2011-NMMU-Research-Report - Research Management - Nelson ...

Faculty Researcher
of the Year
Prof Naydene de Lange Dr Christo Pienaar
The 2011 Faculty Researcher of the Year, Prof Naydene de Lange, is
the Chair of HIV and AIDS in the Faculty. She is also the Head of the
Unit for Visual Methodologies, which focuses on visual participatory
methodologies for social change and she has also initiated various
communities of research practice. She has made a significant
contribution to research in the Faculty during the period relevant to
this award, in terms of publications and participation in both national
and international conferences. Her contribution has also included
supervising and mentoring new and emerging researchers. Through
her work she has made a significant contribution to research in HIV/
AIDS education and to the development of new methodologies
and pedagogies in teaching and research, in particular the use of
participatory visual methodologies.
Through her work, Prof de Lange has
made a significant contribution to
research in HIV/AIDS education and to
the development of new methodologies
and pedagogies in teaching and
research, in particular the use of
participatory visual methodologies.
Prof de Lange is recognised as a leader in the field of visual
participatory research methodologies, especially in the field of
HIV and AIDS. She believes strongly, together with thinkers such
as McDermott, that “masses of small projects” have the potential
to collectively add up to make a significant difference in society.
Her research has covered various aspects of education, especially
with disadvantaged communities and in a myriad of contexts, from
fruit farms in the Langkloof to rural villages in the foothills of the
Drakensberg. Her passion for the empowerment of people means
that action and participatory research, is for her, research that
makes sense in a complex society such as South Africa.
Faculty Emerging
Researcher of the Year
Dr Pienaar is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the ACE (Special
Needs in Education) as well as the ACE (HIV and AIDS in Teaching)
programmes in the Faculty of Education. He is a qualified clinical
and educational psychologist. He has become an active researcher
in the field of Educational Psychology. He regularly presents papers
at national and international conferences, publishes in accredited
journals and supervises Masters and Doctoral students who
specialise in Special Needs Education, Barriers to Learning, Inclusive
Education, Learner Support, Teacher Support and Parental Support.
In addition, Dr Pienaar is involved in community-based research
projects, one of which is registered with the NRF.
The Inclusive Education HUB was established by Dr Pienaar and
four other colleagues. They were approached by a school in New
Brighton to assist them with the implementation of inclusive
education in their school and also with the barriers to learning that
they experienced. Three other schools further approached them for
support. The HUB was then established with the aim to conduct
research on the implementation of inclusive education and the
support needs of schools to implement this policy.
Dr Pienaar is involved in communitybased
research projects, one of which is
registered with the NRF.
All schools were visited during the year and a needs analysis at each
school was undertaken. Their research group appointed Ms Nokhanyo
Mayaba as the convener of the HUB. A support programme at each
school will be established next year.
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