Thembani Mkhize and Yashena Naidoo attend second WESAF Sustainability School in Edinburgh

In late April 2025, Thembani Mkhize and Yashena Naidoo attended the 2025 Wits-Edinburgh Sustainable African Futures (WESAF) Sustainability School in Edinburgh. The second Sustainability School was designed to foster team building, networking and academic development among WESAF PhD Fellows while equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for their doctoral studies and respective research interests. The WESAF Sustainability School provided structured academic support for proposal development as well as offered opportunities for WESAF Fellows to showcase their research progress and refine their core values. Additionally, it emphasised the value of interdisciplinary approaches and drew attention to the importance of North-South scholarly interconnectedness in sustainability practices.

WESAF PhD Fellows engaged in various activities, including scholarly communication, knowledge dissemination, and community engagement. Networking was a central component, with opportunities to connect with instructors, peers, supervisors, and industry practitioners. Discussions on innovation and entrepreneurship focused on enhancing individual networking skills. The program fostered a collaborative and inclusive environment for learning, research, and professional growth among a diverse cohort of WESAF PhD Fellows.

WESAF PhD Fellows visit Dynamic Earth Science Centre and Planetarium

As part of the programme, Mkhize and Naidoo also attended the annual Centre for African Studies (CAS) Conference, whose theme for 2025 was “Climate Dynamics and the Politics of a Post-Carbon Africa”. The conference brought together a diversity of scholars and researchers and highlighted Africa’s unique perspective in the global discourse on climate action. A wide range of interconnected themes were explored through a blend of keynote addresses and panel discussions. These included the links between climate change, governance challenges, evolving stakeholder networks, urban sustainability, environmental justice, and indigenous knowledge systems.

Mkhize and Naidoo gained valuable experience from attending the second WESAF Sustainability School and the annual CAS Conference. The program helped them strengthen their research skills, build networks, and explore key sustainability issues from both African and global perspectives. These experiences have supported their academic growth and will contribute to their ongoing work as they focus on finalising their doctoral proposals and completing their respective PhD journeys.