24 BCom & BCom (Honours) programme review sessions Prof. Mornay Roberts-Lombard, Head of Master’s and doctoral studies in the Department of Marketing Management, was invited by the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) to attend their BCom and BCom (Honours) programme review sessions. The purpose of the review is to evaluate the different programmes against content suitability, industry relevance, alignment to the discipline, and specified outcomes. Experts from within and beyond NMU were invited to be part of the review process. The review took place in two phases (on August 29-31 and September 12-14, 2023) to evaluate the suitability of selected programmes for both academic and industry purposes. The programme reviews are part of an NMU and DHET requirement, and senior academics in specified disciplines who are national experts in their field were invited to be part of the panel. They included Prof. Roberts-Lombard (UJ), Mr Trevor Amos (Rhodes), Prof. R. Chisasa (UNISA), Ms Linda Jackson (NMU), and Ms N. Naidoo (NMU). The first phase of the review in August 2023 was very successful, with many inputs and much guidance provided about improvements where needed. The second phase, in September, was fruitful, and focused on post-graduate modules in the department. Prof. Mercy Mpinganjira appointed member of the NRF Evaluation and Rating Specialist Committee Prof. Mercy Mpinganjira, Full Professor in the Department of Marketing Management, has been appointed as a member of the National Research Foundation (NRF) Evaluation and Rating Specialist Committee. The appointment is until March 2026. Her expertise and dedication to research make her a valuable addition to this important national committee. It is a testament to her outstanding dedication to research and her commitment to advancing knowledge production. We congratulate Prof. Mpinganjira on this appointment! Keynote speaker at Africa Digital Frontier Conference Furthermore, Prof. Mpinganjira was a keynote speaker at the recent Africa Digital Frontier Conference on November 9-10, 2023, hosted by Nnamdi Azikwe University, Awka, Nigeria in collaboration with the Centre for Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation. The conference, under the theme ‘Digital technology disruptions and consumer behaviour in Africa’, brought together experts, thought leaders, and innovators to discuss the transformative potential of digital technology in African contexts. Prof. Mpinganjira’s keynote address, entitled ‘Building resilience and targeting the stars in academic research’, underscored the significance of resilience in navigating the complexities of academia on the continent, and highlighted how researchers could contribute significantly to advancing knowledge, influencing industry practices, informing policy decisions, enhancing consumer well-being, facilitating technological innovation, and promoting sustainable development. She emphasised the immense opportunities that Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape presents for capacity building, global visibility, collaborative research, and virtual networking. These opportunities are instrumental in propelling African researchers to the forefront of academia and innovation.
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