Mrs. Christy Jean Kotze (Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies) has been recognised as an up-and-coming researcher in her field and was awarded the International Emerging Scholar Award 2022 from the CGScholar International Conference on Learning in Spain, July 2022.  This award is issued to a small number of outstanding graduate students or early career academics who have an active academic interest in the conference area.

Kotze, who is currently completing her PhD at Unisa and lectures in the department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, has to date co-published four articles in accredited journals and is making an impact in the field of Teacher Education as a novice scholar.  She has dedicated this award to her mentors, Dr Safura Meeran who guides, supports and encourages her to constantly improve herself and her skills as an academic, and Professor MM van Wyk who took the time and energy to teach her how to write and co-published with her.  Christy further applauds the opportunities that Unisa offers to its students and staff to participate in workshops and learn how to write academic work for publishing.

Kotze shared the following sentiments after receiving the award:

“After the first paper I ever submitted was rejected, I would have never considered submitting another paper to a journal if it wasn’t for my mentors who not only encouraged me but took me by the hand and taught me to write, and wrote with me.  Writing isn’t easy, but it is a skill I intend on practicing, and encourage all students to develop too.  Publishing opens many doors for students and new academics.  I will continue to embrace the opportunities Unisa offers me to attend academic writing workshops and to upskill myself, and I hope to submit a sole authored article from my PhD soon”.

Christy has participated in the peer-review process for a chapter of a textbook on Teacher Education and peer-reviewed several articles under the guidance of her mentors.  She believes that participating in these academic writing processes may also improve her writing skills and equip her to do research and publish in her field in the future.