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Human Development &
Capability Association

Agency, Well-Being and Justice

HDCA member stories

Our members have different reasons for their membership, and experience the HDCA in different ways. On this page we intend to publish some personal member stories.

Beatrice M'mboga Akala, University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg South Africa

“I have recently joined HDCA, however, I have used the CA framework in my Master's and PhD studies. I draw insights from the framework as I continue to advance scholarship in gender and social justice in education in general and higher education in particular…I look forward to meeting and interacting with great  scholars in the field who have contributed to my scholarship journey and shaped my world view on matters related to  social justice, human development and development of capabilities.” Beatrice M’mboga Akala’s 2019 article on HDCA subjects is entitled “Intersecting human development, social justice and gender equity: A capability option.”



Tim Brunet, University of Windsor

"Being a member of the HDCA provides me an international palette of pedagogical ideas that I bring to the work I do. Most importantly, it features the global south… I use the Capability Approach as a pedagogical framework in my work as an instructor and in my work in our Student Success and Leadership Centre. I run a program for research assistants where they complete six paid contracts over three years. Framing their work using the Capability Approach gives research assistants a voice as epistemic contributors, provides a framework for reparation in education…and provides immediate multidimensional opportunities…” Tim Brunet’s most recent work is on the “Discover Sustainable Futures Project” at the University of Windsor.


Portrait of Krushil Watene
Krushil Watene, James Henare Research Centre,
University of Auckland

"I stumbled across the capability approach when I was completing my MA thesis on Global Justice at the University of Auckland. When I decided to make the capability approach the focus of my PhD at the University of St Andrews, I soon realized that understanding the approach required that I understand how it might apply to (and be enriched by) different theories, academic disciplines, and different areas of life. The HDCA provides this environment – the association brings together into a single space different ideas and projects. The annual conferences provide opportunities to actively engage with practitioners, policy-makers, and philosophers from all over the world in an open and friendly way. The HDCA and the members are incredibly supportive, and they continually bring fresh perspectives and opportunities to my work on future generations, and with indigenous peoples."


Have a personal membership story to share? Please e-mail it to HDCA administrator Kathy Rosenblum at admin@hd-ca.org.

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