Staff Profile

Qualifications:           

• PhD – Rhodes University, South Africa (2003-2006), Gender and Educational Leadership and Management
• MEd – University of Waikato, New Zealand, Gender Issues in Education & Leadership With First Class Honours
• BEd – University of Waikato, New Zealand, Sociology, Gender and Educational leadership
• Diploma in Education -University of Zimbabwe

 Research Interests:

• School leadership and the creation of gender responsive environments
• Gender and Educational leadership
• Gender mainstreaming and the transformation of schools
• School community partnerships for increased gender awareness

 Publications:

•  Muzvidziwa Irene (2017) Gender and The Development of a Positive School Culture and Academic Excellence. Journal of Social Development in Africa vol. 32(2): 139-157
• Jugmohan Pete and Muzvidziwa Irene (2017) Mentoring and Principal Preparation: the case of KwaZulu Natal Women International Journal of Educational Science International Journal of      Educational Science 16(1-3):159-164.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2015) “Quality and Equitable Education in Primary and Secondary Schools In Zimbabwe”. Journal of Social Development in Africa 30(2):111-128.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2015) “Women Educational Leaders and the Empowerment of Others”. Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology 6(3):365-376.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2014) “Educational Leadership for Social Justice: The case of Zimbabwean Women Primary School Heads”. In Bogotch, Ira and Shields, Carolyn (Eds.). International Handbook of Social (In)Justice and Educational Leadership. New York: Springer Publishers. Pp.799-817.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2014). “Principalship as an Empowerment Leadership Process: The Experiences of Women School Heads in Zimbabwe”. The Anthropologist 17(1):213-221,
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2013) “Gender, Culture and Exclusion of Women in Educational Leadership”. Alternation 20(2):241-261.
• Muzvidziwa Irene and Victor N Muzvidziwa (2012) “Ubuntu and Discipline in African Schools”. Journal of Dharma 37(1):27-42.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2012) “Women Managing Change in Zimbabwean Schools”. In Chikoko Vitalis and Molbjerg-Jorgensen Kenneth (eds). Education Leadership, Management and Governance in South Africa. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Pp. 125-142
• Chikovore Jeremiah, Richter Linda, Muzvidziwa Irene and Makusha Tawanda (2012)   “Children’s learning in socio-economic contexts in South Africa”. International Focus Issue of Childhood Education 88(5):304-308.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2012) “Nurturance as a tool for Educational Change: How Women School Heads Handle the Problem of Indiscipline in Schools”. In Wolhuter, C. C. (ed.) Beauty and the Beast: Towards Turning the tide in Education. Cape Town Van Schaik. Pp.223-239.
• Muzvidziwa Irene and Victor N Muzvidziwa (2011) “Women and the Concept of Servant Leadership: biblical Influences”. Journal of Dharma 36(4):257-273.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2011). “Gender Differences in Managing Organisational Conflicts: the Case of Women Primary School Principals in Zimbabwe”. Annals of Modern Education 3(1):155-166.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2010). Reflections on a Phenomenological Inquiry into Zimbabwean Women’s Stories of Managing Schools.   International Journal of Social Sciences 6(2):33-58.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2010). “The Resolution of Poverty and Cultural Marginalisation in Zimbabwe through a Dynamic Educational System”. LWATI Journal of Contemporary Research 7(1):10-27.
• Muzvidziwa Irene & Victor N Muzvidziwa (2008). “Organisational Culture, the media and the School”. In V Agbanu and C Nwabueze (eds). Readings in Mass Communication: global Perspectives in Communication Issues. Owerri: Top Shelve Publishers. Pp 177-192.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2007). Socialisation, culture and school development: the Zimbabwean context. South-South Journal of Culture and Development 9(2):17-40.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2003). “Staff and School Development: Implications for Teacher Productivity Motivation and Commitment”. Gundani Paul and Muzvidziwa Victor N (eds). Management and the Human Factor. Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications. Pp 111-120.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (2001). Women’s Under-representation and their Perceptions as Female Deputy School Heads in Zimbabwe. South-South Journal of Culture and Development 3(2):165-179.
• Muzvidziwa, Irene (1999). Transformational Leadership and School Effectiveness in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Bulletin of Teacher Education 12(1):58-73.

Papers Presented

• Presented a paper on Equitable and Quality Primary and Secondary Education as one of the guest speakers at the 1ST ACADEMICS AND TEACHERS CONFERENCE 2016 at The National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo Zimbabwe on March 7 (2016).
• August 2013 presented a paper at the OXFORD ROUND TABLE conference in England, UK entitled: Women Educational leaders and how they use power to empower others.
• Presented a paper entitled Leadership experiences of women primary school principals in KwaZulu Natal: A phenomenological inquiry in Cyprus at the Commonwealth council for Educational Administration and Management (CCEAM)conference in November 2012
• Presented a paper at entitled Mentoring and principal preparation the case of women in KwaZulu Natal at Great Zimbabwe at Southern African Society for Education (SASE) conference in October 2012.
• Presented a paper entitled Creativity and the art of networking: Tools for successful change management. EASA Conference held at Empakweni in East London Eastern Cape Province in January 2012.
• Presented a paper entitled Principalship as an Empowering Leadership Process: The Experiences of Women School Heads in Zimbabwe Boleswana Symposium held at the University of Swaziland July 2011.
• Presented a paper entitled Managing Change in Education: the Case of Zimbabwe Women Primary School Heads EMASA Conference held in Cape Town in April 2011.
• Presented a paper entitled Nurturance as a Tool for Educational Change: How Women School Heads Handled the Problem of Indiscipline in Schools EASA Conference held at Sun City North West in January 2011.
• Presented a paper entitled Preparing your career path as a Guest of Honour at Ridge-Mont private school’s prize giving Day in November 2009 in Harare.
• Presented a paper entitled Striving for excellence as Guest of Honour at Conway Primary School’s prize giving Day November 2008 Harare.
• Presented a paper entitled The Role of Education in Combating Poverty as well as Other Forms of Social Exclusion and Cultural Marginalisation for International Bureau of Education –UNESCO in August 2008 Harare.
• Presented a paper entitled Gender Equity in Education at a UNESCO organised workshop in July 2007 in Harare.

Professional Development

• Attended a Journal Editor’s Forum’s for University Teaching and Learning Office (UTLO) at Edgewood on the 22nd of October, 2010.
• Attended a workshop on proposal writing for competitive research grants at Howard College in Durban on the 5th and 6th of October. 2010
• Attended a workshop on proposal writing for competitive research grants at Howard College in Durban on the 5th and 6th of October. 2010
• Attended a conference for University Teaching and Learning Office (UTLO) at Pietermaritzburg, University of KwaZulu Natal from the 20th to the 22nd of September 2010
• Attended a seminar on scholars publishing at Howard College campus in Durban on..17th of September 2010.
• Attended a workshop on research proposal writing and PhD supervision at Westville Campus, Durban on the 11th and 12th of August 2010.
• Attended a workshop on PhD supervision workshop at Edgewood Campus, University of KwaZulu Natal on the 3rd of August 2010.
• Attended a two-day workshop on PhD supervision organised by the Zimbabwe Open University in Harare from 24th and 25th May 2008.
• Attended a workshop on Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Organised by the University Teaching and Learning Centre University of Zimbabwe from 3rd to 6th March 2008.
• Attended a two-day workshop on Leadership Training for Church leaders at Mabelreign Harare on 8th and 9th February 2008
• Attended a Module Writing Workshop for distance education learners organised by African Virtual University (AVU) in Nairobi from 14th to 19th November 2007.
• Attended a Workshop on Qualitative Research Design Course in Grahamstown Rhodes University from 1st to 6th March 2004.

(PhD) Supervision Achievements at UKZN

• A throughput of two PhD students
• Exploring the role of Principal-Cum Teachers in Multi-grade school context: Evidence from five principals in one District of KwaZulu-Natal. Ngcobo Sikhulekile General (PhD) (2015)

Masters Supervision Achievements at UZ & UKZN

• A throughput of three MED students who graduated in 2008/9 at UZ
• A throughput of 11 MED students who graduated at UKZN graduated 2011; 2012; 2013 & 2014 and Selected Masters Dissertation/thesis title, name of student and year of completion
• Exploring coping strategies by teachers to manage daily workload. Nguse Hlengiwa Abigail, (2015)
• Exploring the principal’s role towards the success of Annual National Assessment (ANA) in their schools in the Pietermaritzburg Area. Pillay Rudeshni. (2014)
• The need to behave as professionals; A case study of five teacher leaders in an Urban primary school in Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu-Natal  Pillay Chamain 2014
• An Exploration of the Role of staff development of teachers in relation to teacher
• Phenomenological Study of the lived experiences of women primary school principals in Umgungundlovu District. Mthembu Pinkie Euginia (2013)
• Leadership and Professionalism: A Case of five teacher leaders in an Urban Primary School in Pietermaritzburg .  Bronwyn Kim Alexander (2012)
• Induction Experiences of Newly Promoted Heads of Department in the Umlazi District Makoni Divas (2012)
• Exploring Principals Understanding and Experiences of Leadership and professionalism: Case study of three. Valencia Dawn James (2012)
• Decision Making as an Activity of School leadership: A case study. Ronnie Velayathum Moodley (2012)
• The Nature of Participation by the parent component in Rural Schools Governing Bodies. Ndlovu Zwelinjani Kingdom (2012)
• Teacher Attrition: Experiences of four School Principals  in Umlazi District.Meyiwa Nompumelelo Priscilla  (2011)

More than 15 Honours Projects at MSU from 2016 to date

External Examiner Rhodes University North West and  Fort-Hare in South Africa. UKZN

Previous responsibilities

• Discipline head and coordinator of two campuses- Edgewood in Durban and Pietermaritzburg campus 2012-2014
• Co-ordinators PhD cohort (Mauritius Institute of Education- MIE) in partnership with UKZN 2013-2014.
• Post Graduate Cohort coordinator Pietermaritzburg 2012-2014.
• Editorial Board Member for the Annals of Modern Education
• Reviewer of several peer reviewed journals

University Service

• Gender Studies Department Library Link person
• Committee member Communications Skills Centre Committee
• Faculty of Education Research Higher Degrees Co-ordinator

AWARDS

• New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance grant for Masters postgraduate scholarship. 1997.
• New Zealand Federation of University Women granted a research award to conduct pilot study in New Zealand. 1997
• International Federation of University Women offered me a competitive grant to do research  on Gender in Zimbabwe. 1998/99
• University of KwaZulu Natal, College of Humanities, Strategic Research Funding  grant for conducting research on Gender and educational leadership in KwaZulu Natal Province