Aslam Fataar

Aslam Fataar is a Distinguished Professor whose scholarship resides in the areas of Sociology of Education and Education Policy. Prof Fataar is also former Vice Dean: Research of SU's in the Education Faculty and former HOD of the Department of Education Policy Studies. He started his academic career as a junior lecturer in 1995 at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). He also previously taught high school in Lotus River for six years. He completed his MA in 1992 and PhD in 1999 at UWC, has served as a Visiting Professor at Ohio University in 1999 and did a Fulbright Research Scholarship at Illinois University from August 2005 until June 2006. He is currently a Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Education.

Prof Fataar held an NRF B-rated scholar from 2009 to 2015. His first published book in 2011 is titled Education Policy Development in the South African transition. His second book, published in 2015, is titled, Engaging schooling subjectivities across post-apartheid urban spaces.

He also does active service work on two UNESCO commissions, one is the UNESCO Country Commission on educational development in Southern Africa and the other is the Global City Network initiative based in Hamburg.

Prof Fataar does development work in various education associations, via his editorship of the accredited journal, the Southern African Review of Education (2009-2016), and his leadership role in the establishment of the South African Education Research Association of which he is the current outgoing President. He has supervised 22 Phd theses and 43 M.Ed theses.

In addition to his two alone authored books, he published over 80 articles, co-edited 5 books, and was guest editor of 4 special journal additions. He held numerous research projects, has given keynotes addresses at conferences all over the world, and won two awards for his publications, which are, 1) the Joyce Cain award for best article in comparative education (2008), and 2) the Pringle award for best education article in South Africa (2011).

He was awarded a medal of honour by the Education Association of South Africa in 2015 for his scholarly and academic development work.

Prof Aslam Fataar of Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Education has recently been recognised for his outstanding service to the academic study of education, as well as his service in this sector. He was awarded a Medal of Honour by the Education Association of South Africa (EASA), an inclusive organisation of academics, researchers, and practitioners who all prioritise educational research, particularly in South Africa.