Department of Educational Foundations

Prof D Pietersen

College of Education
School of Educational Studies
Department: Educational Foundations
Associate Professor
Tel: 012 484 1627
E-mail: epietecd@unisa.ac.za

Qualifications

  • PhD (University of Freestate)
  • PhD (University of Pretoria)
  • MTh (University of Pretoria)
  • BA Honors (University of the Western Cape)
  • PGCE (University of Stellenbosch)
  • BTech: Marketing (Cape Peninsula University of Technology)
  • BTh (George Whitfield College)

Currently teaching

  • Philosophy of Education (PDU 3701) – Undergraduate
  • Philosophy in Education (HED4804) – Postgraduate
  • Research Methodologies (RSE4801) – Postgraduate

Field of Specialisation

  • Philosophy
  • Paulo Freire’s Critical Pedagogy
  • Social Justice
  • Feminism
  • Education Policy

Journal articles

  • Langeveldt, D; Pietersen, D. 2024. Data-Driven Strategies for Addressing Challenges in Teacher Placement: A Legal and Pedagogical Analysis for Inclusive Education in South Africa, Journal of Education,39,3,1-12.
  • Pietersen, D. and Langeveldt, D. Pre-Service Teaching and Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) in A Diverse and Democratic South African School Setting: A Social Theoretical Perspective. Journal of Comparative & International Higher Education, 16(3), 208-218.
  • Pietersen, D., Tsotetsi, C. and Barnett, E. Social Capital, Culture, and Codes in Higher Education: Bourdieusian and Bernsteinian Philosophical Underpinnings in the South Africa Environment. Journal of Culture and Values in Education, 7(2),157-172.
  • Pietersen, D. and Dube, M.C. Black African Postgraduate Students' Authorial Voice in Scholarship. Research in Social Sciences and Technology, 9(2), 318-327.
  • Pietersen, D. 2024. Pedagogy of care in online teaching and learning environments at tertiary institutions through the eyes of Freire. Perspectives in Education, 42(2), 4-14.
  • Pietersen, D; Plaatjies, B. 2023. Freirean Utopian Didactic: A Retrospective View of Education in the South African Education Environment, Journal of Culture and Values in Education,6,2,123-137.
  • Pietersen, D. 2023. Perspectives on dialogue and care in teaching, learning relationships in an everchanging online higher education landscape, Perspectives in Education,41,2,134-150.
  • Pietersen, D. 2023. A Critical Analysis of Affirmative Action in South Africa: Theological and Educational Perspectives. Pharos Journal of Theology,104,4.
  • Pietersen, D; Langeveldt, D; Van Wyk, A. 2023. The multidimensional role of the principal in post-apartheid-South-Africa: A Philosophical Perspective, Research in Educational Policy and Management,5,2,263-274.
  • Pietersen, D; Langeveldt, D; Van Wyk, A. 2023. Techno-Rationalism and Higher Educational Law: Examining Legal Frameworks in Southern African Universities from a Freirean Critical Pedagogy Perspective, Journal of Culture and Values in Education,6,3,163-178.
  • Langeveldt, D; Pietersen, D; van Wyk, A. 2023. South African Legal Framework to Prepare Pre-Service Teacher Education Programmes: A Freirean Approach, Research in Educational Policy and Management,5,3,95-107.
  • Pietersen, D. 2023. Online teaching and learning platforms in Higher Education from developing universities in South Africa (Africa): Socially just and decolonized pedagogies. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Higher Education,8,1.
  • Pietersen, D. 2023. "Dialogical, online teaching and learning platforms in Higher Education: Socially just and decolonized", International Journal of Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Higher Education,8,1,133-147.
  • Pietersen, D. 2022. "Engaging Paulo Freire on Deliberative Democracy: Dialogical Pedagogy, Deliberation and Inclusion in a Transformative Higher Education Online Education Space.", Transformation in Higher Education,7,211.
  • Pietersen, D. 2022. Hope and hopelessness in Jeremiah 2: 1–13: An interpretive understanding to help deal with COVID-19, Theologia Viatorum,46,1,127.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. Re-interpreting Deuteronomy to Empower Women (of South Africa), Old Testament Essays,34,3,768-788.
  • Pietersen, D. 2022. ‘A dangerous and powerful woman?’–A feminist reading of an old story with new cultural eyes, Verbum et Ecclesia,43,1,24.
  • Pietersen, D. 2022. Confronting xenophobia in South Africa and the concept of foreigner in Deuteronomy as an act of othering', Verbum et Ecclesia,43,1,1-8.
  • Pietersen, D. 2022. Leadership Re-appropriated for 21st-century Women: A Reading of Deuteronomy 17: 15-20. Pharos Journal of Theology,103,2.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021 Reading a few exemplary books or texts in the Pentateuch and comparing how these books or texts portray the theme of violence and disempowerment, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies,77,2.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. YHWH's mouthpiece to the exiles: a Jeremianic turn of hope, Stellenbosch Theological Journal,7,1,1-24.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. "Reading the"" power of clothes"" in the Deuteronomic Code." Pharos Journal of Theology,102.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. Jeremia, profeet van oordeel en hoop/Jeremiah, prophet of judgement and hope", Acta Theologica, 41(1), 191-194.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. Haggai's concern for South Africa: A positive transformation to socio-economic justice as a catalyst for reconciliation, Verbum et Ecclesia,42,1,1-9.
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. Women treated as property: the influence of the ancient near East on the covenant code. Unisa Press
  • Pietersen, D. 2021. The Relevance of Theology and Legal policy in South African society in
  • connection with violence against women, Theologia Viatorum,45,1,7.

Paper presentations

  • Pietersen, D; “Transforming practices to facilitate students' success and create critical and positive engagement in online higher education” THE 12th TEACHER EDUCATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH CONFERENCE, 8-12 April 2024, Ezulwini, Eswatini
  • Pietersen, D & Dube, M; “A decolonised approach to assessment practices: AI strategies for honours-level assessments in DEF (Unisa)” 2024 International Teaching and Learning Conference (UNISA), 6-10 May 2024, Pretoria
  • Pietersen, D; “Dyslexic Learners Appropriated: Bramley Youth Centre (Unisa)” 3rd Engaged Scholarship Conference (UNISA), 13-16 August 2024, Cape Town
  • Pietersen, D; “Dialogue and care: Student-learner relationships in online higher education” University of South Africa (UNISA) Indaba 20 – 21 September 2023, Department of Educational Foundations
  • Pietersen, D; “Exploring social media as a teaching and learning communication tool used amongst students in higher education institutions, March 2023, Research Paper at Conference of SA-Sweden colloquium, Conference paper.
  • Pietersen, D; “Disruptions and educational inequalities in South Africa - feminist pedagogy inquiry”, JES Conference April 2023, Limpopo, Conference paper.
  • Pietersen, D; “Student-Lecturer Relationships in Online LMS platforms”, University of the Free State Conference - 7 & 8 October 2022, Conference paper.
  • Pietersen; D; “Re-imagining צרעת as ‘communal disease/illness’ in Leviticus 13–14, and how to overcome a crisis and move towards hope” Pro-pent Conference, University of Pretoria, Conference paper.
  • Pietersen, D; “The nexus of debt, wealth and kinhood in Deuteronomy 15: South African reflections”, OTSSA, University of the Free-state, Conference paper.
  • Pietersen, D; “Ideology and Imagination: Resilient themes of Tithe and Blessing in Deuteronomy and Malachi” Pro-psalms Conference, University of Pretoria, Conference paper.

Professional positions, fellowships & awards

  • Co-Chair Research Committee (DEF Unisa)
  • Deputy Chair Higher Degrees Committee (DEF Unisa)
  • Journal of Education (UKZN) Editorial Committee Member
  • Guest Editor for Revista Conrado Journal (Columbian University of Cienfuegos)
  • Pharos International Journal - African Journal’s Editorial Board Member
  • South African Education Research Association’s (SAERA) Member
  • Education Association of South Africa (EASA) Member
  • Higher Education Learning & Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) Member

Projects

  • Northern Cape Education Working Group Member (NCDOE) (Curriculum Development)
  • PHL Moraka High School Teacher Development Project (Teacher Development)
  • Women in Leadership and Management - (WiLM) (Women in Education Empowerment)
  • Bramley Youth Centre (Learning Barriers)

Other

  • Deans Award- Research Award for Exceptional Achievement (University of Pretoria)
  • Entrepreneurial Development Certificate Course – Raymond Ackerman Academy (UCT)
  • Small Business Development Certificate Course – Graduate School of Business (UCT)
  • Sesotho Language Certificate Course – University of the Freestate
  • Curriculum Renewal Program Certificate Course – University of the Freestate
  • Engaged Leadership Certificate Course – University of the Freestate
  • Employment Equity Representative (Occupational Course) – University of the Freestate