College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2023

College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2023 14 allocating R9.62 million to the CBE, highlighting the institution’s strong alignment with national research priorities and its ability to secure competitive funding. Additionally, the CBE made impressive strides in securing international funds, with International Contract Research bringing in R5.54 million in 2023. Research funding received from within South Africa with specified deliverables amounted to R11 million and nonobligated research income was R8.6 million. The CBE’s adeptness in surpassing its research funding targets, coupled with a strategic approach to funding diversification, underscores its commitment to advancing research excellence and innovation. PARTNERSHIPS, STAKEHOLDER, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Joint programmes, exchange programmes, study abroad programmes (including virtual) CBE has been actively fostering collaborations to enhance the academic journey of its students. Ms Chante van Tonder, a doctoral student in the Department of Business Management, is the first to undertake a joint doctorate with the Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, under the NRF-NUFFIC programme. The partnership with Glasgow Caledonian University offers specialised training programmes, such as railway operations management. We actively participate in coresearch output units (ROUs) in 2022, exemplifies the high calibre scholarship the College aspires to cultivate. Their achievements not only reflect individual excellence but also contribute to the CBE’s overall research impact, demonstrating the programme’s success in fostering productive and impactful scholars. Research structures Within CBE, a vibrant ecosystem of research and community development initiatives thrive, each led by dedicated experts committed to advancing knowledge and societal well-being: ƒ The Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS), Africa, overseen by Prof Noleen Pisa. ƒ The Food Evolution Research Laboratory (FERL), under the direction of Dr Hema Kesa. ƒ The Centre of Local Economic Development (CENLED), guided by Prof Marius Venter. ƒ The Centre for Competition, Regulation, and Economic Development (CCRED), led by Prof Thando Vilakazi. ƒ The Centre for Public Management and Governance, headed by Prof Vain Jarbandhan. ƒ The Public and Environmental Economic Research Centre (PEERC), under the leadership of Mr Jugal Mahabir. ƒ The Technopreneurship Centre, directed by Mr Ronny Mabokela. ƒ The Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS), led by Mr Siyabonga Mhlongo. ƒ The Centre for Work Performance, under the guidance of Prof Nicolene Barkhuizen. ƒ The Wholesale and Retail Seta Leadership Chair (Gauteng), led by Dr Beate Stiehler-Mulder. ƒ The TETA 4IR Research Chair, overseen by Prof Noleen Pisa. ƒ The DHET-NRF SARChI Chair in Entrepreneurship Education, led by Prof Cecile Nieuwenhuizen. ƒ The DST/NRF South African Research Chair in Industrial Development, headed by Prof Fionna Tregenna. ƒ The DST/NRF/Newton Fund Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), and Sustainable Development, directed by Prof Erika KraemerMbula. Research funding The CBE achieved remarkable growth in research funding, surpassing its set objectives with a notable increase from R28.9 million in 2022 to R34.77 million in 2023. The breakdown of the funding sources reveals a strategic diversification, with the National Research Foundation (NRF) Ms Chante van Tonder

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