The University of Johannesburg (UJ) hosted the professorial inauguration of Professor Pragna Rugunanan, a distinguished academic in Sociology, on Tuesday, 22 October 2024. The event took place at the Ubuntu Chambers, located in the Madibeng Building on UJ’s Kingsway Campus.
Professor Rugunanan’s inaugural address, titled “Navigating New Horizons: Migration, Identity, and Belonging in the Global South,” explored critical themes surrounding migration and identity in the context of the Global South. Her lecture provided an in-depth analysis of her academic journey, with a particular focus on migration patterns and the complexities of South-South migration.
The academic procession included notable UJ figures such as Professor Sehaam Khan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Professor Kammila Naidoo, Executive Dean of Humanities, and Professor Ria Smit, Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Lone Star College, U.S.A., and Senior Research Fellow at UJ. A brief response by Professor Smit followed Professor Rugunanan’s address, adding further insight into the discussion.
During her lecture, Professor Rugunanan offered a comprehensive overview of her research on migration, highlighting Fordsburg, Johannesburg, as a key site of study. She underscored the significant yet often underexplored topic of South-South migration, which now constitutes nearly half of global migration. Her work aims to redefine traditional understandings of ‘migrant’ to better capture the nuanced realities of migration in the Global South.
Professor Rugunanan also examined why individuals from less developed nations migrate to developing countries, particularly within Africa, providing fresh perspectives from a Global South lens. She argued that in an increasingly interconnected world, identities have become complex and multifaceted, shaped by culture, experience, and aspirations rather than solely by birth or race.
“The concept of belonging is essential to human well-being,” she said, stressing the need for inclusive policies that respect the rights of migrants and refugees while addressing the concerns of host communities.
Professor Rugunanan: Academic profile
Professor Pragna Rugunanan is an Industrial Sociologist with a passion for research on migration. Her work has made significant contributions to understanding African and South Asian migrant communities in South Africa, with particular focus on the intersections of migration, gender, labour, and identity. Recently, her research has expanded to include digital technology in migration, migration brokerage, and elderly care within migrant communities.
Since August 2023, Professor Rugunanan has served as the Vice-Dean of Research in the Faculty of Humanities at UJ. Prior to this, she was the Head of the Department of Sociology from 2019 to 2021 and was re-appointed for a second term from 2022 to July 2023. As a C2 NRF-rated scholar, Professor Rugunanan has served on various panels, including as an Expert Assessor for the Global Pluralism Monitor, a prominent international research centre based in Ottawa.
Her research continues to shape understanding and policies related to migration in South Africa and the Global South, providing critical insights into one of the most pressing global issues of our time.
WATCH:
