Staff profile: Loyiso Maciko
- Kemantha Govender
The fashionable researcher hungry for knowledge
Loyiso Maciko, a PhD candidate and a researcher, who recently joined WSG says he is zealous about development issues.
East London-born Maciko enjoys intellectual spaces that seek to address societal challenges through transcending disciplines and is a Europe-South-Africa Partnership for Human Development Scholarship beneficiary. He studied Masters in Economics and Market Policy at the University of Bologna, Italy.
“I hold a conviction that for education to be a master key to a better life for all, it should continuously be relevant to lives of people and their varying circumstances. How relevant is my education on the status quo and how does my area of study contribute to our collective future are key questions that have become cardinal drivers for my thirst for knowledge,” says Maciko.
Maciko has a lecturing background on Transdisciplinary Studies from the University of Fort Hare and is complemented by research work from the Human Sciences Research Council.
At WSG, Maciko’s focus is on comprehensive social security. “The understanding of the bigger picture and the contribution this would make to the low-income earners gives me a reason to wake up and look forward to the day.”
He will be focusing on economics, sources of finance and developmental policy analysis and would be keen to lecture post-graduate students in the future.
Maciko’s recent move to Johannesburg has been something that he has taken his in stride. He developed an appreciation for fashion. He says summertime in Italy is the best and the ability to easily move from one country to another in Europe lifted the spirit of tourism within him.
“In terms of studying in Italy, there was much to learn from the rest of international students which brought an understanding that the exchange of ideas which supersedes mono-inter-discipline and adds so much value in addressing cross-cutting challenges. This gave me a tenet that through diverse intellectual community we may become more efficient in our respective spaces,” adds Maciko.
Favourite books:
- Let’s pretend this never happened by Jenny Lawson
- The 7 habits of highly effective people by Sean Covey
Favourite past times:
- Hiking, reading books and playing soccer
- R&B
Next holiday will be in: Durban