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Melanie Walker

Professor Melanie Walker is a graduate of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Cape Town, where she completed her PhD after teaching at disadvantaged secondary schools for a number of years. She joined the University of the Free State in February 2012 as Senior Research Professor of Higher Education and Human Development. In 2013 she was appointed as NRF Chair in Higher Education and Human Development. She is an Al-rated NRF reseascher.

Before joining the UFS, she was Professor of Higher Education at the University of Nottingham in the UK where she was Director of the PhD in Higher Education, Director of Postgraduate Students and a Director of Research in the Faculty of Social Sciences. She retains her link to Nottingham as an Honorary Professor. Professor Walker is also Vice President of the Human Development and Capability Association (2014-2017) and a fellow of ASSAF. She has delivered numerous international keynotes and seminars, written more than 140 book chapters and refereed journal articles, and authored or edited 13 books, including two highly regarded volumes on doctoral education. Her two most recent books focus on higher education and human development, as well as educating ‘public-good professionals.

Her extensive editorial experience has included editing roles on Teaching in Higher Education, Educational Action Research, and the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities. In addition, she currently holds editorial board memberships on the Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Journal of Professional Development, and Power and Education, undertakes refereeing for a number of international journals and book publishers, and referees proposals for various research councils.

How to turn professionals into people who serve the public good

Mar 23, 2016 15:54 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Development, argues Indian economist Amartya Sen, is the expansion of peoples freedoms to lead lives that matter to them. Doing so might include being treated with dignity or ensuring that their children get a decent...

Economy

Bessent Urges G7 to Strengthen Iran Sanctions Amid U.S.-China Talks

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday that he plans to encourage G7 finance ministers to strengthen and maintain a coordinated sanctions regime aimed at cutting off funding tied to Irans military...

ECB’s Nagel Says Central Banks Can Do More to Support Markets Amid Inflation Concerns

Joachim Nagel, head of Germanys central bank, said on Monday that global central banks still have significant tools available to stabilize financial markets and restore investor confidence. Speaking ahead of a Group of...

Dollar Holds Strong as Iran Conflict and China Slowdown Shake Global Markets

The U.S. dollar eased slightly on Monday after posting strong gains last week, as investors continued to react to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and concerns over inflation. Despite the minor decline, the...

Global Companies Face $25 Billion Blow From U.S.-Israel Iran Conflict

The ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has already inflicted more than $25 billion in losses on companies worldwide, with costs expected to rise further as energy prices surge and supply chains remain disrupted. A...

Thailand Economy Grows 2.8% in Q1 2026, Beating Market Expectations

Thailands economy recorded stronger-than-expected growth in the first quarter of 2026, supported by higher government spending, rising investment, and solid export performance. Official data released Monday by the National...

Politics

Rick Fox Appointed to Bahamian Senate After Election Loss

Former NBA champion Rick Fox has officially joined the Bahamian Senate after being appointed by the opposition Free National Movement (FNM). The announcement came shortly after Fox failed in his campaign to secure a seat...

Trump-Backed “Rededicate 250” Event Sparks Debate Over Religion and Politics in America

A major faith-based event supported by the Trump administration drew thousands of attendees on Sunday, celebrating Americas religious heritage while also triggering criticism over church-state separation and lack of...

Samsung Faces Major Strike Threat as Union Restarts Pay Talks

Samsung Electronics and its South Korean labor union resumed government-mediated wage negotiations on Monday in an effort to prevent a large-scale strike that could disrupt the global semiconductor supply chain. The...

G7 Finance Ministers Meet in Paris Amid Global Trade and Economic Tensions

Finance ministers from the G7 nations gathered in Paris on Monday to address rising global economic tensions, supply chain risks, and critical mineral dependence as geopolitical divisions continue to challenge the groups...

Cuba Denies U.S. Drone Threat Claims Amid Rising Tensions

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has rejected accusations that Cuba is preparing military aggression against the United States, calling the allegations a fraudulent case designed to justify tougher economic sanctions...

Science

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

Technology

Anthropic to Brief Financial Stability Board on AI-Driven Cyber Risks

Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic is preparing to discuss potential cyber vulnerabilities in the global financial system linked to its latest AI model, Mythos, with members of the Financial Stability Board (FSB),...

TSMC Stake Sale Sends Vanguard Semiconductor Shares Lower

Shares of Vanguard International Semiconductor (TWO:5347) dropped sharply on Monday after Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced plans to reduce its ownership stake in the chipmaker. Vanguard shares...

CXMT Forecasts Record Revenue Growth as Global DRAM Prices Surge

Changxin Memory Technologies (CXMT), Chinas leading memory chip manufacturer, expects first-half revenue to climb between 110 billion yuan and 120 billion yuan ($17.62 billion), according to its updated IPO prospectus. The...

China vs U.S. AI Race Shifts Toward Robotics and Manufacturing Power in 2026

The global competition for artificial intelligence dominance is no longer driven solely by computing power and advanced chips. A new Alpine Macro report released on May 12, 2026, argues that industrial scale, manufacturing...

Samsung Union Talks Enter Final Stage as Strike Threat Looms

Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union are set to resume critical wage negotiations on Monday as both sides race to prevent a major strike that could disrupt South Koreas economy and global semiconductor supply...