Research
Fundani plays a significant role in the CPUT Research Focus Area of Human & Social Dynamics. The centre’s academics regularly review articles for international and national journals, as well as supervise several CPUT staff members engaged in master’s and doctoral studies that focus on higher education. They are often chosen as external examiners for masters and doctoral theses and as keynote speakers at conferences and universities. Academic staff are also asked to participate in ASSAF review of journals.
Fundani CHED is responsible for the overall management of CPUT’s Research and Innovation Fund for Teaching and Learning (RIFTAL). The Fund is primarily intended for relatively small-scale projects (up to R50 000) designed to improve teaching and learning at CPUT through educational research and innovation.
The DVC: Academic sends out invitations via Newsflash for applications twice a year, once at the end of the academic year and once towards the end of the first semester. Staff interested in applying for RIFTAL funding should contact Denise February, Fundani Projects Administrator, at 021 959 6042 or februaryd@cput.ac.za
Applications are reviewed by a Review Panel appointed by the Senate Teaching and Learning. Fundani staff provide a supportive space for research into teaching and learning across the faculties. Each year, funds are disbursed to CPUT faculty members by Fundani to conduct classroom-based research under the DVC: Teaching & Learning’s RIFTAL project.
Fundani is also home to Paradigms, a CPUT in-house journal, which seeks to foster research and debate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. Paradigms focuses on learning and teaching issues relevant to higher education and the vision and mission of CPUT, therefore articles should at least do one of the following:
- Probe new ways of understanding and thinking about changes in Higher Education and the implications of the changes for practice in the departments.
- Show new ways of interpreting and reading practice in order that it may inform new and improved ways of reconstructing practice.
- Deal with appreciation and disclosure of good practice through critical reflection on research project(s) in which new strategies were being implemented.
- Highlight critical debates around policy in higher Education in a manner that will create an opportunity to find a way forward and design it differently.
For Fundani Research enquiries, contact Dr Najwa Norodien-Fataar norodien-fataarn@cput.ac.za
