Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) achieved a significant academic milestone at the recent Interdisciplinary Conference on Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECP), where a paper presented by Dr Themba Mthethwa took top honours. Hosted by the University of Fort Hare at the East London International Convention Centre from 21 to 23 September 2026, the national conference recognised Dr Mthethwa’s work with the prestigious Best Paper/Presentation Award under the theme “Decoloniality and Epistemic Justice.”
Dr Mthethwa, from MUT’s Learning and Teaching Development Centre (LTDC), co-authored the winning paper alongside Professor Alfred Msomi, the Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences. Titled “Beyond Remediation: A Bernsteinian Perspective on Epistemological Access in Mathematics Extended Curriculum Programme,” the study offers fresh insights into how foundational university programmes can foster genuine intellectual inclusion in higher education.
Drawing on sociologist Basil Bernstein’s theoretical framework, the paper argues that effective ECP instruction must look beyond basic procedural drills. Instead, it advocates for pedagogical strategies that empower students to grasp core mathematical concepts, explain their logical reasoning, and synthesize complex ideas. To achieve meaningful epistemic access, the authors propose explicit teaching expectations, transparent assessment practices, and a structured curriculum that progressively introduces students to the overarching architecture of Mathematics.
The recognition highlights the growing influence and scholarly rigour of MUT’s research in academic development, capping off a strong, multi-faceted showcase by the University’s delegation in East London.
The MUT scholars delivered three additional presentations during the three-day event. Dr Nkosinathi Madondo presented “Ways of knowing and becoming literate in the discipline: A case for extended curriculum programmes in South African universities;” Bibin George and Dr Themba Mthethwa shared insights on “Teaching for epistemic access in extended curriculum programmes: Towards a hybrid pedagogical framework for the natural and mathematical sciences;” and Professor Alfred Msomi and Dr Themba Mthethwa delivered a paper titled “How lecturer positionality, pedagogical innovation and student agency intersect in the extended curriculum programmes.”
The accolade underscores MUT’s contribution to advancing equity, pedagogical innovation, and transformative teaching across South Africa’s higher education sector.