Services

Teaching and learning

  • Facilitating IKS modules to students
  • Develop short courses
  • Multilingual pedagogies
  • Indigenous pedagogies
  • Writing retreats including scientific writing workshops
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as one important aspect of the IKS discourse.
  • Both IK holders and practitioners are involved in the teaching and learning programmes to provide the graduates with the necessary skills, knowledge and values of IKS.

Research

  • Post-graduate students research projects on the Indigenous Agriculture, Climate Change and Food Security and Indigenous Arts, Culture and Heritage.
  • In 2013, Mme Grace Meiki Masuku passionately called ‘Namola Leuba” (Agent of Poverty Relief) was awarded the Chancellor’s Medal at a spring graduation ceremony, in recognition of her profound understanding of indigenous knowledge and systems and extraordinary commitment to use indigenous knowledge to champion the cause for sustainable rural development.
  • Due to the holistic nature of IKS, the DSTI - NRF CEIKS creates a link between researchers, indigenous knowledge holders and practitioners in local communities through research, community engagement and knowledge brokerage activities.

Community engagement

  • Engage with various communities and organisations across the country and the African continent on IKS issues.
  • Collaborate with other institutions and communities to drive social cohesion.
  • Attend and participate in annual community events, workshops conducted by various organisations, departments and communities.
  • Some of the community engagement projects include: The African Ginger (Serokolo, indungulu, isiphephetho, xirungulu) Project which is a Research and Collaboration Initiative between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the IKS Centre. 
  • IKS and Cannabis Project. There are MIKS students conducting research, community engagement on the research, commercialisation of cannabis within the IKS perspective.
  • The DSTI-NRF CEIKS also runs the Recognition of Prior Learning in IKS in partnership with the South African Qualification Authority. A pilot on norms and  standards for African Traditional Health Practitioners has been concluded in Limpopo, North West and Kwazulu Natal province.
  • The Centre has been collaborating with the DSTI to work on the IK Act, IK Regulations and Biocultural Community Protocols.
  • The DSTI - NRF CEIKS runs an IK-led smart village development in Nyandeni, Eastern Cape.