From L-R: Dr Lutendo Mugwedi, Ms Shantel Ramotlou, Ms Karabo Musekwa and Ms Rirhandzu Shokane
Launched in 2021 under the leadership of Professor Maureen Reed at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, TRANSECTS is a global initiative aimed at transforming the way sustainability science is taught and practised. The programme is a collaboration among 21 international institutions, including the University of Venda, the University of Saskatchewan, Vancouver Island University, Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Rhodes University, and the University of Mpumalanga.
TRANSECTS fosters cross-cultural and interdisciplinary engagement to prepare students to address complex sustainability challenges. Through a combination of classroom instruction, fieldwork, and intercultural exchange, the TILL initiative offers a dynamic platform for developing the next generation of globally minded sustainability leaders.
The inaugural Learning Lab took place in Germany in 2023, followed by Canada in 2024. This year marked the first time the programme was hosted in South Africa, with a particular focus on Global South perspectives and local sustainability issues. Participants engaged with diverse stakeholders ranging from conservation agencies to community organisations and environmental NGOs, emphasising the importance of co-creating knowledge and community-driven solutions.
Dr Lutendo Mugwedi, from the Department of Environmental Sciences, served as a mentor and led a collaborative research project in partnership with CapeNature, the authority managing the Robberg Nature Reserve. The project aimed to evaluate the cultural ecosystem services offered by the reserve. The research team co-developed a framework and conducted structured interviews and surveys, identifying services such as recreation, spiritual enrichment, cultural heritage, and knowledge sharing.
The three selected master’s students, Ms Karabo Florence Musekwa, Ms Moloko Shantel Ramotlou, and Ms Rirhandzu Shokane, each contributed meaningfully to transdisciplinary research teams. They brought their environmental science expertise while learning from diverse disciplinary, cultural, and methodological perspectives. The experience empowered them to collaborate across sectors and borders, nurturing their skills as inclusive and adaptive problem-solvers.
Participant Reflections – TILL Programme Experience
The TILL programme offered a transformative experience for University of Venda students, fostering both academic growth and intercultural collaboration. Dr Lutendo Mugwedi reflected on the importance of engaging with stakeholders beyond academia, noting how students were challenged to apply their knowledge in unpredictable, real-world contexts, an essential aspect of sustainability work. Karabo Musekwa highlighted his role in developing a method to assess carrying capacity at Robberg Nature Reserve, emphasising the creativity and adaptability required in transdisciplinary work with peers from South Africa, Canada, and Germany. For Shantel Ramotlou, the programme was both personally and professionally enriching, broadening her perspective through collaborative research into visitor values in protected areas. Rirhandzu Shokane expanded her qualitative research skills by analysing adaptive governance at the Knysna Estuary using MAXQDA software and working with the South African National Parks. Across these reflections, students consistently underscored the value of cultural exchange, communication, and practical application of academic knowledge. As Ms Ramotlou aptly summarised, the TILL experience fostered “a community of practice grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and accountability.” With the TRANSECTS collaboration continuing through 2028, the University of Venda remains committed to inclusive, globally connected sustainability education.
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University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
