Drama student awarded prestigious scholarship
Hela Pearson, a master’s degree student and part-time lecturer at the Department of Drama and Film Studies (Drama), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), has been awarded a Commonwealth scholarship to pursue her drama studies in London, later this year. She was selected from eight students countrywide – all with an excellent academic record – who were nominated for a Commonwealth scholarship. A Commonwealth scholarship for drama is regarded as the largest and most prestigious of its kind, worldwide.
Hela is currently busy with her master’s degree entitled, Drama therapy with traumatised, black, orphaned early-adolescents in Atteridgeville, which she aims to complete by September.
She will leave for London at the end of September, where she will stay for eighteen months to attend a master’s course in drama and movement therapy. The course will commence on 1 October.
On her return, she plans to practise as a qualified drama therapist, working in township schools, as well as lecturing in a drama therapy master’s course that is envisaged in South Africa. In London, she also plans to establish collaboration with the Central School of Speech and Drama at the Sesame Institute where she will be studying.
Since 1959, some 23 000 individuals have been awarded Commonwealth scholarships and fellowships for further study in Commonwealth countries. The vast majority of award holders returned to their home countries and ploughed back their knowledge, with huge success.
Irene Botes
Marketing and Communication
Faculty of the Arts
Tshwane University of Technology
Tel: 012 382 6175
Fax: 012 382 6178
E-mail: botesjc@tut.ac.za OR artsinfo@tut.ac.za
www.tut.ac.za
