The Master’s Scholar and Fellowship Programme, which gives recent graduates practical work experience, is a joint project between SAIIA and KAS that dates back to 1999.
Over the course of the next 12 months, the five scholars will work under the guidance of designated mentors at SAIIA, with the aim of gaining practical work experience that will contribute to strengthening their research, analytical, and administrative skills. They will also have the opportunity to participate in policy, research, and dissemination activities of the institute.
Meet the five scholars joining us for 2023:
Shaun Kinnes (22) is studying towards a master’s degree in International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research plans to investigate how the COVID-19 pandemic led to the proliferation of illicit economies in Southern African countries. Shaun’s interests lie in sovereign wealth funds and human security, among others. He has been assigned to work with the Economic Diplomacy Programme and is based in SAIIA’s Johannesburg office.
Keanen Isaacs (25) is currently studying towards a master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. His research will focus on South Africa’s position at the UN and its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. He will be working with SAIIA’s African Governance and Diplomacy Programme team based at the Johannesburg office.
Siyakudumisa Zicina (23) will be studying for his master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. For his research, he will focus on Nigeria and Mozambique to explore how natural resource management and radical Islam are linked in Africa. He has been assigned to work in the office of SAIIA’s Chief Executive in Johannesburg.
Kuhle Zondeka (22) is studying for a master’s degree in criminology, law, and society at the University of Cape Town. Her research focuses on women in prison, looking at whether the current system contributes towards their rehabilitation. Her interests lie in feminism and gender studies. She has been allocated to the Futures Programme and is based at SAIIA’s Cape Town office.
Adrian Joseph (23) is studying for a master’s degree in International Relations at the University of Cape Town. His research will focus on the problems with democracy in real life and the ways to fix them. He will look at the growth and changes of modern democracies. He has been assigned to work with SAIIA’s Climate Change and Resource Governance Programme team based at the Cape Town office.