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Remarkable scholar receives international recognition for impactful research

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Dr Nonkanyiso Pamella Shabalala

Dr Nonkanyiso Pamella Shabalala, a lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Education under Unisa’s College of Education, has achieved a significant milestone in her academic career.

Her manuscript titled Global citizenship education as a strategy for social justice and identity: Achieving balance for meaningful social impact, was recently published in Globalisation, Societies and Education, a Quartile 1 (Q1) international journal published by Taylor & Francis.

Following this achievement, Taylor & Francis extended a further honour by commissioning her to write a complementary commentary article for the University World News. This recognition is highly competitive as University World News selects only a handful of the strongest papers globally, typically once every two years, and only one article per country. Her selection highlights her role as a significant academic voice for the Global South in shaping debates on education, social justice and identity.


A unique contribution

Her research challenges the dominance of Western approaches to Global Citizenship Education (GCE) and argues for teaching models that are grounded in African languages, indigenous knowledge systems and philosophies, such as Ubuntu. By affirming cultural identity while enabling students to participate in global conversations, her work demonstrates how GCE can become a powerful tool for both justice and meaningful social impact.


Recognition beyond academia

Shabalala’s conversely articulated commentary in University World News expands the reach of her academic work to policymakers, educators and scholars worldwide. It highlights the importance of various perspectives from the Global South in building an inclusive, just and contextually relevant approaches to global citizenship. Reflecting on the recognition, Shabalala remarks: "Being selected for this platform is not only an honour for me, but also for Unisa and for South Africa. It affirms that the Global South’s voices, experiences and knowledge are critical in shaping global debates on education and justice."

This international recognition demonstrates Unisa’s commitment to advancing African scholarship, shaping futures and ensuring that voices from the continent contribute meaningfully to global conversations on education and sustainable development.

* By Freddy Abilio Mlambo, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Education

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Publish date: 2025-09-04 00:00:00.0

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