This April, the University of KwaZulu-Natal hosted the enlightening NORHED II Annual Workshop, drawing together academics from the University of Rwanda, Uganda Christian University, and NLA University College.
Centered around the theme “Preparing Practitioners for a Resilient Media in Eastern Africa,” this initiative aims to fortify the overall project team across the partner institutions. The workshop focused on pivotal aspects of media’s influence on democracy, gender, and health, with a robust agenda that featured a preceding PhD writing workshop led by Professor Ruth Teer Tomaselli, research presentations, and collaborative proposal development sessions.
Professor Terje Skjerdal outlined the primary objectives of the workshop, which included unveiling the project’s work packages designed to enhance media and communication education in Uganda and Rwanda, introduce new programs, improve faculty competence, and promote gender balance and inclusivity in learning environments. Importantly, the goal to upgrade educational infrastructure and equipment has been successfully achieved, bolstering the capabilities and resources available to students and staff.
The event spurred significant academic partnerships and charted a path for future collaborative research efforts, aimed at fostering resilient media practices that can drive social change and development in Eastern Africa.