Dr Crispen Chinguno, Senior Lecturer of Sociology in the Department of Social Science and Chair of postgraduate studies in Sol Plaatje University’s (SPU) School of Humanities, has recently been announced as a South Africa Sociology Association (SASA) council member for 2022 and 2023.
SASA was established in 1993 to promote the discipline and the profession of sociology. The association promotes research, teaching, and debate about society, as well as fostering cooperation at the national, regional, and international level among persons engaged in the study of society.
Dr Chinguno has been active in SASA for more than 15 years. He holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of the Witwatersrand and is an NRF C3-rated researcher and a fellow for the Department of Higher Education Future Professors programme. His research interrogates how work – and workers – are organised in organisations, how that changes over time and its embedded contestations. He was a Ford Foundation postdoctoral fellow and was awarded the African Humanities fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies. His work has been published in several internationally recognised journals, book chapters, and edited volumes.
“I feel honoured, grateful, and privileged to have been elected to serve as a council member for SASA. This gives me an opportunity to be part of the team that actively promotes the discipline and profession of sociology in South Africa. Sociology is an important discipline focusing on society and how it changes over time,” said Dr Chinguno.
His participation as a SASA council member will put Sociology at SPU on the national and international map, attracting international participation, cutting-edge scholarship, and robust engagement in the field of Sociology.
“Having a staff member on the SASA Council will ensure that Sociology at SPU is active in developing the standard and practice of Sociology in South Africa. And we’ll keep abreast with the latest developments and practice within sociology at the national, regional, and international level”, he added.
A stronger collaborative effort and activities between congresses, as well as greater engagement with other associations and colleagues from the region and continent, are imperative, according to Dr Chinguno. It will create a conducive environment for research, teaching, and debate on society in the region and beyond. “I expect to see more active participation from historically disadvantaged communities and newly established universities and more active involvement of students across South Africa in the activities of SASA.”
Sol Plaatje University congratulates Dr Chinguno on his achievement. We wish him the best in his new tenure as SASA council member, and support his efforts to move the university and surrounding communities forward.
