Profile
Dr. Thierry Luescher-Mamashela’s disciplinary background is in Political Studies, he focused on Political History and Philosophy. His research focus area, however, has been quite specifically on higher education transformation in Africa, and higher education politics and policy.
Attracted by the opportunities provided by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) at UWC and the Higher Education Master’s in Africa programme it supports, Luescher joined the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Faculty of Education.
He worked and continues to work with distinguished members and affiliates of the Faculty, such as: Extra-ordinary Prof Nico Cloete, Dr Gerald Ouma and Dr Neetha Ravjee.
In addition, Luescher says: "Having access to UWC’s renowned Centre for the Study of Higher Education is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Luescher’s PhD thesis focused on the changes in the participation of students in university governance, looking particularly at the periods of university democratization from the late 1960s early 1970s, the early and mid-1990s, and the emergence of managerialism in the late 1990s in South African universities.
Luescher’s current research focuses on the political values, perceptions, and behaviours of students in African universities.
"I have been leading a team of researchers at the universities in Southern and Eastern Africa conducting surveys," says Luescher.
This has taken him to the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) where he had a series of engagements around student representation and student politics with activists and university managers.
The postdoctoral fellowship gives much opportunity to read and write extensively and teach social research methods at UWC.
Luescher explains that the fellowship at UWC does not only involve research but also includes teaching and postgraduate supervision, this combination has been essential in getting a more balanced perspective of the life as an emerging academic.
On campus, Luescher keeps close contact with colleagues in the Faculty of Education and the Department of Political Studies- he tries, wherever possible, to attend seminars at the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR).
"I am a keen observer of the UWC SRC and its machinations, as well as of the student support organizations such as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and related student bodies," says Luescher.
Off campus, he works very closely with the Centre of Higher Education Transformation (CHET) in Wynberg, Cape Town.
"Being a post-doc is both liberating and challenging," comments Luescher, "Academic life has its challenges and frustrations. Teaching is very rewarding and it has been exhilarating to see my work getting published in local and international journals."
Thinking about his future plans he says that he has been recently offered interesting academic and government appointments. His immediate preference is to remain at UWC and contribute as an academic to the fantastic success in-the-making that this university is.
As far struggles in post-doc life go, he philosophically paraphrases Socrates: the love of knowledge demands many sacrifices.
Dr. Thierry Luescher-Mamashela’s disciplinary background is in Political Studies, he focused on Political History and Philosophy. His research focus area, however, has been quite specifically on higher education transformation in Africa, and higher education politics and policy.
Attracted by the opportunities provided by the Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) at UWC and the Higher Education Master’s in Africa programme it supports, Luescher joined the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Faculty of Education.
He worked and continues to work with distinguished members and affiliates of the Faculty, such as: Extra-ordinary Prof Nico Cloete, Dr Gerald Ouma and Dr Neetha Ravjee.
In addition, Luescher says: "Having access to UWC’s renowned Centre for the Study of Higher Education is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Luescher’s PhD thesis focused on the changes in the participation of students in university governance, looking particularly at the periods of university democratization from the late 1960s early 1970s, the early and mid-1990s, and the emergence of managerialism in the late 1990s in South African universities.
Luescher’s current research focuses on the political values, perceptions, and behaviours of students in African universities.
"I have been leading a team of researchers at the universities in Southern and Eastern Africa conducting surveys," says Luescher.
This has taken him to the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) where he had a series of engagements around student representation and student politics with activists and university managers.
The postdoctoral fellowship gives much opportunity to read and write extensively and teach social research methods at UWC.
Luescher explains that the fellowship at UWC does not only involve research but also includes teaching and postgraduate supervision, this combination has been essential in getting a more balanced perspective of the life as an emerging academic.
On campus, Luescher keeps close contact with colleagues in the Faculty of Education and the Department of Political Studies- he tries, wherever possible, to attend seminars at the Centre for Humanities Research (CHR).
"I am a keen observer of the UWC SRC and its machinations, as well as of the student support organizations such as Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and related student bodies," says Luescher.
Off campus, he works very closely with the Centre of Higher Education Transformation (CHET) in Wynberg, Cape Town.
"Being a post-doc is both liberating and challenging," comments Luescher, "Academic life has its challenges and frustrations. Teaching is very rewarding and it has been exhilarating to see my work getting published in local and international journals."
Thinking about his future plans he says that he has been recently offered interesting academic and government appointments. His immediate preference is to remain at UWC and contribute as an academic to the fantastic success in-the-making that this university is.
As far struggles in post-doc life go, he philosophically paraphrases Socrates: the love of knowledge demands many sacrifices.
