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The transition from rural upbringing to university life: challenges and how to overcome them

Presenter

Kelebamang Winnie Mokgupi was born and bred in Mahikeng. 

She is the sixth and last born child

She did her Primary and High School in Mahikeng

She hold the following degrees:

• • Bachelor of Arts in Education- University of North West

  • Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Development Studies- University of North West

  • Masters of Arts in Development Studies- University of South Africa

WORK EXPERIENCE

• • She joined Unisa in 2001

  • Lecturer for 12 years in the Department of Development Studies at the University of South Africa

  • Coordinator: Tuition and Learner Support in the Office of the Executive of the College of Human Sciences at UNISA for 6 years. The position that she currently holds

  • Facilitator for the WK Kellogg Foundation, Namibian Open College of Education, World Vision International

  • Facilitated workshops in Namibia, Lesotho, Kenya, Uganda, Swaziland, Tanzania, South Africa and Senegal

PAPERS PRESENTED 

• • Decolonizing land in South Africa: The case of Barolong-Balemirui Project in the North-West Province at the World Indiginous People’s Conference in Toronto, Canada in July 2017

  • Access to Land and Ownership thereof as a form of Justice and Healing at the ABPSi Conference in San Francisco, USA from 26 June to 1 July 2018

  • The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC): An answer to healing and justice to the victims or just a futile exercise, Orlando, USA, July 2019

AWARDS

Recipient of the 2019 UNISA Chairperson of Council Award for Excellence for Outstanding Contribution in Transformation Initiatives at Unisa

CURRENT STUDIES

Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies-UNISA

Title of the Thesis- #RhodesMustFall: Challenges in Decolonizing Universities in South Africa

TRAVEL

On top of the African states that she has been to, Kelebamang has been to Spain, Netherlands, USA, Canada, France, Zurich, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Abstract

Since 1994 access to education for all has been a dream come true for each South African, particularly those from the rural areas and previously disadvantaged communities. This has led to an increase in the movement from the rural areas to the cities in search for education at universities. This transition comes with many challenges such as adapting to the new life, transitioning into university and adapting to the university life. This paper seeks to address the issues that are sometimes ignored when students from the rural areas enters university e.g. challenges with applying to study, registration, being independent, attending lectures and moving from the simple way of doing things and adapting to the new technology. The paper will also look at how education can be used to shape the situation at home as well as how studying at university can bring back the forgotten hopes of the parents.

Presentation & Resources