How the Mawazo Fellowship Programme Impacted a South African Climate Scientist’s PhD journey
Image credit: Luleka Dlamini
Author: Naliaka Odera
Luleka Dlamini joined the Mawazo Fellowship Programme at the perfect time for herresearch journey. As a PhD candidate just starting her research at the University ofCape Town, she found that the Programmewas a great fit for her academic work
“The different courses on the website helped me with the things I thought I already knew but realised there was more to understand,” she explains. When her supervisor asked her to create a budget for her research project, she was able to utilise the Budgeting and Financial Management Course on the MLEx platform. This course guided Fellows through the importance of budgeting, provided templates for creating budgets, and included information on contingencies and inflation rates. Luleka even found herself helping her colleagues create their own budgets, passing on the knowledge she gained.
Luleka found it difficult to choose which course had the most impact on her academic journey. She appreciated the improvement in her writing skills from the Publishing and Grants Writing Course, as well as the Public and Policy Engagement for Researchers Course. However, she also found the MicroCourses to be equally significant in her PhD journey. She specifically noted the valuable insights she gained by looking at her research through a gender lens. She says, “The experience significantly improved my writing, helped me in updating my CV and bio, and emphasised the importance of online presence and engaging with non-stakeholders in research.”
The most significant aspect for Lukeka’s academic journey through the Fellowship Programme came in mid 2024 when she needed to secure funding to extend her stay in the Netherlands. She was attached to Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as part of a partnership between WUR and her home university, the University of Cape Town. As part of her joint degree programme, Luleka was required to spend at least three months at WUR where she would receive tailored supervision, attend relevant courses, work on the modelling aspect of her research, and make progress on writing her dissertation. Extending her stay by two months, as she proposed, would require additional funding for accommodation, transportation, and living expenses.
Luleka decided to apply for the fourth cycle of the Fellows Fund, which was available to all the 2023 Mawazo Fellows. She was delighted when her application was accepted Allowing her to extend her stay in the Netherlands. This opportunity has had an immeasurable impact on her ability to access the courses and network with more people in her field.
With Mawazo’s support, Luleka is on track to complete her PhD journey next year, and she is already planning her next steps. She appreciated the opportunities to participate in and lead trainings, as well as conduct research to advance knowledge in specific areas. While she is open to staying in academia, she has also developed a growing passion for African development and hopes her work can reflect that passion.
As she reflects on her time in the Fellowship, Luleka is struck by the extensive support that Mawazo provided to all the Fellows in the Programme. “Many of us were able to attend conference, acquire equipment, conduct fieldwork, and more all thanks to Mawazo,” she remarks. The 2023 Mawazo Fellows formed a strong bond, supporting each other through milestones like births, weddings, and graduations as well as navigating challenges like demanding academic programmes, family and unexpected life hurdles. “The network you have given us goes beyond the 15-months programme,” she shares looking forward to the final stages of her PhD journey.
The Call for Applications for the 2025 Mawazo Fellowship Programme Cohort is now open until Sunday November 24th, 2024, find out more here and apply.