Saches (South African Comparative and History of Education Society) Conference

Saches (South African Comparative and History of Education Society) Conference

SACHES (SOUTH AFRICAN COMPARATIVE AND HISTORY OF EDUCATION SOCIETY) CONFERENCE

Journal

29 October 2012

After meticulous planning, the journey for a group of post graduate students commenced for the SACHES “coming of age” conference held in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth, departing Cape Town at 11h00. The air washeavy with excitement, anxiety and elation in the group with the average age of 41 years, consisting of novice and seasoned researchers who left behind partners, pets and kids (as young as 25 days old). The 8-seater bus was transformed into a communal space. The 9 hours of travel was collapsed into healthy (sometimes heated) debates on diverse discourses across education, politics, sport and our respective research topics including examples of data exemplification. Also the de-flowering of SACMEQ! There was some good standup comicto be enjoyed.Some of us fervently attempted to capture the conversation either by writing or memorizing. Others got straight into preparation of their presentations for the conference, putting their trust in the competence of the driver. There were three refreshment stops before we arrived at our destination at 20h30.

30, 31, October, 1November 2012

The value of the space provided by the conference was not just about educational engagements, but network opportunities and a stimulus for ways to make meaningful and relevant contributions to an education system in crisis. Presentations and topics were insightful, challenging and drew our attention to innovative methodologies by national and international researchers. I was swollen with pride by the standard of research andpresentations of the Stellenbosch University community!

2 November 2012

Exhausted, but energized,the 7post grad students departed the conference at 11h20, each one enriched by the experience, and extremely grateful to our respective supervisors for providing us with the opportunity to attend the conference, being the first for all of us. The dialogue continued. As sleep would deprive one of the valuable dialoguein progress, it was not an option. The energy from the conference was evident by the animated discussion and critique of the various presenters and research topics. After a “great trek” from N2 to N1 to get Henry home, we arrived in Stellenbosch at 22h15, our respective homes in the Southern Suburbs by 21h30 and Jerome in Vredenberg, 00h 30.

Nazli Domingo-Salie (doctoral student)

SACHES conference trip

Firstly I would like to thank Dr. Badroodien and Prof. Fataar for organising the trip to Port Elizabeth. The trip constructed a PhD scholarship community (sharing ideas and enhancing understanding of theories and concepts).

The conference helped us to think in other terms, evade face value judgments and to discern between good and bad presentations/ writing. We as students were challenged to engage with the community through the Saphir project. We were pleased to note that we are nurtured by supervisors with fresh theoretical frameworks that nobody talked about. The history of Saches depicted that there is more work to be done (so many gaps to be filled by the young academics).

Personally my confidence was boosted, noting that I have joined Stellenbosch University Scholars. Wow, what an amazing feeling.

Regards

Jasmine