An interest in the way Namaqualand learners from different backgrounds, cultures and communities create identities led to Dr Emma Groenewald’s research in the identity construction of students at a University.
Emma, who was born in Petrus Steyn, joined SPU in November 2014 after which she started her PhD through the University of Free State.
She says that she is humbled and inspired by the stories of the participants.
“They have enriched my perspective on the meaning of identity and otherness beyond what I could have imagined.
“It has been a pleasant surprise that the students’ stories have part of me. When listening to their stories of challenge and how they have navigated in a new context, I realised that I have a lot for which to be thankful.”
She completed her PhD at the end of 2017 and plans to conduct a follow-up project to bring a deeper understanding of how the same students are influenced by higher education in terms of reviewing and rewriting their narrative identities.
