Johnathan Paoli
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi kicked off the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research in Boksburg and said that he remained excited over possible solutions which the conference could provide for the province.
The three-day conference is concurrently being held in São Miguel – Azores (Portugal) and in Johannesburg (South Africa), virtually with each edition of the conference bringing together researchers from over 40 countries, world-renowned authors, and research groups to share their experiences in the field of Qualitative Research.
Speaking at the opening address at the South African leg of the conference on Tuesday, Lesufi praised the role played by researchers in the development for the province, the nation, and the continent as a whole.
The premier expressed his excitement at the conference and said that the researchers did not only represent the people, but more importantly would be the innovative source of solutions which could assist the province, namely ensuring that the province’s economy remained being the biggest economy as well as the challenges of human settlement in light of the increasing wave of immigrants, both nationally and internationally that have flocked to the overcrowded areas of Gauteng.
“In this room, you carry the aspiration of the future, you carry the aspiration to reposition and represent us appropriately in ensuring that not only our province but our country and the continent by extension is better positioned to respond to the challenges we are facing currently,” Lesufi said.
The premier said that he wished them well and that in the next three days, he hoped they would supply solutions to some of the key challenges faced by the province.
Lesufi mentioned three particular challenges, namely the ongoing growth and sustainability of the provincial economy, the problem of housing and space in light of the increased immigration and lastly the issue of crime and its impact on the lives of the people and the functioning of business.
The premier said that if the three main issues could be packaged more effectively through research and innovative measures, the country would be in a position to continue to be beautiful and to reaffirm the future of the country, in terms of the economy, resources and legislative framework.
“If you can get the best minds to deal with the challenges that we are facing in our country, we’ll be a competitive country that will be in a position to take care of its residents,” the premier said.
Lesufi said that this engagement which requires effort, labour and time, in order to produce solutions and was proud to be in dialogue with delegates from across the globe who were willing to provide their experience and solutions that would aid everyone.
The World Conference on Qualitative Research (WCQR) is an annual event that brings together researchers, world-renowned authors, and research groups from 40+ countries1. The conference aims to promote the sharing and discussion of knowledge, new perspectives, experiences, and innovations in the field of Qualitative Research.
The conference is hosted by The Global Centre for Academic Research (GCAR) and the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre.
Lesufi said that he was proud to be a part of a conference that was being held for the first time on the African continent, with Gauteng being the host province.
The WCQR is a globally recognized platform that brings together researchers, scholars, and professionals from diverse fields to explore, discuss, and exchange ideas on qualitative research methodologies.
The conference includes a diverse program with renowned keynote speakers and the best authors and researchers in the field.
Lesufi said that as the host partner, the Gauteng government was committed to advancing knowledge, research and innovation that seeks to develop the economy of the Gauteng City Region.
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