An interest in the way Namaqualand learners from different backgrounds, cultures and communities create identities led to Dr Emma Groenewald\u2019s research in the identity construction of students at a University.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Emma, who was born in Petrus Steyn, joined SPU in November 2014 after which she started her PhD through the University of Free State.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
She says that she is humbled and inspired by the stories of the participants.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey have enriched my perspective on the meaning of identity and otherness beyond what I could have imagined.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt has been a pleasant surprise that the students\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"