Dr. Frans Matlakala |  Social Sciences |  Best Researcher Award

 

Lecturer at North-West University ,South Africa

A young black academic who is passionate about the Social Work Profession and dedicated to advancing qualitative studies on Fatherhood, Mental Health of Youth, Environmental Social Work and migration. Moreover, committed to innovative teaching, impactful community engagement and establishing good relations with other researchers in the field of Social Work. Also, an aspiring academic whose goal is to mentor students, advocate for ethical research and collaborate with colleagues in conducting impactful research.

Profile

scholar

SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES AND COMPETENCIES

Able to conduct a qualitative study; Able to conduct review studies (systematic, narrative and scoping review); Able to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary setting;  Able to make decisions independently and can deal with sensitive issues confidentially; and Able to provide lessons in blended, online and contact lectures; and Able to establish international and local collaboration.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

2021 Name of Institution : University of Limpopo Qualification : Doctor of Philosophy (Social Work), 2018 Name of Institution : University of Limpopo Qualification : Master of Social Work (MSW), 2017 Name of Institution : University of Limpopo Qualification : Bachelor of Social Work (BSW)

WORK EXPERIENCE

(1) Position held : Senior Lecturer Organisation : North-West University (NWU) Duration : 01 January 2020 – Current Duties:  Lecturing undergraduate modules (casework, community work, Host setting and Substance abuse);  Providing supervision to postgraduate students in Social Work and Psychology Department;  Postgraduate Coordinator in Mafikeng Campus; and  Conducting community engagement as Faculty of Health Science Community Engagement Champion;  Conducting individual and group research projects.

(2) Position held : Temporary Lecturer Organisation : North-West University Duration : 01 February 2019 – 30 June 2019
Duties:  Lecturing undergraduate modules (casework, community work, Host setting and Substance abuse);

(3) Position held : Research/Lecturer Assistant Organisation : University of Limpopo Duration : 01 January 2018 – 31 December 2018
Duties:  Administration and data management i.e. data collection and capturing, filing, and record keeping. Tutoring fourth level students with research project  Being part of an international research collaboration and conference attendance; Article writing and attending writing retreats.  Position held : Social Worker (Volunteering) Organisation : Mbibane Social Development
Duration : 09 January 2017 – 28 February 2017

ACADEMIC COMMITTES

• Member (reviewer) of NWU Human Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (HSSREC) – 2022 – Current;
• Examination Committee Member, North-West University – Mafikeng Campus, Department of Social Work (2023 – current)
• Department of Social Work, Postgraduate Research Co-Ordinator, North-West University-Mafikeng Campus (2022 – current);
• Second and Third level Module (Casework) coordinator (2022 – current) at NWU;
• Faculty of Health Sciences Innovative Teaching and Learning with Technology (Jan 2021 – Dec 2021) at North-West University.

SHORT COURSES

2023: Short course on Project Management with North-West University Business School. Passed; 2022: Short course on Emotional Intelligence, Conflict and Stress Management with North-West University Business School. Passed with Distinction.  2022: Short course on Strengthening Postgraduate Supervision Course – Rhodes University. Passed;  2022: Assessment in Higher Education: Professional Development for Teachers – Erasmus University Rotterdam. Passed; 2022: Giving Helpful Feedback – University of Colorado. Passed.

PROJECTS AND AWARDS

Adjunct Research Professor, University of Venda, Research and Innovation Directorate (July 2023 – July 2026) NIHSS funded in collaboration with University of Limpopo, North-West University (Mahikeng Campus) and University of Venda on “Militating and mitigating factors for Social justice, sustainable development and quality of life of migrant population in selected provinces of South Africa: Implications for policy and practice considerations.” NRF funded project for three years (2017 – 2019) in collaboration with University of Namibia on “Prevalence and risk factors of alcohol abuse amongst the youth in Musina Boarder Post – South Africa and Oshikango Boarder Post in Namibia” (Assistant Project Leader); and University of Limpopo Abe Bailey Global Leadership Travel to Ethiopia, London and Scotland – 2018. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. Faculty of Health Sciences Community Engagement Champion; Inaugurated in June 2023; Co-leader and member of Stadt Primary School personnel that focuses on promoting child health and wellness in Mafikeng;  Served as an academic mentor and senior mentor for Centre for Academic Excellence of the University of Limpopo between 2014-2016; Served as a data capturer for Centre for Academic Excellence of the University of Limpopo in Jan 2017 to Dec 2017; and  Served as a Computer Lab Assistant at University of Limpopo in Jan 2018- Dec 2018.

 

publication

• Vulnerabilities and inequalities experienced by women in the climate change discourse in South Africa’s rural communities: implications for social work – L Nyahunda, JC Makhubele, V Mabvurira, FK Matlakala, The British Journal of Social Work, 51(7), 2536-2553 (2021) – Cited by 30 📚

 

• Challenges of teenage fathers towards fatherhood in Vaalbank, Mpumalanga province – FK Matlakala, JC Makhubele, MW Mashilo, Gender and Behaviour, 16(3), 12013-12020 (2018) – Cited by 19 👶

 

• Alcohol Consumption Patterns: A Gender Comparative Study Among High School Youth in South – P Mafa, JC Makhubele, JA Ananias, BN Chilwalo, FK Matlakala, … Global Journal of Health Science, 11(2), 92-101 (2019) – Cited by 16 🍻

 

• PERSPECTIVES OF SINGLE MOTHERS ON THE SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC INFLUENCE OF ‘ABSENT FATHERS’ IN CHILD’S LIFE: A CASE STUDY OF RURAL COMMUNITY IN SOUTH AFRICA – MF Koketso, MJ Calvin, SI Lehlokwe, P Mafa, e-BANGI Journal, 16(4) (2019) – Cited by 15 👩‍👧

 

• Role of social workers in mitigating the effects of climate change in Makonde communal lands, Zimbabwe – L Nyahunda, FK Matlakala, JC Makhubele, e-Bangi, 16(9), 1-8 (2019) – Cited by 12 🌍

 

• Views of teachers and hostel matrons on the landscape of substance abuse amongst the youth in the northern region of Namibia – JA Ananias, JC Makhubele, MW Hasheela, NI Hamuse Tiberia, … Global Journal of Health Science, 11(5), 133 (2019) – Cited by 10 🏫

 

• Exploring language as an impediment to or a resource for the indigenisation of social work education – JC Makhubele, F Matlakala, V Mabvurira, Southern African Journal of Social Work and Social Development (2018) – Cited by 10 🗣️

 

• Psychosocial effects of divorce on young women who grew up in divorced families at Rustenburg, Moruleng Village – NF Maforah, M Molate, FK Matlakala, NE Mohlatlole, Technium Soc. Sci. J., 23, 689 (2021) – Cited by 9

 

• Population’s vulnerability to natural disasters in Runnymede Village at Tzaneen Local Municipality, South Africa – FK Matlakala, L Nyahunda, JC Makhubele, Humanities and Social Sciences Reviews, 9(4), 160-166 (2021) – Cited by 9

 

• Resilience strategies of rural people in the face of climate change in Mazungunye Community, Ward 4, Bikita District, Masvingo Province Zimbabwe: a social work perspective – L Nyahunda, JC Makhubele, M FK, V Mabvurira, Gender and Behaviour, 18(2), 15511-15520 (2020) – Cited by 9 🌱

 

• Engendering values and ethics in social work education and training – JC Makhubele, FK Matlakala, V Mabvurira, Issues around aligning theory, research and practice in social work education (2018) – Cited by 8 📖