In a significant step towards promoting gender equality and addressing pressing issues related to gender and sexuality, the College of Human Sciences at Unisa has unveiled its newly established Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Unisa, as a leading open distance and e-learning institution, is making strides in its commitment to address societal challenges related to gender and sexuality. The establishment of the department aligns with the university’s 2025 Strategic Plan and its broader vision to achieve social transformation.

Prof Itumeleng Mothoagae

Headed by Prof Itumeleng Mothoagae, this new department is set to become a hub of academic excellence in gender and sexuality studies, through its interdisciplinary approaches, student-centeredness and engaged scholarship. As the first department of its kind in this country, it aims to be a catalyst for transformation; anti-, post- and decolonisation; as well as social justice.

The Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies offers two postgraduate degrees:

1. Bachelor of Arts Honours in Gender Studies

The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide graduates with systematic knowledge, specialised skills and theoretical competence, focusing on or within a particular discipline, or within an interdisciplinary framework, to prepare them for specialist training at an advanced level.

This degree prepares graduates for specialist training at an advanced level, capacitating them with the ability to perform independently as intellectual leaders in society.

The qualification will also provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates who have in-depth knowledge, and the confidence required, to identify and define complex problems, and to apply their skills in finding solutions to those problems, especially within unfamiliar contexts.

The goal is to deliver graduates who can demonstrate their familiarity with a particular discipline or interdisciplinary framework, and apply it in multiple contexts.

2. Master of Philosophy in Gender Studies

This programme provides graduates with the knowledge, skills and applied competence to conduct empirical research and engage in best practices within the field of Gender Studies. It aims to produce a cohort of graduates who can champion, and become stewards of, gender equality, as innovative and knowledge-based gender specialists and advocates.

These programmes are designed not only to empower individuals, but also to broaden the leadership base, thereby ensuring that these intellectuals can play an innovative and meaningful role as change agents, working to promote gender equity in society as a whole, and also in the workplace, informed by empirical research.

Promoting scholarship and research

To achieve its mission, the Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies is actively promoting scholarship and research as tools for societal change. The department coordinates research projects which focus on critical areas such as gender and representation, gender and open and distance learning, and gender and technology.

Key objectives include creating an inclusive space for engaged research, forging research collaborations with gender stakeholders, advocating for social and gender justice, conducting community engagement, contributing to policy development, and providing excellent postgraduate teaching and supervision in gender-related studies.

A powerful tool for gender equality

One of the core beliefs of the department is that education and awareness about gender issues are powerful tools for addressing gender-based violence, homophobia, transphobia and discrimination against women. The department is dedicated to empowering graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to promote gender equality and social justice in their own communities, the workplace, and the political sphere

A beacon of hope

With its innovative approach, research focus and commitment to inclusivity, Unisa’s Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies is poised to make a significant contribution to the pursuit of gender non-discrimination and social justice in southern Africa and beyond. It aims to serve as a beacon of hope for those seeking to address gender-related challenges, and to work towards creating a more equitable world.

Mothoagae encourages prospective students to explore the diverse lenses and theories used within the discipline of Gender and Sexuality Studies, and to uphold the department's commitment to academic excellence, social justice and transformation.

As Unisa continues to align its vision with national and international development goals, so the Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies will continue to play a crucial role in advancing gender equality and addressing the numerous societal issues communities face in the 21^st century.

Click here for more information on the Department of Gender and Sexuality Studies.

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* By Tebogo Mahlaela, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Human Sciences