Prof KP Dzvimbo presents his welcoming address to SAERA conference delegates
During the first SAERA Conference held from 27 -30 January 2013 at Bela Bela, new ground was broken with the establishment of the South African Education Research Association (SAERA). Prof KP Dzvimbo opened the conference. On the first evening the EASA medal was awarded to Prof Eleanor Lemmer for her excellent research contributions to the field of Education over the past 26 years at Unisa. Professor Lemmer thanked Unisa in her acceptance speech and said: “Unisa has given me many opportunities to develop as an academic. Beside financial support, I value most highly the freedom to follow my own research interests unhindered; a richly endowed library; and as research professor working at home, the gift of solitude which I require to practise my craft in my own idiosyncratic way. For the full speech, click here.
Prof Bob Lindgard
Various keynote speeches were delivered during the conference. On Monday 27 Jan, a keynote address was presented by Prof Bob Lingard from Queensland University, Australia on the National Educational Research Organisations: the Promotion of Education(al) Research in a Globalising World. This address sketched the path which the Australian equivalent of SAERE followed since its inception in 1976, giving good insights to help focus the South African activities in this regard.
Prof Crain Soudien (UCT), Prof Catherine Odora-Hoppers (Unisa) and Prof Joe Muller (UCT)
Another keynote on day two, by Prof Joel Samoff from Stanford University in the USA, was centred on Unasked Questions Remain Unanswered: Addressing Learning for All. The keynote speaker on day three was Prof R Govinda from New Delhi, India which dealt with Exclusion and inequality in Indian School Education. On the last afternoon a keynote panel consisting of Prof C Soudien from UCT, Prof Odora Hoppers from UNISA and Prof J Muller also from UCT discussed the Curriculum, Knowledge and the South African educational moment.
During the conference a new over-arching organisation of SAERA was officially established and formally constituted at 12:54 on Tuesday, 29 January 2013. Prof Louis van Niekerk from Unisa/Nadeosa presided over the election process. The following members of the general meeting were nominated and seconded and accepted the nomination: Prof SM Motala (affiliations, UJ), Prof Aslam Fataar (US, SACHES, EASA, Kenton), Prof Maureen Robinson (Wits, Kenton), 4 Prof F. Eldrie Gouws (Unisa, EASA), Dr Ari Naidoo (Private), Prof Vusi Mncube (Unisa, SASE), Prof Gamse Wimke (Wits, Emisa, SAAMSTE), Prof Lesley Wood (NWU, EASA), Prof Volker Wedekind (UKZN, Kenton, SACHES), Prof Nazir Carrim (Wits), Prof Charl Wolhuter (NWU, SACHES), Prof Wayne Hugo (UKZN, Kenton) and Dr QK Semuli (Unisa, EASA). Prof SM Motala was nominated, supported and accepted to be interim President.
With thanks to Tony Mays (conference report) and Esta de Jager (photos) for their input to this article.
 Prof Eldrie Gouws thanks Prof Bob Lingard for his interesting keynote address |
 Prof Petro Marais congratulates Prof Eleanor Lemmer on her EASA Gold Medal Award |
 Dr N Naidu getting to know a new CEDU colleague, Prof MD Magano |
 Prof Nazir Carrim, Dr Veli Gasa and Dr Prem Heeralal enjoying the drumming workshop |
 Conference delegates back: Prof Elza Venter, Prof Gherda Ferreira, Dr Johan Swanepoel and Prof Anne-Mari Dicker and in the front, Reda Davin, Dr Elize du Plessis and Prof Dalena Vogel showing of their various hats during one of the evening functions |
 Prof R Govenda from NEUPA, New Delhi, India |
 CEDU colleague, Dr MZ Ramorola sang an opera item at the formal function |
 Young musicians playing at the formal function |
