April 22 this year saw the launch of the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Human Development. Jointly hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, it will focus on human development from conception through the human life cycle, including adolescence, early adulthood and becoming economically independent.
This new CoE incorporates research programmes in development, livelihoods and health led by the University of KwaZulu-Natal with research programmes in child development led by the University of the Witwatersrand.
At the launch, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Michael Masutha said the CoE would ensure a better response to child development challenges in the country.
“The centre will combine the multidisciplinary expertise of established scholars with dedicated research groups working on child development. The team’s diverse strengths will enable a better understanding of the challenges in respect of child development in South Africa, improve the country’s ability to address these challenges, and advocate for the most cost-effective interventions to give all children the best possible start in life,” he said.
Professor Cheryl Potgieter, deputy vice-chancellor and head of the College of Humanities of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said that the university welcomed the opportunity to co-host the CoE with the University of the Witwatersrand.
“Partnerships are the cornerstone of the development framework and essential in mobilising support and investment”, she said. “In line with the Millennium Development Goals, the Centre will focus on human capacity, particularly economic participation and health, which will contribute significantly to enhancing and empowering the youth and ultimately all South African citizens.”
Professor Linda Richter, director of the CoE in Human Development, said: “We think of human development as three different but related processes: First is the development of human beings from conception to death. Second is lifecycle development from one generation to the next and third is socioeconomic development. These processes, while distinguishable, are inseparable from one another and each mirrors the other and thus must be studied in relation to one another. A foundational feature of the CoE in Human Development is studies situated in time to study change.”
The contents of this supplement were supplied and signed off by the National Research Foundation.