Received Sylff fellowship in 2025
Academic supervisor : Professor Nancy Stiegler
Current affiliation : University of The Western Cape
Takalani Berline Makhitha is a first-year PhD candidate at the University of the Western Cape, specialising in social statistics and population studies. He holds an MPhil in Population Studies (Magna Cum Laude), a BSc Honours in Population Studies, and a BSc in Medical Biosciences. His research interests centre on fertility behaviour, delayed parenthood, population health, and demographic change in Africa, with a strong emphasis on evidence-based policy and social equity.
Beyond academia, Takalani has demonstrated strong leadership and civic engagement within higher education. He served as the first-ever SRC Postgraduate Liaison Officer at UWC, representing postgraduate students in Senate and key statutory committees, and is a member of the university’s Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework Task Team. His work reflects a commitment to socially responsive scholarship, institutional transformation, and inclusive development.
Academic Achievements
MPhil in Population Studies (Magna Cum Laude), University of the
Western Cape (2024).
Dissertation: Access to Immunisation among Children in Nigeria and
Pakistan: A Comparative Study, employing advanced demographic
and statistical analysis of DHS data.
BSc Honours in Population Studies (Demography), University of the
Western Cape (2023).
BSc in Medical Biosciences, University of the Western Cape (2022),
with majors in Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology, providing a
strong biomedical foundation for population health research.
Achieved multiple distinctions at postgraduate level, including
Official Statistics, Survey Methods, Gender Issues and Health, and
Applied Statistics.
Short Course in Digital and Computational Demography, jointly
offered by IASD and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic
Research (2024), strengthening skills in data-driven demographic
analysis.
invite to the Golden Key International Honour Society (2024),
recognising academic excellence in the top percentage of graduates.
Currently a first-year PhD candidate in Social Statistics/Population
Studies at UWC, with research focusing on fertility behaviour,
delayed parenthood, and demographic change in Africa.
Social Engagement Initiatives
Student Representative Council (SRC) Postgraduate Liaison Officer,
University of the Western Cape (2025).
Served as the first-ever holder of this portfolio, representing
postgraduate students at Senate and key statutory committees.
Advocated for postgraduate academic support, funding access, and
student welfare at institutional level.
Chairperson and Coordinator, Green Campus Initiative (GCI), UWC
(2020–2024).
Led student-driven sustainability and environmental justice initiatives
on campus.
Coordinated advocacy, awareness campaigns, and engagement with
university management on climate action.
Task Team Member, Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework, UWC
(2025).
Contributed to institutional policy development on the ethical,
inclusive, and responsible use of AI in teaching, research, and
governance.
Senior Facilitator and Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Science
(ISC153).
Supported academic development, mentoring, and quantitative
literacy among first-year students, particularly those from historically
disadvantaged backgrounds.
Peer Mentorship and Residence Leadership, including First-Year
Peer Facilitator and Residence Secretary General roles, focused on
student support, gender awareness, and leadership development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/takalani-berline-makhitha-0532231bb/
