Change the world

23/01/2025

The upcoming academic year at Nelson Mandela University is set to see the introduction of the new Bachelor of Arts (BA) Politics and Economics stream, a new inter-faculty offering between the faculties of Humanities and Business and Economic Sciences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left, Professors Ronney Ncwadi and Nomalanga Mkhize, Dr Jacqui Lück and Prof Pamela Maseko. 

Conceptualised towards the tail-end of 2022, in consultation with Professor Ronney Ncwadi, and other academics from Economics, the stream seeks to reposition the typical BA general degree at the University into a more specified course that will provide students with well-rounded insights into the impact that complex political and economic processes have on South Africa and the world.

With many of today’s global problems being too complex to be solved by one specialised discipline, multifaceted problems require transdisciplinary solutions, which this stream speaks directly to.

The stream will be made up of Political Studies and Economics modules, already available on the current BA programme, as well as select electives in History, Law, Business and Public Administration. The critical subject of Philosophy will also be added in the next phase of the programme’s development.

In terms of knowledge acquisition, the course will immerse students within concepts, conversations and realities directly related to areas such as governance, democratisation, political philosophy and ideology, international relations, peace studies, microeconomics, economic history, and various philosophical discourses.

“Our primary objective of adding depth to the BA programme took on another life once there was mutual interest to collaborate and equip our students for employment in either the public or private sector, locally and internationally,” said Prof Nomalanga Mkhize, Director of the School of Governmental and Social Sciences within the Humanities Faculty.

Prof Mkhize further explained that Humanities students who previously struggled with economics as an elective module, will not only have additional support, but future economists will also be more socially attuned.

“The world needs economists who understand society, so we thought it would be good if Mandela University produced economists who not only understand mathematical functions, but the societal implications that follow”.

“As a faculty, we are very excited about this opportunity for the students, our collaboration with Business Economics and Sciences, and for the meaningful role a graduate with depth of political and economics understanding will play nationally and internationally,” said Dr Jacqui Lück, the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

The Executive Dean of the Humanities Faculty, Prof Pamela Maseko stated that the development of a focused stream in Politics and Economics forms part of the Faculty’s Revitalisation of the Humanities.

Explaining that the project seeks to place a greater emphasis on the reinvigoration of the value of the Humanities disciplines in the academy, especially their transformative potential. 

“The capacity of the Humanities to challenge dominant paradigms, nurture interdisciplinary collaborations, and foster intellectual inquiry that addresses societal complexities foregrounds our intellectual project”.

“As a faculty located in an African University and with a complex history, our vision for ‘Africa-purposed curriculum for public good’ guides our curriculum transformation and redesign, as is the case with the BA in Politics and Economics”.

“Purposefully recognising Africa means that our curriculum framework recognises African perspectives, knowledge systems, and developmental needs while also addressing global challenges”, Prof Maseko said.

Additionally, the introduction of this new stream aligns with the University’s VISION 2030, which highlights Mandela University's “commitment to change the world through life-changing, student-centric educational opportunities, innovative research, and transformative engagement that contribute to a better world”.

It also aligns with the 2030 strategic focus area and goal that calls for the advancing of ‘humanising learning experiences and curriculum transformation interventions that seek to prepare graduates for success at work, entrepreneurship and life’.

Provincially, the stream will cater for the needs of local and provincial government, academia and associated research institutes, the private consultancy, and policy research sector, as well as economic and financial sectors.

At the national level, the programme seeks to produce graduates that could work in national government, as well as established private research-driven sectors in the country’s largest metropoles.

Graduates of this stream will be enabled to enter the working environment as competent and confidential individuals who can contribute to the transformation of society through their work in fields such as policy development, diplomacy, academia and the private sector.

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