【Graduate Institute of Development Studies】
The Graduate Institute of Development Studies continues its commitment to the Higher Education SPROUT Project. In 2021, it organized the lecture series “Developments in the Global South,” with a focus on development studies and issues related to the Global South. The lectures held on November 3 and November 8 centered on the development and challenges faced by Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa—Eswatini.
On November 3, Dr. Francis Fanyana Lukhele from the Department of African Languages and Literature, University of Swaziland, delivered a lecture titled “Stripping Angry: Eswatini Women’s Protests Against Land Dispossession.” In this online talk, Dr. Lukhele explained that women in rural Eswatini have low social standing and face significant barriers to land access. Women can only gain land rights through marriage, reinforcing their dependence within a male-dominated structure. In recent years, women have organized a series of social movements advocating for greater land rights, often framing their cause through symbolic narratives—such as land being the mother of all life and women as the mothers of humanity—to legitimize their claims and reinforce their rightful connection to land.
On November 8, Professor Andile Simphiwe Metfula, Head of the Department of Computer Science at the University of Eswatini, gave a lecture titled “The Role of ICT in the Developing World: A Case of Eswatini.” He described how ICT is increasingly being used in sectors such as medical tracking, agricultural surveying, forest monitoring, financial services, mobile communication, policy dissemination, and democratic engagement. However, challenges remain, including a shortage of ICT professionals, high investment costs, and expensive telecom fees—issues that are common across developing countries. These limitations hinder technology adoption and accessibility, making it a critical topic for further academic study in the Global South.
Both lectures were hosted by Professors Hsiao-Peng Liu and Yi-Chun Lin, and were held concurrently online and in person. Over 50 faculty and students participated in each session, engaging actively in the discussions. All in-person attendees followed CECC health guidelines, including social distancing and mask-wearing. Faculty and students from the institute, as well as both speakers from Eswatini, highly praised the interactive and meaningful exchange, with mutual hopes for deeper academic cooperation and future exchanges.
The institute has also scheduled a lecture series on another African country—Nigeria. Professor Christopher Ugwuoke from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Nigeria, and Mr. Nnanna Onuoha Arukwe, currently a visiting scholar at the institute, will deliver talks both online and in person. These upcoming sessions promise to be equally engaging.
