Hosted by the University of Lodz, TSRG brings together 20 students from seven universities across South Africa, Germany, Poland, Vietnam and Lithuania to engage in shared research through diverse cultural and academic perspectives.
Ms Lukashe, a second-year PhD candidate in Economics, participated in the week-long research trip as part of TSRG 2026, an international research and cultural exchange programme focused on “Transculturalism in Times of Rising Authoritarianism and Polarization: A Case Study-Based Approach.”
Students were placed into four-member transcultural groups and tasked with developing case studies under the broader theme. The programme included workshops, discussions, simulations and constructive feedback, while encouraging students to engage with the cultural differences that shaped their research.
For Ms Lukashe, the experience “Exposed me to the political, historical and socio-cultural dimensions through which global challenges can also be understood. It was a valuable reminder that growing as a researcher sometimes requires stepping beyond the familiarity of one's own field," she said.
Learning Through History and Cultural Exchange
A key component of the programme was its engagement with Poland's history and democratic development. In Warsaw, the delegation attended a guest lecture at the University of Warsaw on democratic resilience and restoration, before visiting the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
The activities included an interactive workshop and tour at the Marek Edelman Dialogue Centre, focusing on the history of the Lodz Ghetto, reconciliation and Polish social history. The visit connected the group's academic focus on polarisation with the lived experiences of communities affected by conflict, division and historical trauma.
“Coming from the University of Mpumalanga, an institution where collaboration, diversity and adaptability are valued, I found myself drawing on these values throughout the research week,” she says.
“Working with students from different countries meant encountering perspectives and ways of thinking that were sometimes completely different from my own, while still having to work towards a shared research goal.”
Her research focuses on the impact of climate change on agri-trade balance and food systems in sub-Saharan Africa, with her development as a researcher shaped by the guidance and support of her supervisors, Dr Rachel Nishimwe-Niyimbanira and Prof. Andrew Maredza.
As her research has evolved, so has her understanding that global challenges cannot be fully addressed through a single discipline or perspective. This has encouraged her to seek opportunities that broaden her intellectual horizons beyond her familiar academic space, a mindset further strengthened by the guidance of her mentor, Ms Confidence Ndlovu.
As an aspiring academic, she aims to become a transformative leader in academia, with a commitment to empowering underrepresented voices through education and inclusive knowledge.
“The opportunities I have encountered at UMP have continually shown me the transformative power of education in creating spaces where ideas and perspectives can travel across cultures and disciplines,” she says.
Ms Lukashe's participation in TSRG 2026 provided an opportunity to strengthen her research skills, engage with international peers and gain a broader understanding of how academic work can be informed by different cultural, historical and disciplinary perspectives.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied. Copyright © UMP.