The University of Pretoria (UP) has conferred an honorary doctorate on Professor Tshilidzi Marwala – a world-renowned engineer, artificial intelligence (AI) researcher and higher education leader – in recognition of his exceptional contributions in South Africa and globally.

Prof Marwala is currently serving as Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

The honorary doctorate was awarded during the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology’s (EBIT) graduation ceremony as part of UP’s Autumn 2025 graduation season, during which more than 12 000 students will graduate across all faculties.

Prof Marwala, who was already a proud alumnus of UP after completing his master’s degree in mechanical engineering at UP in 1997, also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University in the USA and a PhD in Engineering from the University of Cambridge in the UK. 

He has served as an Extraordinary Professor in UP’s Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering and presented guest lectures to the department’s postgraduate classes. His lectures centred around the use of artificial intelligence in machine-health monitoring and diagnostics.

“The University of Pretoria shaped not only my technical skills but also my thinking about innovation that serves society,” Prof Marwala said. “It is an honour to receive this recognition from an institution that is committed to producing graduates who are equipped to lead and solve real-world problems. UP’s values of excellence, transformation and societal impact align closely with my own journey and vision.”

Professor Wynand Steyn, Dean of the EBIT Faculty at UP, said: “The University of Pretoria is proud of its contribution towards Prof Marwala’s development as an engineer and a visionary… he took up the challenge of using his engineering and leadership skills to help make South Africa, Africa and the world at large a better place.”

Prof Marwala is one of South Africa’s most prolific researchers and is among the most-cited scientists in his field. He has published 25 books and over 500 articles spanning academic journals, conference proceedings, book chapters and news media platforms. He holds five patents and is a National Research Foundation (NRF) B-rated researcher.

His research has explored the application of AI and machine learning across multiple fields, such as computer science, engineering, economics, political science and medicine. He has supervised 40 doctoral and 48 master’s students from 21 countries – a reflection of his commitment to nurturing future scholars and advancing knowledge production in Africa and globally.

During his tenure as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) from 2018 to 2023, Prof Marwala positioned the university as a leader in driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) agenda in the higher education sector. Under his leadership, UJ gained international recognition for aligning its work with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), fostering inclusive innovation and technology-driven development.

“His role as the Rector of the United Nations University has provided Prof Marwala with an opportunity to continue expressing his passion for using advanced technology to improve the lives of people,” Prof Steyn said. “For this he chose artificial intelligence, which has become the main theme of his research endeavours since his PhD, and combined this with the concept of the United Nations SDGs, to develop a wide-ranging body of work and a multitude of meaningful programmes to realise his childhood dream of contributing to his country and continent.”

Prof Marwala’s international reputation is reflected in his membership of The World Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Science of South Africa.

He is the recipient of the South African Order of Mapungubwe (2004) for outstanding achievements in engineering science. In 2020 he received the Science-for-Society Gold Medal from the Academy of Science of South Africa, and in 2022 he was awarded the IT Personality of the Year Award in South Africa for his contributions to the 4IR.

His contributions extend beyond academia: He was a board member of Nedbank, Chair of the Africa Health Research Institute, a member of the Namibian 4IR Task Team and a trustee of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

“Prof Marwala’s ability to bridge academia, industry and government has made him a sought-after advisor and thought leader, contributing to policy development and strategic initiatives in the higher education sector,” Prof Steyn said.

Watch Prof Marwala’s graduation speech here.