This Week @FORT HARE Vol 2, Issue 14
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Institutional Advancement This Week @FORT HARE Vol 2, issue 14 14 July 2020 In conversation with edited collections together with other prominent collaborated publications. For instance, as already Professor Abraham Olivier African scholars, and papers published in accredited mentioned, I organised 10 local symposia and co- B-Rated Researcher and Professor in the Philosophy Department, international journals, with titles such as On Being an organised eight international conferences, with African; Heidegger in the Township; Contextual Identity; proceedings published in renowned international University of Fort Hare Understanding Place; The Place of Philosophy in journals. Africa; Place and Displacement and Displacement and 2. My research focus on African philosophy has drawn a Decolonisation. number of black African postgraduates and generated 3. The third project is on African Phenomenology. This is scholarships for such students. In collaboration with a novel field in philosophy. A major result of this project Dr John Lamola from the University of Johannesburg, He is the author of Being in Pain (2007) and editor/co-editor is a recent international colloquium, “Contributions I have offered external funding for four MA scholars in of several special journal issues, including, Phenomenology to African Phenomenology”, of which I was the main African Philosophy. and Naturalism for the International Journal of Philosophical organizer, and a resultant edited collection of which I 3. Lastly, my focus on African philosophy and Studies (2016), Identity and Difference for the Journal of the am the main editor together with Dr M. John Lamola phenomenology has generated international student British Society for Phenomenology (2016), The African Other (University of Johannesburg) and Dr Justin Sands exchanges between the University of Fort Hare and the (North-West University). This collection has drawn some for Angelaki (2019), and Philosophy and Laughter for The University of Bayreuth (Germany) for the past six years. Southern Journal of Philosophy (2020). of the most important scholars in the field of African and Africana philosophy, including Professors Lewis The University of Bayreuth hosts one of the largest centres He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book Gordon, Paulin J. Hountondji, Rozena Maart, Mabogo for African studies in Europe. This exchange resulted in an More, Achille Mbembe, and Tsenay Serequeberhan. chapters on topics relating to phenomenology, philosophy MoU between the two institutions, and offering three Fort In addition to the above, I have a forthcoming paper of mind and African philosophy. He has organized/co- Hare MA students an opportunity to study for a semester in introducing the field, and am working on a book as well. organized 18 conferences and presented 58 conference the Departments of Philosophy and African Studies at the papers, 25 at international conferences. University of Bayreuth. As part of this exchange we had nine What do you think are your most significant Bayreuth exchange students visiting our department. Two research accomplishments? Prof Olivier is rated by the National Research Foundation of others will visit soon. South Africa as a researcher with considerable international A milestone in my research in phenomenology is the launch recognition (B3). of the Centre for Phenomenology in South Africa (CPSA) – What advice would you give to Young see: http://saphenomenology.wordpress.com/. I started Researchers out there? working on founding this centre in 2011 and launched it Please share some information about your Perhaps the following practical tips might help some as its co-founder and co-chair together with Prof Rafael research field, including past and current postgraduate students and other young researchers. projects: Winkler (University of Johannesburg) in March 2013. Since • Identify a clear problem and project that you personally My research focus is on topics relating to the fields of its launch, we have co-organised eight international find important and can be passionate about, something Phenomenology, African Philosophy, and Philosophy of conferences hosting numerous internationally acclaimed that drives you and gives you energy. Mind. This has resulted in three major projects. keynote speakers. In addition, I organised 10 annual national Wild Coast Philosophy symposia. The CPSA conference • Believe in what you do and that you can do it. Some 1. The first project involves ongoing work on pain and proceedings are published in journals of high international philosophers say: “You are your possibilities”. Think of suffering, which combines phenomenology and ranking, including the International Journal of Philosophical your project as a way to realise your possibilities. Prof Abraham Olivier philosophy of mind. This has resulted in numerous Studies, Journal of the British Society of Phenomenology, accredited papers and a book publication. An extract Angelaki, and The Southern Journal of Philosophy. • Maintain a daily routine of focused hard work. Take of the book has recently been published on the regular breaks, take no vacation! official blog of the Australian Pain Society, which is My current project on African Phenomenology is definitely • Make critique your best friend. Share your work with Abraham Olivier is a Professor of Philosophy in the the Australian Chapter of the International Association also a milestone in my research, and opens a number of your peers and mentors regularly and ask for their for the Study of Pain (IASP) – see https://blog.apsoc. future venues involving the collaboration of top experts in Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Social Sciences and critical input. Humanities. He is also a Visiting Professor in the Department org.au/2016/07/05/la-doulou-provencal-word-for- this field as mentioned before. pain/. Other recent accredited publications include: • Keep an open mind for any research opportunities, even of Philosophy, Bayreuth University. The Problem of Defining Pain; Racism, Speciesism and How do you ensure your research is well if they might not appear directly relevant to you, and go He is Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Centre for Suffering; and forthcoming are, Forces of Suffering and communicated, digested and acted on? for them! Go to conferences, look out for possibilities Phenomenology in South Africa (http://saphenomenology. Why Meaning can Change Pain. Mainly through peer-review publications, organising to take part in collaborative projects such as edited collections. Try to visit other institutions, nationally and wordpress.com/) and former Editor-in-Chief of the South 2. The second project deals with work on the conferences, symposia, colloquia and postgraduate projects. internationally. If possible, go for a degree in another African Journal of Philosophy. philosophy of place, combining African philosophy country – but come back again! and phenomenology of mind. My aim has been to What has been the greatest impact of your Olivier obtained his PhD from the University of Tübingen and develop a contextual phenomenology of the mind with work? has held lecturing and research posts at the Universities specific focus on problems of situated consciousness, 1. Through organising public conferences, symposia and of Tübingen, Stellenbosch, Padua and the Evangelical place, displacement, and personal identity. This is colloquia, I succeeded in drawing together a number University for Social Work, Hamburg. mainly reflected in invited publications in collaborated of scholars, resulting in widespread networking and Page 1 | ThisWeek@FortHare Vol 2, issue 14 14 July 2020 | Page 2 UFH COVID-19 READINESS Update: Week 13-17 July 2020 Tandi Mapukata RESUMPTION OF CAMPUS ACTIVITIES • A possible case of a local transmissions in one of the university’s leased residences in East London • The first 33% cohort of staff who meet Covid-19 (Sixth on Station) has been reported. A group health criteria returned to their work stations on comprising 7 security and cleaning personnel 8 July. MULTI-MODAL REMOTE TEACHING AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION has been affected, however, none of the staff LEARNING: University Recovery and Assessment TECHNOLOGY • The SRC has been on campus since the beginning are UFH employees. Plan of July. • Student Laptops: All indications are that the • DHET has approved the COVID-19 university is on track to receive the first batch of • The first group of students returned to the Alice PROPERTIES AND SERVICES: Responsiveness Grant to support the laptops by 31 July 2020 and the remainder within campus yesterday, 13 July. • PPEs for Staff: Everything is on track. implementation of the University’s Multi-modal 7-10 day (by mid-August). An announcement • At the time of compiling this report, none of Distribution of masks and sanitisers to returning Teaching and Learning plan. This grant comes detailing how the gadgets will be issued to the identified students had returned to their staff across all campuses took place on 8 July from repurposed funds with reprioritisation students will be made in the coming days. allocated rooms on the EL campus. and redirection of money from other University • Student Data: All network providers, including • Daily Screening: Everyday staff go through grants and projects. These funds will enable MTN, have been loading data to students who a very strict, multi-layered health and safety the university to reach more students through STAGGERED RETURN OF STUDENTs: have updated their records on the