Iris Elliott is a Visiting Research Fellow until September 2026, developing research projects with SSESW colleagues around the mental health of children and young people. She was formerly with Mental Health Foundation and is now at the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Iris also worked with SSESW colleagues and Praxis Care to develop a project exploring interventions to promote physical activity among people with mental health problems. More details of that project are available at DRILL

Nicci Hayes (Education, Rhodes University) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Alison MacKenzie and Lorna Montgomery. Her project asks questions about the experiences that adults recollect of their happiness and flourishing as young children in the education sector. This is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

Ntombovuyo James (University of Fort Hare) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Gavin Duffy on her project ‘An Appraisal of the Expertise of selected School Governing Bodies in Managing School Finances in Amathole West District’. This is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

Heide Kuhlane (Education, Rhodes University) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25. She is engaging with Mel Engman, Sultan Turkan, Jennifer Roberts and Dina Belluigi on her project ‘Sociocultural Perspective of in-service teachers’ learning in context: The case of Foundation Phase in-service teachers in the Eastern Cape’. This is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

Anathi Lubisi (Sociology, University of Fort Hare) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Emma Calvert on the impact of access to quality curriculum content and pedagogical strategies necessary for good academic performance in Eastern Cape schools. This is is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

Alfred Mapfumo (Education, Rhodes University) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Karen Kerr, Ian Cantley and Mel Engman on supporting Grade 12 Physical Sciences teachers in improving their PCK of the topic 'work and energy' in the Eastern Cape Province. The teachers in Alfred’s study are part of Professional Learning Community (PLC) and are exploring the use of pedagogic translanguaging in English and isiXhosa (the home language of both the teachers and learners in the study). The scholars involved are part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.

Johny Marjit is a Visiting Scholar from 2024 to 2026 engaging with Dina Belluigi and Ulrike Vieten on the project Counter-stories of author-ity in transition: Women in the Indian Academy. He is based at the School of Women’s Studies of Jadavpur University in India. His doctoral study is concerned with doctorate scholars’ experiences in universities and institutes of national importance in West Bengal.

Sifingo Mbona (Social Work, University of Fort Hare) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Michelle Butler on the experiences of traditional authorities in the Eastern Cape in the application of restorative justice programmes. This is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa. 

Nqobile Msomi (Rhodes University) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Dina Belluigi and Ulrike Vieten on an NGO’s community-engaged praxis for educational transformation. This is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training  in South Africa.

Busiswa Mzilikazi (Education, University of Fort Hare) is a Visiting Scholar engaging with Mel Engman and Karen Kerr. She is a lecturer in Science Education, undertaking a research project on integrating indigenous knowledge to mitigate climate change, looking at the grade 11 physical sciences curriculum in rural schools in the Eastern Cape of South Africa.

Kim Schmidt (University of Fort Hare) is a Visiting Scholar from 2022-25, engaging with Mandi MacDonald on creating a contextually-based early childhood home visiting programme model for vulnerable children in the Eastern Cape. Kim is part of the collaborative project ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training  in South Africa.

Ass Prof Clement Simuja (Education, Rhodes University) is a Visiting Scholar from 2025-28 with Prof Dina Zoe Belluigi. Clement's research focuses on the digitilization of education in developing countries with a particular interest in educational technology, learning engagement and computational thinking. His research explores the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and human learning, examining the influence of technology and its relation to self-regulated learning, and understanding how such digital advancements may create enriched and supportive educational environments. Their relationship was formalised as members of the successful scoping project and then Leadership Team of the collaborative project for early career university staff on  ‘Addressing Socio-Economic Challenges in the Eastern Cape of South Africa’ (2019-2025) between Queen’s University Belfast, Rhodes University and the University of Fort Hare, funded by the British Council and the Department of Higher Education and Training in South Africa.