Cape Town, the city where I grew up and spent most of my formative years – to some extent the city has changed beyond recognition, while many features still remain; Table Mountain, of course, the townships and suburbs, University of Cape Town, the friendly people that have a special place in my emotional landscape. We…
Category: university
The University of Surrey turns 50 (#Surrey50)
This week the University of Surrey celebrates 50 years in Guildford, having originated from Battersea Polytechnic (https://www.surrey.ac.uk/). The celebrations started with fireworks on Wednesday this week, which was preceded by some good music (does anybody recall the name of the first band?), including a Beatles tribute band, and food stalls – who can resist a Kung…
A new journey – Fresher’s week at Uni
The academic year has started a new cycle with Fresher’s Week at Surrey and the real deal starting next week. The faces keep getting younger, not really, I just get older. The first few weeks of university, or any new challenge for that matter, is quite scary and I can see that on faces during…
Education overview: Clinical laboratory technicians in Sierra Leone
During December 2015, I had the privilege of working in the Public Health England (PHE) Ebola diagnostic laboratories in Port Loko and Makeni, Sierra Leone, where I met and worked with several of the local clinical laboratory staff: Hassan Bangura, Bockarie Koroma and Sorie Kargbo. I had met and worked with Hassan Bangura (picture below)…
Start of a new semester at the university – time to teach and have some fun! (please don’t tell the Dean)
A university in southeast England, where a new academic year and semester started this week, bringing with it the post-summer challenges and joys of teaching young adults again in an undergraduate BSc(Hons) program. Last week we had some fun and a few laughs.During Fresher’s week, I started with small cohort on the Biochemistry programme (about 40 students) and…
Travels revisited 