Dr Thierry Luescher

Dr Thierry Luescher has a diverse work experience spanning various academic and research roles. Dr Thierry is currently working at the HSRC (Human Sciences Research Council) as the Strategic Lead for Research in Equitable Education, a position they have held since October 2022. Prior to this, they served as the Research Director for Post-schooling and Work at the HSRC from April 2017 to September 2022.

In addition to their work at the HSRC, Dr Luescher is also affiliated with Nelson Mandela University as an Adjunct Professor for Critical Studies in Higher Education Transformation, starting in October 2022. Dr Thierry is a Research Fellow in Higher Education at the University of the Free State, a position they have held since October 2022. From September 2017 to September 2022, they were an Affiliated Associate Professor in Higher Education Studies at the same institution.

Dr Luescher has also been involved in various academic and research roles throughout their career. Dr Thierry served as an AMT Trustee at African Minds Publisher since October 2012. Dr Thierry held the position of Assistant Director for Institutional Research at the University of the Free State from November 2014 to March 2017. Prior to that, they worked as a Project Leader/Senior Researcher for HERANA HE & Democracy at the Centre for Higher Education Transformation from January 2009 to December 2016.

Dr Thierry'sprevious affiliations include the University of the Western Cape, where they worked as an Extraordinary Senior Lecturer in Political Studies from January 2012 to December 2014. During their time at the University of the Western Cape, they also served as a Senior Lecturer/Coordinator for Higher Education Studies programmes and as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow for the Higher Education Masters in Africa program. Dr Thierry was the Director of the Observatory Improvement District from September 2009 to May 2012.

Dr Luescher has also participated in conferences and events, such as being a Guest Speaker at the African SRC Conference in 2012 and a Participant/Presenter at the SERU International Consortium Conference at SERU UC Berkeley in 2012.

Dr Thierry Luescher has an extensive education history. In 1987, they completed their O-Levels at Bezirksschule Entfelden. Dr Thierry then pursued a Berufsmatura (Vocational Matric) in Public Administration and Commerce at Handelsschule KV Aarau from 1987 to 1990. In 1994 and 1995, they attended Maturitaetsschule fuer Erwachsene, Aarau, where they obtained their Matura before transferring to Boston House College in 1996. At Boston House College, they achieved a South Africa Matric (Full University Exemption); A Aggregate, with a focus on History, Biology, Mathematics, English, German, and French (all High Grade). Dr Luescher went on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) at the University of Cape Town from 1997 to 1999, majoring in Political Science and Government, History, and African Languages and Literature (isiXhosa). Dr Thierry then obtained a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Democratic Governance from the University of Cape Town, specializing in Political Ethics, Democratic Theory, and Research Methods from 2000 to 2002. Later, they earned a PhD in Political Science from the University of Cape Town, completing their doctoral studies from 2005 to 2009. In 2016 and 2017, Dr Luescher pursued a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education at the University of the Free State, focusing on Higher Education/Higher Education Teaching and Learning.