Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda

As a doyen of social unity, this paper drew on Sechaba Mahlomaholo’s extensive academic life, to analyse his contribution as a champion of social cohesion in the sustainable rural learning research project (SuRLEc). The research initiative commenced in 2013 and concluded with the unfortunate demise...

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Main Authors: Dipane Hlalele, Habasisa Molise
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Noyam Journals 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Learning Technology
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Online Access:https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/JELT2025618.pdf
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author Dipane Hlalele
Habasisa Molise
author_facet Dipane Hlalele
Habasisa Molise
author_sort Dipane Hlalele
collection DOAJ
description As a doyen of social unity, this paper drew on Sechaba Mahlomaholo’s extensive academic life, to analyse his contribution as a champion of social cohesion in the sustainable rural learning research project (SuRLEc). The research initiative commenced in 2013 and concluded with the unfortunate demise of Sechaba Mahlomaholo in 2023. In the SuRLEc research initiative, Sechaba Mahlomaholo acted as the project coordinator, overseeing a group that included 28 PhD students, 22 MEd students, and 15 supervisors, all collaborating in a cohort format. This paper adopted Kearns and Forrest’s (2000, 2001) social cohesion theory, based on Roy Bhaskar’s critical realist philosophy, to explain how Sechaba Mahlomaholo promoted social cohesion to cultivate a sustainable rural learning ecology among a group of 15 academics at the University of the Free State. The context was the supervision of a cohort of 28 PhD and 22 MEd students. The analysis of the SuRLEc sought to document, comprehend, and demonstrate how Sechaba Mahlomaholo played a leading role in promoting social cohesion and establishing sustainable rural learning environments for postgraduate students, thereby enhancing their academic achievements. The paper’s primary focus was on the seamless integration of the emotional and cognitive dimensions of the performers. A case was made that SuRLEc facilitated social cohesiveness in the supervision of post-graduate students. This suggested that the level to which students’ academic achievement is valued through a socially cohesive learning environment affects their progress. Additionally, several recommendations were provided for those wishing to emulate Sechaba’s Mahlomaholo’s vision for social cohesion in sustainable rural learning ecologies research.
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spelling doaj-art-c44a0e3cea5d4ea09161f66c4394ed322025-08-20T02:16:56ZengNoyam JournalsJournal of Education and Learning Technology2720-77302025-01-0161102119https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025618Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research AgendaDipane Hlalele 0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2190-1196Habasisa Molise1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3971-0718University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.University of Limpopo, South Africa.As a doyen of social unity, this paper drew on Sechaba Mahlomaholo’s extensive academic life, to analyse his contribution as a champion of social cohesion in the sustainable rural learning research project (SuRLEc). The research initiative commenced in 2013 and concluded with the unfortunate demise of Sechaba Mahlomaholo in 2023. In the SuRLEc research initiative, Sechaba Mahlomaholo acted as the project coordinator, overseeing a group that included 28 PhD students, 22 MEd students, and 15 supervisors, all collaborating in a cohort format. This paper adopted Kearns and Forrest’s (2000, 2001) social cohesion theory, based on Roy Bhaskar’s critical realist philosophy, to explain how Sechaba Mahlomaholo promoted social cohesion to cultivate a sustainable rural learning ecology among a group of 15 academics at the University of the Free State. The context was the supervision of a cohort of 28 PhD and 22 MEd students. The analysis of the SuRLEc sought to document, comprehend, and demonstrate how Sechaba Mahlomaholo played a leading role in promoting social cohesion and establishing sustainable rural learning environments for postgraduate students, thereby enhancing their academic achievements. The paper’s primary focus was on the seamless integration of the emotional and cognitive dimensions of the performers. A case was made that SuRLEc facilitated social cohesiveness in the supervision of post-graduate students. This suggested that the level to which students’ academic achievement is valued through a socially cohesive learning environment affects their progress. Additionally, several recommendations were provided for those wishing to emulate Sechaba’s Mahlomaholo’s vision for social cohesion in sustainable rural learning ecologies research.https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/JELT2025618.pdfeulogyruralitysustainabilitylearning ecologypostgraduate supervision
spellingShingle Dipane Hlalele
Habasisa Molise
Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
Journal of Education and Learning Technology
eulogy
rurality
sustainability
learning ecology
postgraduate supervision
title Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
title_full Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
title_fullStr Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
title_full_unstemmed Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
title_short Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
title_sort eulogizing sechaba mahlomaholo as a doyen of social cohesion in the sustainable rural learning ecologies research agenda
topic eulogy
rurality
sustainability
learning ecology
postgraduate supervision
url https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/JELT2025618.pdf
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AT habasisamolise eulogizingsechabamahlomaholoasadoyenofsocialcohesioninthesustainablerurallearningecologiesresearchagenda