First published by WiSER:

Last week Masters Student and Fellow at WiSER, Simphiwe Ngwane, represented Wits University in a mock African Union (AU) debate and public speaking contest, organized by the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), simulating the Peace and Security Council.

Simphiwe Ngwane Pic: Wiser.

Simphiwe Ngwane Pic: Wiser.

Simphiwe represented Libya and prepared a seven minute oral presentation around the theme, ‘African Inter-regional Cooperation for Energy Security in Response to Climate Change’ and articulate our country’s policies and definition of a ‘Green Economy’. At the gala dinner following the event the best debate award went to Ms. Marvellous Ndhlovu from the University of Venda (representing Kenya), and Simphiwe was awarded second place.

Simphiwe, Ms Ndhlovu and 2 other students in the top 4, Ms. Itumeleng Mukhovha and Ms. Naledi Modise, were each awarded a Guggenheim Foundation Scholarship to participate in a capacity building programme at Oxford University in July 2013.

The Wits Research Office, the DVC of Research and the Director of the Graduate Support Division have all contrbuted funds towards Simphiwe’s travel expenses to Oxford University so he can take up the grant and represent Wits.