TUT honours staff at Management Sciences’ Academic Excellence Awards

Dr Edgar Nesamvuni led celebrations as the Faculty of Management Sciences honoured staff for outstanding achievements in research, teaching and learning at the annual Academic Excellence Awards.

Dr Edgar Nesamvuni, Faculty Exceutive Dean, delivering welcome address at the Faculty of Management Sciences Acedemic Excellence Awards. Dr Nesamvuni, Executive Dean of Management Sciences, welcomed staff and guests to the Faculty’s annual Academic Excellence Awards held at the Irene Country Hotel. The event recognised outstanding achievements in research, teaching and learning for 2023 and 2024.

He said academics and staff gather each year to recognise dedication and performance, especially among lecturers and researchers. He added that the Faculty continues to excel across the University and recently surpassed 70 research output units for the first time. He said the milestone reflects strong growth and a sustained commitment to academic excellence.

Dr Lynette Magasa, CEO and founder of Boniswa Corporate Solutions, delivered the keynote address. Dr Magasa said the awards celebrate excellence as well as impactful research and honour scholars who refuse to settle for the ordinary. She said researchers must show discipline and resilience in the face of rejection and pursue ideas with determination.

Dr Lynette Magasa, CEO and founder of Boniswa Corporate Solutions, delivering keynote address at the Faculty of Management Science Academic Excellence Awards. Dr Magasa described researchers as navigators of possibilities who turn academic work into practical solutions that advance society. She congratulated staff members on their role in developing stronger researchers worldwide.

The Academic Excellence Awards recognised staff in categories that included Senior Researcher of the Year Junior Researcher of the Year Woman Researcher of the Year and Departmental Lecturer of the Year. The Faculty also presented the Dean’s Awards for Best Master’s Student and Best Doctoral Student.

The Faculty also introduced a new category this year to recognise the Best Departmental Administrator of the Year.

Awards were presented across several categories. The recipients of the awards are listed below by each category as follows:

Research and Innovation Awards

• Senior Researcher of the Year 2023 and Best Contribution to Research Outputs 2023
  Prof Edward Rankhumise- Department of Management and Entrepreneurship
• Junior Researcher of the Year 2023 and Woman Researcher of the Year 2023
  Dr Portia Sifolo- Department of Tourism Management
  
• Staff Improvement of Qualifications 2024- Obtaining a Doctorate Qualification:
  • Dr Given Ramajoe- Doctor of Management Sciences in Organisational Leadership
  • Dr Zukiswa Ndaba- Doctor of Management Sciences in Business Administration
  • Dr Khopotso Matsoso- Doctor of Management Sciences in Administrative Information Management
    
• Recognition of supervising Postgraduate Students in 2023:
  Dr Karel Lessing- Department of People Management and Development
  
  
• Teaching And Learning Awards
  Departmental Lecturers of the Year Awards 2024
• Department of Business and Information Management Services: Dr Abdul Maluleke
• Department of Hospitality Management: Prof Joseph Roberson
• Department of Management and Entrepreneurship: Lizl Steynberg
• Department of Tourism Management: Dr Lisa Welthagen
• Department of Operations Management: Dr Refentse Selepe
• Department of People Management and Development: Dr Karel Lessing
• Polokwane Campus: Dr Mphoreng Mmako
• eMalahleni Campus: Eliot Mahamotse

Departmental Administrators of the Year 2024

• Departmental Administrator of the Year in Research and Postgraduate Studies:
  Yvette Otto- Department of People Management and Development
• Departmental Administrator of the Year in Teaching and Learning:
  Patricia Sinthumule- Polokwane Campus

Dean’s Awards

• Dean’s Award for Best Master’s Student in the Faculty for the year 2024
  G. Masuku- Master of Management Sciences in Administrative Information Management
  -completed in 2 years, with a 75% average.
• Dean’s Award for Best Doctorate student in the Faculty for the year 2023
  Dr L.N. Letsebe- Doctor of Management Sciences in Organisational Leadership
  -completed in 5 years and has two journal articles published.