Virtual Field Seminar: (Re)Construction of Race, Racism, and Narrative in South Africa

Upon successful completion of this seminar, participants will be able to:

• Understand an analyze the concept of race, racism, and narrative in the South African context
• Demonstrate knowledge of the historical, geographic, and psychological roots and implications of racism in South Africa
• Draw relevant connections between race, racism, and narrative in the South African context with participants’ communities and lived experiences
• Translate the theory of experiential education into online programs
• Demonstrate an understanding of best practices and ethical considerations in short-term programming
• Reflect and debrief their own experiences and learn tips for leading reflection activities for students
• Understand anti-racist and decolonizing practices for study abroad
• Create effective evaluation and assessment tools

• Lectures and workshops may include:
  • The History of the Construction of Race and Racism and Apartheid in South Africa 
  • Spatial Geography and Segregation of Cape Town City (pre-recorded)
  • The Psychology of Racism in South Africa
  • Nelson Mandela’s Life & Legacy
  • Race & the South African Constitution
  • The Student Movement in South Africa: From Fees Must Fall to Decoloniality and Rhodes Must Fall
• Site visits and field-based activities may include:
  • Two narrated tours of Cape Town from two different perspectives
  • Interaction with a former prisoner of Robben Island
  • Virtual site visit to the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
  • A music performance with a Q&A session with a local musician
  • A walking tour of Bo Kaap

All sessions with times listed will be synchronous.  All other sessions will be asynchronous.

• May 31st:
  • Narrated tour of Cape Town
  • 11:00AM – 12:00PM ET:  Orientation and Introductions
  • 12:15PM – 1:15PM ET:  The History of the Construction of Race and Racism and Apartheid in South Africa
  • 1:30PM – 3:00PM ET:  Translating Experiential Education into an Online Space
• June 1st:
  • Spatial Geography and Segregation of Cape Town City
  • 11:00AM – 12:00PM ET:  The Student Movement in South Africa: From Fees Must Fall to Decoloniality and Rhodes Must Fall
  • 12:15PM – 1:15PM ET: Conversation Partners (Race and Racism in My Hometown)
  • 1:30PM – 3:00PM ET:  Decolonizing Your Study Abroad Curriculum
• June 2nd:
  • The Psychology of Racism in South Africa
  • 11:00AM – 1:00PM ET:  Walking tour of Bo Kaap, a former township and historical center of Cape Malay culture
  • 1:30PM – 3:00PM ET: Engaging with and Promoting Access, Diversity, and Inclusion/Belonging, and Addressing Privilege, Power, and Positionality
• June 3rd:
  • Nelson Mandela’s Life & Legacy
  • 11:00AM – 12:00PM ET:  Conversation Partners (Geography and Psychology of Racism in My Hometown)
  • 12:15PM – 1:30PM ET:  Conversation with Former Robben Island Prisoner
  • 1:30PM – 3:00PM ET:  Best Practices in Leading Debrief and Reflection Sessions
  • Robben Island Museum: Robert Sobukwe
• June 4th:
  • Race and the South African Constitution
  • 11:00AM – 12:00PM ET:  Conversation Partners (Incarceration, Racism, and Constitutions)
  • 12:15PM – 1:15PM ET:  Site Visit to Institute for Justice & Reconciliation
  • 1:30PM – 3:00PM ET:  Best Practices for Evaluation and Assessment
• June 5th:
  • 11:00AM – 12:30PM ET:  Narrated Tour of Cape Town (alternative narrative)
  • 12:45PM – 1:45PM ET:  Roundtable with Conversation Partners
  • 2:00PM – 3:00PM ET:  Music and Race: South African music performance, with Q&A
  • 3:00PM – 4:00PM ET: Debrief & Closing

Stewart Chirova
Academic Director of South Africa: Multiculturalism and Human Rights & South Africa: Social Justice and Activism Internship

A Zimbabwe national, Stewart received a BS in agriculture from the University of Zimbabwe, an MS and MPS in horticulture and environmental management from Cornell University, and a graduate diploma in business administration at De Mont Fort University in the UK. Stewart served as academic director of SIT’s program in Botswana from 2001 through 2010, and has directed this program since 2010. In addition to his role as academic director, from 2007 to 2009, he was a member and later chair of the Program Affairs Committee on the SIT Study Abroad Governance Council.

He has worked as a research associate at the University of Zimbabwe and at Cornell University. His research efforts were focused on sustainable agriculture, integrated pest management, watershed management, and geographic information systems. He has also taught courses for the Ministry of Education in Zimbabwe and served as a coordinator in the International Students and Scholars program office at Cornell University.

Imraan Buccus
Academic Director of South Africa: Social and Political Transformation & South Africa: Education and Social Change
Assistant Professor of MA in Peace and Justice Leadership
Associate Chair of MA in Diplomacy and International Relations

Imraan has an undergraduate degree in education, a master’s degree in social policy from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and a PhD from UKZN’s School of Politics, where he has also been a lecturer. He is widely published in academic journals and book chapters and is the former editor of the journal Critical Dialogue and the current editor of Democracy Dialogue. He is a columnist for Durban’s popular paper Mail & Guardian and is often called upon by television and radio stations to offer political analysis.

During apartheid, Imraan was active in student politics. In 2008 he was an Open Society Foundation Media Fellow, and in 2009 he appeared on the prestigious Mail & Guardian list of South Africa’s 200 Leading Young South Africans. Imraan worked as academic coordinator at Workers’ College, a progressive college for trade union members. He was involved in multiple international research projects and co-authored the National Framework on Public Participation for the South African government. During his time at the Centre for Public Participation, he led an initiative to bring policymaking spaces closer to ordinary people and led a project to assess participatory democracy in Namibia.

To apply for this certificate program, download the program application and email it as an attachment to [email protected]. Any interested applicant who has already applied and been accepted into the “Designing and Leading Global Experiential Programs: On-site and Online” professional development certificate will be automatically accepted into this field seminar program.   Admissions is on a rolling basis with a final application deadline of March 5, 2021.

Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions within two weeks of applying.

Eligibility & Admissions Criteria

Faculty, study abroad staff, and other school staff or administrators from U.S. institutions of higher learning are invited to apply. Previous experience in designing or leading global programs is not required, though participants who have some responsibility for or opportunities to engage in global education activities for their institutions are preferred.

The total cost for the virtual field seminar is $995. Interested applicants who are enrolled in the “Designing and Leading Global Experiential Programs: On-site and Online” professional development certificate will be eligible for a discount of 10%.

A nonrefundable $400 deposit will be due within three weeks of notification of admission. Payment in full is due 30 days prior to the start of the program. A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Award decisions are based on financial need and other factors. To apply for a scholarship for this certificate program, download the scholarship application and email it as an attachment to [email protected].