Eulogizing Sechaba Mahlomaholo as a Doyen of Social Cohesion in the Sustainable Rural Learning Ecologies Research Agenda
Dipane Hlalele 
& Habasisa Molise
Issue: Vol.6 No. 1 January 2025 Special Issue Article 8 pp. 102-119
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025618 | Published online 11th April, 2025.
© 2025 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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.
Keywords: Eulogy, Rurality, Sustainability, Learning Ecology, Postgraduate Supervision
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Dipane Hlalele is a Full Professor of Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a C2 NRF rated researcher (2022-2027) who appeared in the World Top 100 Education Scientists in South Africa (2022, no. 92), (2024. no. 61) and Africa (2024, no. 87), according to the AD Scientific Index. He published over sixty articles, peer-reviewed conference proceedings and chapters in books.
Habasisa Vincent Molise (PhD Student) is a Lecturer at the School of Education, Department of Education Studies at the University of Limpopo, South Africa. He holds a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Studies. His research interests focus on Commerce Education.
Hlalele, Dipane, and 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 6, no.1 (2025): 102-119. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025618
© 2025 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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