CELEBRATING 60 YEARS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LIMPOPO-PROF KWENA MASHA

As part the 60 years celebration of existence of the university of Limpopo, we continued to profile the alumni of the university. We spoke to prof kwena Masha. Prof kwena Masha’s academic background is in mathematics education. He joined the university in 1996 as a foundation mathematics lecturer in the university foundation year programme (unify). During his time in unify, prof Masha participated in several national initiatives including the development of funding framework for foundation year programmes leading to the current extended curricular programmes (ecps). He coordinated the development of mathematics selection tests that include standardized assessment tests for admission and placement (satap) and the national benchmarking tests (nbts) and participated in the development of the alternative admissions and assessment research project (aarp) that was based at the university of cape town. In the area of academic development, prof Masha has been the director for centre for academic excellence (cae). Whilst in that position he initiated numerous programmes such as annual teaching and learning symposium, baditi student support programme which is the only one in the country that is inspired by our very own traditional mentorship programmes, advancement of the scholarship of teaching and learning programmes through which UL academics are receiving training, etc. At a national level he participated in the teaching and learning excellence awards, development of teaching advancement at university (tau) fellowship programme, and development of a framework for the advancement of university academics as teachers. In the field of mathematics education, prof Masha has produced a significant number of honours, masters and two PhD students. One of his research interest areas is the embodiment of mathematics teachers. About the professional bodies, prof Masha is a lifetime member of the association for mathematics.