1/12 Nov/Dec 2008 1/12 Nov/Dec Volume 5 Number 1 Winner of the 2008 Institute for Marketing, Advancement & Communication in Education (MACE) Excellence Award for Best Internal Publication Medical School results omen emerged Dean of the Medical School, the winners Professor Willem Sturm said: “I am when the very pleased with the results. Of the Nelson R 29 that did not pass yet, only five Mandela will not be able to graduate during WSchool of Medicine announced its the annual ceremony in April 2009. final year students’ results on 28 The pass rates per subject are very November. Twenty three of the top high, reflecting the high standard 30 positions went to female of teaching … Most students that students. did not make it now failed only one subject and these were randomly Proving her academic prowess distributed over the disciplines.” yet again was Miss Sandika Baboolall who with an aggre- Mr Sandhiran Nadar achieved gate of 77.5 percent was de- second place and received the clared the top student for 2008. George and Margaret Chapman At a pre-graduation banquet at Memorial Prize in Surgery. He will the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Inter- do his internship at King Edward national Convention Centre on VIII Hospital for the next two 29 November, Miss Baboolal years. Miss Anneline Soobramoney scooped five awards. She was secured third position while Miss also awarded the Abe Bailey Lindy Dickson was placed fourth. Moekeletji Thabo Picture: Travel Scholarship earlier this An air of jubilation prevailed at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine after the release of final year results. year. Professor Sturm urged students to carry out their duties in a re- and show the world that we vision before they are confident are now in in-service training,” he A hundred and seventy seven of the sponsible manner while serving deliver the best doctors. They that they can do it alone. They added. 206 students who sat for their their internships: “Our interns should not act irresponsibly by should remember that the word examinations passed. should be proud of their alma mater taking on tasks without super- ‘intern’ refers to the fact that they - Neesha Maharaj AgricultureAgriculture celebratescelebrates 6060 yearsyears THE Faculty of Science and Mr Andrew Makenete, Absa percent of people in the Agriculture celebrated its 60th general manager of Agri- SADC region are employed in anniversary on the Pieter- business, highlighted the the agricultural sector and 70 maritburg campus on 28 critical role agriculture plays percent of the poor live in November. in Africa. “UKZN is rural areas. Food production strategically located in terms has not kept up with the popu- Celebratory activities in- of solving the problem of food lation growth,” she said. cluded tours of the old and security and creating wealth new agricultural facilities, a Dr Moraka Makhura, Policy through agriculture in the symposium and panel discus- Analyst at the Land Bank, said African continent,” he said. sions on past, present and agriculture is well-placed and future trends in African agri- Dr Lindiwe Sibanda, Food enjoys a good image com- culture and a dinner where and Natural Resources Policy pared to five years ago. former graduates, young and Analysis Network “Agriculture has shown old, had an opportunity to (FANRPAN) CEO, said positive growth … and has renew old acquaintances and government and civil society anchored the growth of the to plan the future. were not participating enough economy. Political develop- in dialogue about the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and ments and economic factors problems that agriculture is Head of the College of Agri- will determine how agri- Picture: Alistair Alistair Picture: Nixon facing and the possible Head of School, Professor Sheryl Hendriks (back left) and Director of culture, Science and culture grows.” solutions. the African Centre for Crop Improvement, Professor Mark Laing (back Engineering Professor Pete right) with a group of alumni during one of the tours. Zacharias welcomed sym- “Agriculture is the key to the Inside posium delegates. region’s food crisis. Over 70 - Sabelo Nyuswa 2 Caste and class in India 3 Political perspectives 4 Online AIDS education 6 UKZN achievers Founding Campuses Edgewood Howard College Medical School Pietermaritzburg Westville Redefining African agriculture ince its inception in 2002, ACCI students were due to depart ACCI was that it has “spawned a the African Centre for Crop for their home countries, where child called the West African SImprovement (ACCI) has they will pursue a three year-period Centre for Crop Improvement, focused on changing the face of of research having completed their recently established at the Uni- agriculture in Africa by training a two years of training at the Uni- versity of Ghana, training plant new generation of crop scientists. versity. AGRA members, Dr Joe de breeders in West Africa”. Staff of the Alliance for a Green Vries, Dr Rufaro Madakadze and Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Dr Jane Ininda spent several days Speaking on behalf of the ACCI ACCI’s main funder, recognised on the Pietermaritzburg campus, students, Mr Patrick Chikoto and acknowledged these efforts on interacting with ACCI staff and thanked the ACCI team for their their recent visit to the University. students. They attended student support and said, “we promise to presentations and engaged in work really hard as we embark on Alistair Picture: Nixon Professors Pete Zacharias (back left) and Mark Laing (back right) at the The ACCI is based on UKZN’s discussions on the intake of nine our second journey”. Dr de Vries dinner with the AGRA visitors (front l-r) Dr Joe de Vries, Dr Rufaro Pietermaritzburg campus and trains new students for 2009. congratulated the students who Madakadze and Dr Jane Ininda. African PhD students in the applied were “joining a proud tradition”. breeding of African crops for At a dinner held at the Victoria He encouraged them to “go out and suing scholarship in the African is confident of contributing to a increased disease and drought Country Club, Dr de Vries com- portray the confidence that was context in which we operate”. “Green Revolution” in Africa, “I tolerance, increased yield and mended the ACCI’s Director, born here at the ACCI”. have seen reason for hope – African improved food security. Students Professor Mark Laing and the Since 2001, the ACCI has enjoyed plant scientists developing higher- originate from 14 eastern and ACCI staff for having the courage, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Head the support of the New York-based yielding crops, African entre- southern African countries, from vision and confidence to create an of the College of Agriculture, Rockefeller Foundation. In 2007, preneurs starting seed companies to Ethiopia to South Africa, and focus applied academic programme that Engineering and Science, Professor AGRA, a partnership between the reach small farmers, and agro- their studies on crops that are is already making a difference in Pete Zacharias, likened the ACCI Rockefeller Foundation and the dealers reaching more and more relevant to their home countries. Africa. He also praised UKZN for to a jewel in the University’s crown. Bill and Melinda Gates Found- small farmers, with improved farm committing to the ACCI in a wide He said that the Centre houses one ation, pledged its ongoing support inputs and farm management AGRA’s visit provided the perfect range of supportive actions. He of the best programmes on the con- by investing $8.1 million in the practices”. opportunity for celebration and added that one of the most tinent and it reflects the vision and ACCI programme. Mr Bill Gates, reflection as the second cohort of significant achievements of the mission of the University by “pur- co-chair of the Gates Foundation - Vicky Crookes Caste and class Editorial Send your news to [email protected] in India INSIGHTS into the complexities of country in the 1950s. Dr Sharma’s Serving our community affirmative action in India were research looked at the outcomes of presented by New Delhi-based Commissions set up as early as ukzndaba congratulates the Nelson R academic, Dr Kavita Sharma 1953, to the most recent landmark Mandela School of Medicine 2008 graduates and during a lecture on the Westville legal battles that have ensued in wishes them all the best for the future. Of particular note is the campus on 5 November. India as a result of the confusion sterling performance by women students, who garnered 23 of the top 30 between ‘caste’ and ‘class’. Dr Sharma, the Director of the positions. India International Centre in New Dr Sharma, who believes this These graduates, who will now go on to serve their internships, epitomise what UKZN Delhi presented a paper titled: confusion is “embedded” in India’s stands for. They have received an excellent education and are ready to start serving communities Affirmative Action in India: The Constitution, indicated that the that are in great need of medical assistance. Caste and Class Conflict which outcomes of the most recent examined the distinction between judicial challenges had taken into Community service is a thread that runs through many of the articles in this issue of ukzndaba. At the caste and class in defining the consideration factors other than celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture, speakers highlighted disadvantaged and the myriad of ‘caste’. the critical role agriculture has to play in solving the problem of food security in Africa. The Faculty’s problems it poses for people in African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) is training plant scientists from 14 African countries to develop gaining access to Higher Education In her research paper Dr Sharma high-yielding crops that are suitable for their home countries.