Bringing the Gauteng City-Region to a lecture room

The Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) was invited to deliver a guest lecture at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for Faith and Community as part of its Master’s programme. The session forms part of an annual tradition of engagement between the GCRO and the Centre, with this year marking the first time GCRO junior researcher Shamsunisaa Miles-Timotheus led the session.

The lecture aimed to contextualise the Gauteng City-Region (GCR), unpacking its complexities, inequalities, and urban dynamics through the lens of GCRO’s work. Students were introduced to a range of GCRO’s work, including visualisations and datasets that illustrate the social, spatial, and economic challenges facing the region.

Reflecting on the experience, Miles-Timotheus shared: “It was a deeply rewarding opportunity to engage with students who showed genuine interest in the local urban context. Their curiosity and thought-provoking questions made it a lively and enriching session.”

The collaboration with the Centre for Faith and Community continues to highlight the value of interdisciplinary dialogue. GCRO looks forward to ongoing engagements that foster critical thinking, inspire innovative responses, and build capacity for transformative change in urban spaces.