This Women's Month, we're celebrating the academic staff at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) who are shaping minds and inspiring excellence through their teaching. These remarkable educators bring passion, innovation and dedication to the classroom, helping students thrive and succeed. Their stories reflect the impact of women at the heart of SU's academic community.
Prof Lungiswa Nkonki of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, is a trailblazer in advancing health economics in the Global South. A recipient of an SU Teaching-Learning-Assessment Award, she has shaped innovative curricula, from creating a healthcare economics module to establishing a specialised health economics track within the MPhil Health Systems programme. Nkonki's transformative teaching empowers future leaders to bridge policy and practice while mentoring a new generation of scholars. Her research and mentorship continue to strengthen health systems and drive equitable healthcare solutions.
Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where did your journey in academia begin, and what sparked your passion for teaching?
My passion lies in advancing health economics capacity-building in the Global South, where the field remains underdeveloped despite its critical role in public health. Health economics remains globally scarce – particularly in sub-Saharan Africa – yet it is vital in shaping effective health systems and policies.
My academic journey began with the development of a single module on economic evaluation in healthcare. That spark has since grown into the design of a specialised health economics track within the MPhil Health Systems programme. This work has expanded into the integration of health economics teaching across multiple undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. I've also had the opportunity to teach in the Global North, using these platforms to ensure that the theory and practice of health economics are more widely understood, accessible, and mainstreamed.
Did you have any teachers, mentors or role models who left a lasting impression on you?
Absolutely. My mentor, Dr Mickey Chopra, then Director of the Health Systems Research Unit, set me on the path toward my PhD studies. He created a deeply enabling environment: one that trusted us with meaningful projects and believed in our ability to deliver.
At one point, seven black women were doing our PhDs in the same unit. That intentional support and the culture of learning and mentorship he fostered had a lasting impact on me and continues to influence the way I mentor others today.
What does it mean to you to be a woman in academia today?
Being a woman in academia today means continuously occupying space that hasn't always been made with you in mind, and actively reshaping it for others. I see my role not just as a lecturer, but as a mentor, advocate, and guide.
My teaching philosophy centres around transformative, active learning. I draw from the work of Fabio R Aricò and Simon J Lancaster, who describe how active learning builds critical thinking and prepares students to lead in complex environments. My postgraduate teaching incorporates real-world projects, collaborative activities, and applied research, all designed to bridge theory and practice. In this way, I aim to foster thoughtful, socially responsible, and innovative leaders, many of whom are young women navigating academic spaces for the first time.
What is the biggest reward of being a lecturer at SU?
The most rewarding part is seeing my former students thrive - whether they're contributing to the field of health economics, influencing health policy, or leading programmes in their communities. Knowing that the work we do in the classroom has ripple effects well beyond the university keeps me inspired.
What advice would you give to younger women entering the teaching profession today?
Your lived experience matters. Bring all of yourself into your academic life: your voice, your insights, and your background. That authenticity not only strengthens your teaching but also paves the way for others to do the same.
PHOTO: Stefan Els
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