Future Africa Hosts NYU Graduate Students for Engaging Networking Session

On Thursday, 24 July 2024, the Future Africa team, led by Interim Director Professor Wanda Markotter and Sustainable Food Systems Research Chair Professor Frans Swanepoel, had the pleasure of hosting a group of graduate students from New York University (NYU).

The visiting delegation, led by NYU Professor Teboho Moja, also a visiting fellow at Future Africa, participated in a dynamic networking session with Future Africa’s postdoctoral researchers.

This event provided a valuable opportunity for exchanging ideas, sharing diverse experiences, and building meaningful connections.

Maria Williamson, Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at NYU Steinhardt, delivered a presentation on the Faculty First Look program, which offers insights into preparing for future faculty careers.

Distinguished Professor Jonathan Jansen from Stellenbosch University shared his experiences on how social responsibility can drive systemic change in education from the grassroots level.

Additionally, Dr Heide Hackmann, former Director of Future Africa and Chair in Science Futures at the Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science, and Technology (CREST), discussed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the essential changes required to achieve them.

The networking session proved instrumental in fostering meaningful discussions on how graduates can tackle real-world challenges and provided valuable insights into driving impactful change in their fields.