Academic Profile

Pinkie Gqiba is a dedicated lecturer and clinician in the Department of Rehabilitative Sciences within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Fort Hare. She holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Walter Sisulu University, an Advanced Diploma in Hearing Aid Acoustics from the University of Pretoria, and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Speech and Hearing Therapy and in Psychology and Linguistics from the University of the Witwatersrand. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. With over 20 years of experience across public and private health and education sectors, Ms. Gqiba brings extensive clinical, academic, and leadership expertise to her role. She previously held middle management positions at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and within the Eastern Cape Department of Education, where she advanced speech-language and audiology services in both clinical and school-based settings. At the University of Fort Hare, Ms. Gqiba has played a pivotal role in building and advancing the Speech-Language Pathology programme. Her contributions include the development of academic modules, strategic curriculum input, supervision of clinical placements, and departmental planning for accreditation. Notably, she led the establishment of fully operational clinical training platforms, including the University Speech Therapy Clinic and the Simulation Laboratories. These facilities serve as vital experiential learning spaces for students. She has also facilitated the development of key Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with external partners to support student clinical training across the province. Ms. Gqiba’s most notable and pioneering contribution lies in promoting language-accessible training. She has significantly advanced the integration of isiXhosa into clinical practice, resulting in the production of Speech Therapy graduates proficient in an African language, a first for South Africa. This achievement marks a major leap forward in the profession, addressing the long-standing neglect of linguistic and cultural diversity in healthcare and setting a precedent for linguistically inclusive service delivery in the country. Her broader academic interests include early identification and intervention for speech, language, and hearing disorders; inclusive education; and culturally relevant practice in under-resourced settings. She has supervised undergraduate research and contributed to the development and validation of culturally appropriate screening tools, such as the isiXhosa translation of the ASQ-3 developmental screening questionnaire. Ms. Gqiba has served on several faculty committees, including those focused on student mentoring, community engagement, infrastructure, and admissions. She holds additional professional development certifications in Basic Sign Language, HIV/AIDS Counselling, Public Sector Budgeting, and digital learning and teaching methodologies. Her work continues to shape a socially responsive, equity-focused model of health sciences education. Through her vision and sustained contributions, Ms. Gqiba is actively contributing to the transformation of the Speech Therapy profession in South Africa by fostering graduates who are linguistically, culturally, and clinically prepared to serve diverse communities.