Unisa online - CARS student makes history

Andreas (Dries) Velthuizen is unique in that he is the first student to have been awarded a doctoral degree by Unisa's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CARS). His study entitled "The management of knowledge: a model for the African Renaissance" proposes practical solutions for the management of knowledge that will empower decision makers to intervene successfully in conflict situations. According to Dries, "there is a need in Africa to integrate information for decision-making purposes." Information from official and business structures such as the African Union (AU), the structures of its member countries, trans-national organisations, civil society and indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) must become usable knowledge.

The constant flow of information processed from structures should be merged to become the basis for decision and actions in, for example, conflict resolution and the eradication of poverty. "In this regard, there is a need for the private and public sector and civil society to collaborate. Furthermore, it is necessary for the African structures to accommodate the perspectives of local communities, the content of IKS and the intellectual capital of society ("higher minds") to ensure understanding of the challenges."

Making knowledge useful means unlocking and retrieving tacit knowledge --- not only what is on computers but also what is in the minds of people. One of the major challenges is integrating perspectives from a diversity of sources into useful knowledge. A new holistic understanding of the situation needs to be found which will give rise to rational and effective decision and actions.

"I would like to acknowledge the support of the Centre for African Renaissance studies which assisted me with my registration process and securing funding for my first year of study. I would also like to thank Prof Shadrac Gutto, my promoter, and Prof Dani Nabudere, my co-promoter, from the Marcus Garvey Institute for Pan-African Studies in Uganda."