaths by 13 November was 58 – 48 staff, 10 students. As I’m saying, we will be receiving updated reports on infections and fatalities on the 20th of this month and we want to make it clear that if we identify that there is a rapid increase in particular institutions or campuses of infections, we will close those institutions, no doubt about that. ”
Thanks for Subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.
Universities are preparing to begin the 2021 academic year. This has however been met with challenges as some universities had to lower their first-year intake.
The University of South Africa (UNISA) lowered its first-year intake by 20 000 to ensure sustainability. Another reason was due to the inability of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme ( NSFAS) to meet the high demands.
This decision has received backlash as a lot of student hopefuls won’t be receiving access to study.
The University has said that this move was necessary and it also follows an order from Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, which serves to prevent the university from experiencing a backlog when the academic year starts in March.
“From what I can gather, the minister’s question to limit Unisa’s intake is really to bring it back into its enrollment planning. What that means is that Unisa will be in a position where it is admitting 20,000 fewer students this year and that, of course, has consequences in terms of access.”, said Universities South Africa CEO Ahmed Bawa.
Thanks for Subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.
As Institutions of Higher learning are preparing to re-open for the 2021 academic year, they are also looking into unpacking the implications of new COVID-19 regulations.
The University of Kwazulu-Natal postponed its re-opening on January 4 until January 18. According to the university’s spokesperson Normah Zondo, the university decided to suspend its reopening due to that, “both the district municipalities within which UKZN campuses are located have been declared Covid-19 hotspots.”
The university will revisit this decision once further directives are given by the President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande.
It was further stated that the University will continue with its academic activities online and that registration processes will take place online, commencing on the 18th of January.
Thanks for Subscribing! Please check your email for further instructions.