On 25 May 2023, a research group from Michigan State University (MSU) visited the Faculty of Education. The group consisted of Professor Dorinda Carter Andrews, Chairperson of the Department of Teacher Education, Professor Terry Flennaugh, Interim Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Ms Lakya Goss, Graduate Research Assistant and Student Program Coordinator, and fourteen doctoral students. Professor Dorinda Carter Andrews is a professor of race, culture, and equity. Her research is broadly focused on racial justice and educational equity. Professor Terry Flennaugh, an associate professor, specialises in race, culture, and equity in education. His research focuses primarily on the educational experiences of Black males and other students of colour in urban contexts.

The purpose of their visit was an exploratory attempt to promote transdisciplinary research, networking, and collaborative opportunities between the two institutions, with a focus on examining race, colonisation, and social inequity in a South African context. To provide a contextual and lived understanding of this focus, Prof Ruth Mampane arranged a visit for the research group from Michigan State University to a primary school in Pretoria (Pretoria Primary School). This was followed by a panel discussion hosted at the Faculty of Education on ‘Examining race, colonisation, and social inequity in a South African context’, arranged by Prof Saloshna Vandeyar. The panel comprised the following staff members: Dr Connie Makgabo, Dr Philip Mirkin, Dr Francinah Masola, Dr Joyce West, and Dr Bontle Kgopa. Dr Gerhard Genis and Dr Raita Steyn provided inputs in writing (presented in absentia). Prof Sehoole also briefly shared some insights on this focus. The visit was coordinated by Dr Rakgadi Phatlane.

The researchers and doctoral students were impressed by the panel discussions and posed many questions. It created an opportunity for the panel members to network and collaborate with the visitors, with the intention of creating a transdisciplinary research project on this focus.