Sustainable Futures
Sustainable Futures has become an important frame of reference for political intent and action, as well as for (re)aligning humanity’s moral compass. The idea of sustainable futures emerged from the recognition that the planet’s resources (including human resources) and capacities are limited. The paradigm of development has had to be re-imagined in a more future-sensitive, future-oriented way, taking into account moral obligations toward present and future generations. The pandemic brought to light the “uncertain” future that we will have to address, hence, future-making practices includes more broadly the fields of education, policy planning, scientific and technological innovations, economical advances, biographical choices, and the behaviour of different social groups. Effective future-making practices can become powerful tools for creating (new) orders, empowering and including diversity, and preserving or transforming fundamental values such as those that determine what people perceive as the “good life” or a desirable future.
In this conference we hope to engage with education for sustainable futures by building on different debates in the fields of education, environmental humanities, history, science and technology and sociology. This means that we hope to critically and explicitly examine the opportunities, pitfalls and challenges in education through the lenses of a sustainable future. It is anticipated that the start of these conversations will broaden the attention of education leaders to the realisation that schools form a key component that contributes to the future we desire.
Speaker Bio’s
Jessica Eley
Diploma from Association Montessori and a Postgraduate in Education
School Coordinator
Lynedoch Community School
Jessica Eley, is a qualified teacher, specialising in learner support and special educational needs. She is currently the school coordinator for the Lynedoch Community School, a Montessori school ages 6 – 14 years. She has worked in this field since 2013, working both in the private school sector abroad in France and Vietnam, and locally.
Jess Schulschenk
Ph.D. Business Administration
Lecturer
Co-Director of the Sustainability Institute
Jess Schulschenk, is a Co-Director of the Sustainability Institute. She is a lecturer with the University of Stellenbosch. Jess is also Partnerships Director for the Embedding Project, a global public-benefit research project that helps companies embed sustainability across their operations and decision-making.
Yoliswa Mahobe
Studied Horticulture
Permaculture Training Coordinator at Living Soils Community Learning Farm
Sustainability Institute
Yoliswa Mahobe, is a Permaculture expert at the Sustainability Institute. Permaculture enables her to do what she loves, which is working with people where everyone shares and learns in ways that are sustaining human lives. Yoliswa is also part of an organisation called Amava Oluntu, which works with communities in urban and rural cities to build learning journeys.
Andile Mncwango
Bachelor of Education Honours Education Leadership and Management
Educator
Parklands High School
Andile Mncwago, is a passionate commerce educator at Parklands High School. He teaches Business Studies, Tourism, Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), together with Economics in the FET and Senior phases. Mr Mncwango completed his undergraduate and honours degree at the University of Johannesburg. He is currently a master’s student, with a focus on Education Leadership and Management.
Suraiya Rathankomar Naicker
PhD in Education Leadership and Management
Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education Leadership and Management
University of Johannesburg
Dr Suraiya R Naicker is a senior lecturer in the Department of Education Leadership and Management at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). In 2020 she was appointed as Head of Department of the Department of Education Leadership and Management. Previously, she served as an educator, head of department and deputy principal for 16 years in public education. Her research publications in education leadership are in the areas of education change including systemic change, distributive leadership and inclusive education. More recently, her research interests are in school leader wellness, crises management, instructional leadership and digital leadership.
Rufus Ademola Omotosho
PhD in Entrepreneurship Education
Research Fellow
University of Johannesburg
Dr Rufus Ademola O. is a research fellow at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from the University of Zululand in South Africa with a Masters and a Doctorate in Entrepreneurship Education. He is a passionate scholar with extensive expertise in teaching and research. His key areas of research interest include entrepreneurship education, women’s entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability in education, Enactus’ community development projects and business management. He has published several articles in refereed international journals.
Mukateko Sithole
Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Management
Senior Education Specialist for Natural Sciences and Technology
Limpopo Department of Education
Ms. Mukateko Sithole is currently working as a Senior Education Specialist for Natural Sciences and Technology for the Limpopo Department of Education (Capricorn North District). She is a member of the National Training Team(NTT) for Coding and Robotics. The NTT is responsible for Coding and Robotics training and orientation for Subject Advisors in the Province and the teachers for piloting schools, and monitoring, and supporting the implementation in schools. Mukateko was a Physical Sciences and Mathematics teacher, Departmental Head and Principal of a secondary school before joining the curriculum section in the District. Mukateko holds a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Management.
