Professor Christopher Nshimbi’s appointment as a full-time professor in the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Political Sciences reflects on his dedication to academic excellence and passion for making a positive impact. With expertise in the international political economy, his research focuses on regional integration, migration, the informal economy, borders, water governance and Africa-EU relations.

Prof Nshimbi’s interest in international development sparked a desire to pursue a career in academia. His research seeks to understand the complex relationships between nations, economies and societies around common resources.

As a researcher, Prof Nshimbi has faced several challenges, particularly in accessing information and locations on the African continent.

“The dearth of information, accessibility issues and language barriers are major challenges,” he notes.

However, he tries to overcome these challenges by engaging with epistemic communities and practitioners, and by staying grounded in reality.

“The people and their activities on the ground keep me engaged with reality,” he says.

One of Prof Nshimbi’s greatest accomplishments is seeing his students excel and publish their work. He has supervised several doctoral and master’s students to completion. His commitment to teaching and mentoring is evident in his interactive approach, encouraging students to engage with complex concepts and ideas, and offering them immediate feedback.

As an educator, Prof Nshimbi aims to create an inclusive, engaging learning environment.

“My teaching is interactive,” he explains. “I share key concepts with students, then check to see if they can apply them to reality.”

His hope is that students will grasp the concepts and apply them to the areas in which their career aspirations and ambitions lie.

“This applies especially to those who are interested in becoming researchers or conducting research that feeds into policymaking,” he says.

For Prof Nshimbi, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it’s about making a positive impact.

“You meet various kinds of people with various kinds of minds,” he says. “People have brilliant minds, and that’s what makes teaching rewarding.”

As Prof Nshimbi begins his new role, he remains committed to making society better and improving people’s lives. His research, teaching and mentoring are all geared towards contributing to a more just, equitable world.

“The point is that we are here to make society better, to make people’s lives better,” he says.