The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has added two new members to its growing list of Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) Fellows: Professor Willie Chinyamurindi and Associate Professor Juliet Townes.
Through a comprehensive 19-month-long programme, the Fellowship develops academics from across South African universities into skilled teachers, mentors, and leaders who drive positive change and promote excellence and social justice in higher education.
Their successful completion of the 2024/2025 programme highlights UFH’s commitment to excellent teaching, mentoring, and socially responsible scholarship.
Promoting Change in Higher Education
Professor Willie Chinyamurindi, Head of the Department of Applied Management, Administration & Ethical Leadership, is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C2-rated scholar and a Fellow of the African Academy of Science. His teaching and research focus on the psychology of work, organisational behaviour, strategic management, and promoting social justice in higher education. Deeply committed to curriculum transformation, he integrates leadership, scholarship, and mentorship in ways that promote African excellence and inclusive knowledge production.
Reflecting on his TAU Fellowship experience, Prof Chinyamurindi described it as “a transformative journey that reshaped my understanding of teaching and learning in higher education.”
“I experienced TAU not merely as a fellowship but as a movement, one that foregrounds responsiveness, reflexivity, and social justice in the academic project.” Through engagements across Gqeberha, Johannesburg, and Durban, he gained “a deeper appreciation of diversity as a strength in enacting change.”
Prof Chinyamurindi’s TAU project focused on developing a framework for decolonizing the Industrial and Organizational Psychology curriculum using psychobiography as a teaching and learning tool. “TAU rekindled my sense of purpose as an academic change agent committed to responsive, socially just, and contextually relevant higher education,” he said.
He added that being recognised as a TAU Fellow holds deep personal and professional meaning. “Personally, it affirms a journey of growth, resilience, and discovery – a true ‘eureka moment.’ Professionally, it validates my commitment to transforming higher education through socially just and decolonial pedagogies.”
“More broadly, the recognition signals that the pursuit of African excellence and epistemic justice is both possible and necessary.”
Supporting Students and Building Resilience
Associate Professor Juliet Townes, an Industrial Psychology scholar, holds a PhD from Nelson Mandela University (2019) and multiple professional certifications, including registration as an Independent Psychometrist with the HPCSA. Her academic and professional background provides a strong foundation for her work in psychological resilience, employee well-being, leadership development, and human capital management. As a transdisciplinary scholar, she integrates industrial psychology, business management, leadership, and human resource management to create inclusive and responsive learning environments.
Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Participating in the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU) Fellowship Programme has been a transformative and thought-provoking journey. The experience deepened my understanding of socially just teaching and learning, while challenging me to pivot and adjust in my role as an academic leader.”
Her TAU project, “Perceptions of University of Fort Hare Students on their Learning and Readiness for the Labour Market,” provided a valuable lens through which to explore issues of epistemological access and student preparedness. “The mentorship and peer feedback I received whilst on the TAU programme have strengthened my confidence and commitment to fostering meaningful learning experiences that contribute to both student success and social justice in higher education,” she added.
“Being recognised as a TAU Fellow is both a personal honour and a professional milestone. It validates my commitment to advancing teaching excellence and social justice in higher education, and it strengthens my role as a mentor, collaborator, and advocate for inclusive, student-centred learning. This recognition is not just an endpoint, but an invitation to keep contributing meaningfully to the evolving landscape of higher education in South Africa.”
A Growing Community of TAU Fellows
With the addition of Prof Chinyamurindi and Dr Townes, UFH now has ten TAU Fellows in addition to:
- Mr Actor Katurura
- Associate Professor Roxanne Piderit
- Dr Nomakhaya Mashiyi
- Dr Nonzukiso Tyilo
- Dr Patricia Muhuro
- Associate Professor Arthur van Coller
- Associate Professor Mzuyanda Mavuso
- Professor Ulene Schiller
The university also has one staff member currently participating in TAU 6 (2025/2026), Dr Naledzani Ndou.
These new TAU Fellows are part of a growing movement that shows meaningful change in higher education comes from collaboration, reflection, and a commitment to student success.