Adv. Prof. Pfarelo Matshidze

Adv. Prof. Pfarelo Matshidze is the Deputy Dean of teaching and learning at the Faculty of Humanities Social Sciences and Education at the University of Venda. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Zululand and a Masters in Law from the University of South Africa. Her specialty is in Anthropology, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and Indigenous Law.  For many years she worked as a lecturer, at the interface between the university and the community, exploring community engagement.  Adv. Prof. Matshidze is involved in several multi-pronged projects in which students and staff members in different disciplines engage with communities to improve their quality of life.  Among other things, she was instrumental in the development of the Bachelor of Indigenous Knowledge Systems curriculum. Her publications are multidisciplinary. 

Her teaching career includes teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students and she has supervised several Masters and PhD students.  She has conducted research and community engagements on human and social sciences-related issues (including but not limited to Anthropology and Law).