Teaching
My inspiration
Growing up in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, I had the privilege of watching my mother, an extraordinary educator, transform our family veranda into a vibrant classroom. She welcomed students from all walks of life, fostering a space where challenges were met with creativity, and knowledge became a tool for empowerment.
I see my teaching as a continuation of her legacy —working to empower a new generation of scholars, researchers, and changemakers who can reimagine and transform society for the better.
My mission
My teaching philosophy is rooted in decolonial thought and Hunhuism an African indigenous epistemology that centres humility, reciprocity, interconnectedness, mutual respect and love as foundational pillars of holistic learning. I use storytelling as a powerful tool to challenge hegemonic narratives that marginalise Black and African voices.
In my classrooms, I strive to de-center Eurocentric perspectives, encouraging students to critically examine dominant narratives and engage with diverse resources that reflect the richness of global perspectives.
At Memorial University, I currently teach:
- Critical Reading and Writing: Identities and Differences.
- Methods that Matter.
In the future, I hope to expand my teaching portfolio with courses on:
- Transnational Feminisms.
- Race, Politics, and Global Pandemics.
- Gender and Environment.
I am deeply invested in fostering environments where students feel empowered to think critically, question norms, and explore new possibilities for understanding the world. Whether delving into issues of identity and belonging or exploring methods that center marginalised voices, my goal is to inspire students to connect theory with practice, grounding their learning in real-world contexts.
At WITS University and University of Pretoria, I previously taught:
• International and Regional Peace and Security
• Approaches to Peace and Security
• Public Security, Justice, and Rule of Law
• Governance, Leadership, and Public Value
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Research Proposal Development
• Critical Approaches to Gender and Governance in Africa
• Introduction to Political Theory
• International Relations
Through my teaching, I aim to ignite curiosity, foster critical engagement, and cultivate a sense of responsibility in students to create a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.
Having known Ruth for nine years, I can confidently say she is an outstanding mentor who connects academic success with personal development. Her impact has significantly transformed my social and professional life. In particular, her dedication to professionalism and sharp attention to detail have been key in helping me shape my own journey as an academic.
Professor Ruth Murambadoro, is a critically engaged scholar, whose research is both academically sound, yet policy relevant. For the past years, her work has been centered on the gender question within the broad transitional justice project in societies grappling with a violent past. How do we engage with the gender question in societies where the past and present story is dominated by masculine power both in theory and practice? Her work, productively disrupts the dominant discourse.
Dr. Ruth Murambadoro is a critical feminist and decolonial scholar whose work brings intellectual rigour, ethical clarity, and deep attentiveness to African lived realities. Her teaching invites expansive thinking on transitional justice, Ubuntu, and holistic African experiences, fostering integrative, restorative justice-centred learning that is both grounded and transformative.