The first Centre for Evaluation and Assessment (CEA) seminar of the year was held on the 19^th of February 2025 at the Research Commons in the Library Building. The speaker/ facilitator was prof Linda Theron. Prof Theron’s presentation was titled “Solving wicked problems: What is the value of multi- or transdisciplinary research?”. Prof Theron is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Pretoria and an HPCSA-registered Educational Psychologist. She is an Extraordinary Professor in the Optentia Research Unit, North-West University and an affiliate professor in the Centre for Resilience & Socio emotional Health, University of Malta.

The seminar interrogated the value of multi- and transdisciplinary research to the management of wicked problems, especially those fuelled by economic, social, political and environmental global megatrends. In particular, the seminar scrutinised the many challenges associated with transdisciplinary research and how these might be overcome. Drawing on the R-NEET study (see  https://resilientyouth.net/), Prof Theron shared her lived experience of navigating the transdisciplinary challenges of a shared vision and definition of the wicked problem, establishing an inclusive team, co-designing the methodology and synthesizing the results, knowledge mobilization (and academia's emphasis on publications), and using transdisciplinary research to catalyze change. Ultimately, transdisciplinary research is an important way forward, so long as academics (also early career scholars) are capacitated to manage its many challenges. 

Ms Tshililo Nembambula was the programme Director. Prof Celeste Combrinck introduced the speaker. The discussion session, led by Dr Mpho Mthembu offered an invaluable opportunity for researchers and academics in the faculty of Education to engage on the topic of transdisciplinary research and expand their collective understanding of complex, wicked problems. Dr Shine Aung concluded the session and thanked everyone for attending on behalf of Prof Funke Omidire, (Director CEA) and the entire CEA team.