A
PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) School of Education,
Ms Thembeka Myeni, has received an award for best presentation from the
University of Mauritius (UoM).

The
award was made at UoM’s fifth Doctoral Colloquium, a hybrid event where 160
doctoral candidates from Mauritian and international institutions showcased
their research, engaged in interdisciplinary discussions and received feedback
on their research from academic experts.

Titled:
‘Doctoral Education for Sustainable Development, Enhanced Resilience, and
Societal Impact’, the colloquium was opened by Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon,
Mauritius’ Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research.

UKZN’s
participation was co-ordinated by Professor Upasana Singh of Information
Systems and Technology, who also moderated a session at the Colloquium.

Over
the past four years, UKZN has built a strong and growing partnership with the
UoM through the Colloquium, which has evolved into a valuable platform for
joint academic engagement, with significant participation by UKZN doctoral
candidates and leadership contributions from academic staff.

Presenting
at the event was a turning point in Myeni’s PhD journey, enabling her to
benefit from multidisciplinary engagement and feedback, and assuring her that
her work contributes positively to global issues. She first presented her
research at the 2025 South African Society for History Teaching (SASHT)
conference.

In
her work, Myeni explores the role played by selected history museums in
KwaZulu-Natal in creating opportunities for historical literacy. She is
investigating how the teaching and learning of history is mediated in museums
and researching how selected history museums create opportunities and support
historical literacy. Using historical literacy as her analytical framework, she
aims to identify educational programmes in museums, enhance existing programmes
and establish new ones to foster historical literacy among history students in
contemporary South Africa.

Being
one of only eight recipients out of 160 for an award for their presentation was
an honour for Myeni, who presented virtually during the initial event and again
at the awards ceremony.

“This
was my epoch-making moment where I realised that I was no longer representing
only UKZN, but I was the only doctoral student selected from the South African
institutions that participated,” she said.

Myeni
completed her Bachelor of Education (honours) and master’s degrees at UKZN,
earning a place at the Edgewood campus after a gap year she took following high
school.

Describing
herself as a lifelong learner who aspires to inspire, Myeni said not even the
sky will be her limit. She plans to find her niche within History Education,
contribute to knowledge production, and initiate projects to foster and enhance
historical literacy, in both Basic and Higher Education.

Myeni
credited her mother and siblings, particularly her brother, Mr Mlungisi
Hlabisa, who lectures at the Edgewood campus, for inspiring and encouraging
her. She thanked her supervisor, Dr Marshall Maposa, for his dedicated
supervision, guidance, and the opportunities he provided, including
participation in a multidisciplinary research project investigating the proposed
hydraulic fracturing in the Drakensberg and participation in a three-month
postgraduate exchange with the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Words: Christine
Cuénod

Photograph:
Supplied