Red & Yellow academic presents research at two leading conferences, strengthening the institution's global research profile

One of our very own Academic Programmer Designers was invited to present at the ATINER Annual International Conference on History and Literature in Athens, Greece, and at the English Academy of Southern Africa (EASA) Conference in Pretoria. Together, the conferences brought Dr de Villiers into conversation with leading researchers from South Africa and around the world, creating opportunities to share original scholarship, engage with emerging ideas and build collaborations that will directly inform curriculum development at Red & Yellow.

For Red & Yellow, recognised as the #1 Creative School in Africa and the Middle East by both the Loerie Awards and the Pendoring Awards, remaining at the forefront of research and knowledge development is an essential part of delivering an education that prepares students for rapidly evolving creative industries.

Two conferences. Two research papers. One commitment to advancing knowledge.

Across the two conferences, Dr de Villiers presented original research drawn from her PhD, exploring how identity, geography, gender and culture shape experiences of mental health within contemporary literature.

In Athens, she presented "When the Power Shifts": Immigration Status, Gender Dynamics, and Mental Illness in Mira T. Lee's Everything Here is Beautiful, examining how immigration status and geography influence identity, power and mental health.

Weeks later, she presented a second paper at the English Academy of Southern Africa Conference in Pretoria titled "Take the Mother Away": Madness, Magical Realism, and the Mother in Akwaeke Emezi's Freshwater. The paper explored how African cosmology and Western psychiatric frameworks intersect within contemporary African literature, generating thoughtful discussion among specialists in postcolonial literature and literary theory.

Both papers were warmly received, providing valuable peer feedback while contributing to ongoing international conversations around identity, belonging and representation.

"The most valuable part of attending both conferences wasn't simply presenting my own work. It was seeing how researchers from different countries and disciplines are asking many of the same questions around identity, creativity, power and human experience. Those conversations directly shape how we think about teaching at Red & Yellow." — Dr Stephanie de Villiers

Bringing global and local perspectives into the classroom

Across both conferences, Dr de Villiers attended presentations spanning digital humanities, immersive technologies, postcolonial theory, creative economies, arts education, pedagogy, artificial intelligence and curriculum design.

Among the highlights were innovative projects using 3D technologies to recreate archaeological sites, research exploring intellectual property within the creative economy, discussions around inclusive curriculum design, and presentations examining critical thinking in an AI-enabled world. These conversations align closely with Red & Yellow's own interdisciplinary approach to preparing graduates for the future of work.

Several sessions also focused on experiential learning, sustainability and creative practice—offering valuable ideas that can continue informing programme design across the institution.

Research that creates real-world impact

Beyond presenting research, both conferences created meaningful opportunities to strengthen Red & Yellow's research profile and expand its academic network.

The Athens conference established new relationships with researchers whose work intersects with curriculum development, creative economies and experiential education, opening the door to future collaborations.

Meanwhile, the EASA conference delivered a particularly significant outcome when Dr de Villiers connected with the editor of English Studies in Africa, who invited her to submit her conference paper for publication. The paper will now be developed into a journal article, transforming the conference presentation into a clear publication pathway.

"Presenting research is only one part of the process. Testing ideas with other scholars, refining arguments through discussion and then developing that work into publication is how knowledge continues to grow—and ultimately how students benefit from learning that reflects current thinking." — Dr Stephanie de Villiers

Learning from experts shaping the future

At Red & Yellow, programme designers do far more than build curricula. They actively contribute to research, collaborate with academics around the world and bring emerging ideas back into the classroom.

By participating in both international and national research communities, Dr de Villiers exemplifies Red & Yellow's commitment to academic excellence, industry relevance and lifelong learning. Students benefit from programmes shaped by educators who are continually questioning, researching and contributing to the future of creative business education.

It's this combination of award-winning industry recognition and research-active academics that continues to distinguish Red & Yellow. As the #1 ranked Creative School in Africa and the Middle East, the institution remains committed to ensuring students learn from experts who are not only teaching the future—but helping to create it.