Optentia Research Unit

08/10/2026

🌱 Reimagining Human Flourishing in South Africa

September was Capabilities Month at Optentia, and one of the highlights was our colloquium, Reimagining Human Flourishing: Capabilities, Ubuntu, and Decolonisation in South Africa.

The event opened up a much-needed conversation about what it means to create the conditions for human flourishing in South Africa—and marked the beginning of an ongoing exploration of how Capabilities, Ubuntu and decolonial thinking can shape a more flourishing future.

👉 Read more about the colloquium and the conversations it sparked here:

Can South Africa truly transform if the knowledge systems shaping its institutions, policies and society remain largely unchanged? This question was at the heart of a thought-provoking colloquium at the North-West University (NWU), where scholars, researchers and practitioners explored how ubuntu, c...

07/10/2026

On 23 September, Optentia hosted the international book launch of Capabilities at Work: The Added Value of the Capability Model for Well-being at Work.
📖 Want to find out more? Read the full story, discover the key highlights from the launch, and learn more about the book here:

For many people, work is about earning a salary, meeting targets and building a career. But there is a bigger question that is often overlooked: does work give people the opportunity to grow, contribute, feel valued and live well?

30/09/2026

What if we could rethink well-being at work by focusing not only on what people have, but on what they are actually able to do and become?

On 23 September, Optentia hosted the international launch of the much-anticipated book Capabilities at Work: The Added Value of the Capability Model for Well-Being and Work.

Curious to explore the book? Scan the QR code to access it — it’s freely available as an open-access publication! 📖✨

23/09/2026

https://www.youtube.com/live/QzLMbN1IjPs
LIVE NOW!

Join us on our socials to be up to date with the latest and subscri...

23/09/2026

📚 Today’s the day!

We are excited to be hosting the **International Launch of "Capabilities at Work: The Added Value of the Capability Model for Well-Being and Work" today! 🎉

Can’t join us in person? You can be part of the launch online! 🌐

▶️ Watch the livestream:
https://youtube.com/live/QzLMbN1IjPs?feature=share

We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you! 🌍📖

22/09/2026

Wellbeing at work is about more than individual traits. The environment around us can directly shape our ability to make meaningful choices both inside and outside the workplace.

In her contribution to Capabilities at Work, Prof. Patricia Saleeby explores how the capability approach can be integrated with established models to create a more holistic understanding of wellbeing.

The message is important: if we want people to flourish, we also need to pay attention to the contexts and conditions that make flourishing possible.

Learn more during the international launch of Capabilities at Work.
📅 23 September 2026
⏰ 10:00 SAST
📍 Centurion
🌍 Live on YouTube

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-book-launch-capabilities-at-work-tickets-1994291459440?aff=oddtdtcreator

22/09/2026

Universality does not have to mean uniformity.

In his contribution to Capabilities at Work, Prof Jasper van Assche brings cross-cultural psychology into dialogue with the capability approach.

He asks an important question: should we think about human capabilities and wellbeing in universal terms, or should we understand them differently across cultures? His answer is a bit of both.

Hear more from Prof van Assche and join us for the international launch of Capabilities at Work.
📅 23 September 2026
⏰ 10:00 SAST
📍 Centurion
🌍 Online via YouTube
🎟️ Free to attend

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-book-launch-capabilities-at-work-tickets-1994291459440?aff=oddtdtcreator

Launching Capabilities at Work (Cambridge University Press): a day on making work more humane, equitable and meaningful.

21/09/2026

In Capabilities at Work, Dr Jan Meerman shows why a one-size-fits-all approach often isn't enough, and how meaningful conversations can uncover the conditions people need to use their strengths, flourish, and build a valuable life.

Find out more about the practical applications of the capability approach.
📅 23 September 2026
📍 Pretoria + 🌍 Online

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-book-launch-capabilities-at-work-tickets-1994291459440?aff=oddtdtcreator

21/09/2026

🔥 Today’s the day!

We are excited to host the much-anticipated Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT) Workshop at the NWU Vanderbijlpark Campus, featuring renowned burnout experts Prof. Wilmar Schaufeli and Prof. Leon de B**r.

It promises to be an engaging and insightful day as we explore the assessment and understanding of burnout and workplace well-being — and how the Burnout Assessment Tool can support research and practice.

We look forward to a day of learning, meaningful conversations and valuable insights!