Colloquia

The 2024 colloquium provided the space for a national conversation about models of supervision and the nurturing of research-rich environments. Guest speakers included Prof Stephanie Burton, President of the Royal Society of South Africa, Vice-President of the Academy of Science of South Africa and Chair of the Universities South Africa Community of Practice Postgraduate Education and Scholarship, and Dr Whitty Green, Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Higher Education.

In 2025 we delved into the critical dimensions of preparedness of all postgraduate role-players, seeking to answer the following questions: 

• How can postgraduate students be better equipped to navigate the challenges of advanced study? 

• What practices, strategies, and support systems do supervisors need to effectively guide, mentor, and inspire their students? 

• What cultures, policies, infrastructure, and resources are essential for creating an institutional environment that nurtures postgraduate education?

In our 2026 colloquium, participants engaged on key issues relating to the knowledge project, such as differentiation in postgraduate studies, a look at key concerns of DHET, CHE and DSTI, and the assessment process for postgraduate qualifications.

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Professor of Education at Stellenbosh University presented a keynote address on 'What is postgraduate education for? What should it achieve? Who should it serve?'. Lively discussions were held, with provocations from a diverse range of university and stakeholder representatives around the colloquium's central themes.