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February 3th, PhD defence L.A. Gberie
This thesis focuses on two inter-related processes: the systematic development of an ethno-nationalistic ‘Creole’ identity (or ‘tribe’) among the descendants of the Liberated Africans in Sierra Leone in the nineteenth century; and the role of the Creoles in the making of the modern state of Sierra Leone more broadly.
Lansana Gberie – since 3 February, also the proud possessor of the title of doctor from the Vrije Universiteit – is a historian from Sierra Leone. He gained his BA in history from Fourah Bay college, the oldest Western-style university in West Africa, founded in 1827. One of Sierra Leone’s leading journalists, he was forced during the civil war of the 1990s to move to Canada, where he successfully studied for a Master’s degree. He worked for a non-governmental organization, Partnership Africa Canada, that played a leading role in exposing the issue of “blood diamonds” to public scrutiny. Lansana Gberie is currently living once more in Sierra Leone.
January 28th, Inaugural lecture fifth Desmond Tutu Professor
On Thursday 28 January, Prof. Van Furth held her inaugural lecture, entitled “Kinderen en infecties; balanceren op het slappe koord” (Children and Infections; A Matter of Balance) in the VU University.
Since 1 October 2009, dr. Marceline van Furth, paediatrician and infectiologist at VU Medical Centre, has been in function as Desmond Tutu Professor. She was also appointed as Professor in Paediatrics at VU Medical Centre, with special focus on Infectious Diseases.
As Desmond Tutu Professor, she will primarily deal with the treatment of tuberculous meningitis in children in South Africa. As part of the Children’s Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Centre at VUmc (KIDS in Dutch), she runs a project in the Western Cape, South Africa, the Tuberculous Meningitis Township Project. The aim of this project is to provide children infected with tuberculous meningitis (TBM) with home treatment in stead of admitting them to hospital for a long time.
More about the Tuberculous Meningitis Township Project on this website, the website of the Children’s Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Centre at VUmc or the Project’s website: www.tututum.com.
The first four Desmond Tutu Professors were installed and presented during the launch of the Desmond Tutu Programme on 4 December last year, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu himself addressing the audience (see the short report on the fourth of December 2008). In September and October, every professor delivered his inaugural speech in which they outlined their research plans and other academic activities for the next five years (see the news page).
To see the inaugural lecture of Prof. Van Furth click here.
VU University Amsterdam initiates programme on skills development in higher education for South African students, in cooperation with Wageningen University and Delft University of Technology
In January 2010, VU University Amsterdam will start a large programme on skills development in higher education for South African students. The four-year programme will be financed by the 
Netherlands Royal Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Last May, a Letter of Intent for this programme was signed in Stellenbosch, South Africa, between Dutch Minister for International Cooperation Bert Koenders and VU rector magnificus Lex Bouter (see the news archive).
The programme will be coordinated by SAVUSA, the South Africa institute of VU University Amsterdam, and is a cooperation with Wageningen University and Research Centre, Delft University of Technology and South African partner institutions. From the second year onwards, more Dutch universities will be invited to participate.
A major part of the programme consists of the opportunity for South African master students to do master courses at the Dutch universities involved, in the fields of Agriculture, Water and Water Management, Transport and Logistics, Tourism and Finance and Accounting. Another part of the programme is located in South Africa and focuses on skills development for aspiring PhD candidates. This part will be executed in cooperation with Exactica, an office specialised in courses for PhDs. Last but not least, the programme offers a number of South African university teachers the opportunity to finish their master degrees at the Dutch universities. What is unique about this element, is the fact that the replacement of these university teachers will be financed as well.
The development of skills is vital to South African society and receives much political attention as the country suffers large shortages on the mentioned fields and the number of well-studied university staff is very low.
SAVUSA visit to South Africa
Between 4 and 14 May, SAVUSA and three of the Desmond Tutu Professors, Prof. Stephen Ellis (FSW), Prof. Geert Savelsbergh (FBW) and Prof. Chris Elbers (FEWEB), visited South Africa to launch the Desmond Tutu Programme in South Africa.
The trip was meant for the professors to get acquainted with their colleagues and counterparts at the various universities, as well as to meet up with PhD students who might be interested to enroll in the DTP-NRF PhD Programme. At this moment, the application deadline for the first call within this programme is closed and the selection procedure has started. The choice will be tough as many potential PhDs have applied!
Another important part of the trip consisted of the signing of a Letter of Intent between VU University Amsterdam’s rector Lex Bouter and the Minister for Development Cooperation Bert Koenders, regarding a Skills Development programme, which SAVUSA will coordinate.
For more information on the trip, reports, media coverage and pictures, see the news archive.
SAVUSA
SAVUSA (South Africa – VU University – Strategic Alliances) stimulates academic cooperation between VU University Amsterdam and its partner universities in South Africa, by facilitating academic research and publications, and by coordinating the VU Desmond Tutu Programme on Youth, Sports and Reconciliation.
Address:
VU University
Faculty of Social Sciences
SAVUSA
De Boelelaan 1081 (Metropolitan Building)
1081 HV Amsterdam
+31 20 598 6708
+31 20 598 6765
savusa@fsw.vu.nl
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