University of Johannesburg (UJ) PhD candidate Mosa Khasu has won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Universitas 21 (U21) International Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This is the first time a UJ student—and a South African—has received this recognition.
The U21 3MT competition challenges doctoral students from leading research-intensive universities worldwide to present their research in just three minutes using a single static slide. Khasu secured her spot in the global finals after winning UJ’s 2024 institutional 3MT competition, which was hosted by the Research Capacity Development Unit. The competition featured 15 PhD candidates showcasing innovative research to a live audience and a panel of academics and industry experts.
Her award-winning PhD research, Towards a Signature Pedagogy for Playwriting as a Language Teaching Tool in the Primary School, explores how drama texts can be used to introduce primary school children to Sesotho and isiZulu vocabulary related to artificial intelligence. By incorporating playwriting into the classroom, her research demonstrates how storytelling can enhance language learning and engagement.
Reflecting on her achievement, Khasu expressed her gratitude:
“Thank you to the RCD team at the Postgraduate School for the opportunity to participate in the 3MT competition, and for your guidance and support at every stage. My heartfelt appreciation goes to the U21 organising committee for this incredible honour. The 3MT competition is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will forever cherish. I hope to inspire my future students to participate in it one day.
To my supervisors, Prof Elizabeth Henning and Prof Sarita Ramsaroop, your mentorship has been invaluable. I also wish to thank Prof Sarah Gravett and Prof Nadine Petersen, who first introduced me to academia and mentored me. To my HoD, Dr Kathleen Fonseca, and my colleagues in the Department of Childhood Education—thank you for your encouragement and support. A special thanks to the UJ community, staff, students, alumni, my family, friends, local church, and the teachers who voted for me.”
Her supervisor, Prof Elizabeth Henning, praised her research:
“Ms Khasu has been an exemplary student, conducting innovative research on the power of playwriting as a teaching tool. Her approach allows students to write plays based on school curriculum topics, equipping them with valuable resources for their future teaching careers. Notably, her students’ plays, written during the pandemic, captured the apprehensions of that time while demonstrating how classroom theatre can effectively engage with societal themes.”
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition provides PhD students with a platform to develop their academic, presentation, and research communication skills by explaining their work to a non-specialist audience. After competing at their home institutions, winners advance to the international competition, where their presentations are judged by an expert panel.
Khasu’s victory at U21 3MT is a testament to UJ’s commitment to world-class research and innovation.
