University of South Africa’s health experts present research papers at Harvard University

The 14th Academic International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies and Education (AICMSE) 2023 recently took place at Harvard under the auspices of the FLE Learning Institute of Research, Learning and Development. FLE Learning seeks to develop knowledge and skills – in both the public and private sectors – on key new developments and issues in various disciplines.


Dr Grace Malapela, a Senior Lecturer in the Health Studies Department with an academic interest in adolescent health and intellectual disabilities, gave a presentation titled Creation of a healthy environment for adolescents with intellectual disabilities: Nurses manager’s perspectives. While Marang Tebogo Mamahlodi, also a Lecturer in the Health Studies Department, presented four papers. Respectively, these were titled 1. Enhanced Learning Management System with Digitalisation: A tool for student engagement and support; 2. Relationship between measles immunisation coverage and dropout rates on children between 6 months and 14 years in the City of Tshwane, Hammanskraal; 3. Global Health Mentorship Programme: A tool for research mentorship; and 4. Shared factors associated with the uptake of measles immunisation program in Luderitz district, Karas region, Namibia.


Both Malapela and Mamahlodi expressed that the conference offered them a chance to network and meet new collaborators or co-authors, learn about the latest research developments and understand more about what is happening in their field and other areas. Presenting at a conference, they said, had also allowed them to make themselves and their work better known among their colleagues. “We hope to attend similar conferences to better our research and acquire knowledge from our counterparts in the health sector,” said Mamahlodi.