Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

Welcome note

Acting Executive Dean, Prof TJ Mudau

The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education is committed to fostering student success by developing graduates who are equipped with the critical competencies demanded by today's dynamic labour market. We focus on cultivating design thinking, critical thinking, effective communication, and problem-solving skills to ensure our students are well prepared for professional success and lifelong learning.

Formed through the merger of the former School of Education and the School of Human and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education brings together a wealth of expertise and talent. This united faculty is well positioned to foster innovation, advance knowledge, and make a transformative impact across the fields of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences.
The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education has many achievements to celebrate. We are committed to providing dynamic and diverse learning opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate students from a wide range of backgrounds and communities. The faculty encompasses a broad spectrum of disciplines, including Anthropology, Education, Gender Studies, Languages and Literature, Language Practice, Media Studies, Music, History, Political Science, International Relations, Theology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Youth Studies, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Social Work. These disciplines explore the complex and multifaceted nature of human experiences, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to make meaningful contributions to society and positively impact the communities in which they live and work. Through our diverse academic programmes, we prepare students for success in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.

Our commitment to academic excellence is aligned with the University's 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, which seeks to produce graduates who are both locally relevant and globally competitive. To realise this vision, the faculty is supported by a dedicated team of academic and professional staff who are experts in their respective fields. Beyond their disciplinary expertise, they are committed to fostering meaningful student engagement and delivering a high-quality educational experience comparable to that of leading universities around the world.

As Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, part of my objectives include examining the quality of our work to ensure improvement by increasing the visibility of the development of our researcher’s scholars and graduates in Humanities, Social Sciences and Education. Knowledge should be integrated across many areas throughout students’ life as well as to prepare them to make positive contributions to their community and their workplace. Analytical and problem-solving skills, independent thinking acceptance of new ideas are key and fundamental competencies required in graduates that can lead in engaged scholarship, locally relevant and globally competitive. To this end, the faculty encourages you to take advantage of, and engage with, the many opportunities made available to you on campus and beyond. Our Faculty is predicated upon a multi-, inter-, and Transdisciplinary approach towards engaging with issues and it our firm belief that these approaches yield tangible results for the communities served by the University of Venda, especially but not limited to, postgraduate studies. We are persuaded that you will find your experiences within the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education and the University to be wholly positive and beneficial. We encourage you to take advantage and engage with the many opportunities made available to you on campus and beyond to enrich your experiences likely to permeate through your lives as a direct result of having registered for a qualification in our faculty.

Therefore, I would like to warmly welcome you to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and encourage you to take full advantage of the many opportunities available to our staff, undergraduate, and postgraduate students. Through active engagement and dedication, you can develop into the next generation of scholars, professionals, and innovators who will contribute to South Africa's advancement and position the nation at the forefront of innovation and development across the African continent and beyond.