The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) at the University of Pretoria hosted its annual EMS Excellence Day on 30 May 2025 at the Sanlam Auditorium. The event celebrated excellence in teaching, learning, and research, while highlighting the Faculty’s impact in shaping the future of work.

Themed “Future of Work”, the day brought together EMS academics, researchers, and industry experts to present their work and share their insights on the theme, which spotlighted the Centre for the Future of Work housed within the Faculty.

EMS staff presented their innovative research on the future of work, as well as advancements in teaching and learning.

The day featured thought-provoking panel discussions with industry experts on pivotal topics, such as future-proofing graduates: digital literacy for employability and organisational agility, curriculum relevance and career readiness: preparing EMS graduates to meet evolving employer expectations, and a discussion on energy poverty, based on a cross-disciplinary project headed by Prof Roula Inglesi-Lotz.

The day culminated with an awards ceremony to celebrate the excellence of staff in teaching and learning, research, and media engagements during the 2024 academic year.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of EMS, said the awards honoured excellence and were a way of expressing gratitude to staff who had excelled in various facets of their academic journey.

“These awards are among my favourite events. They provide one of the few opportunities we have to sincerely thank our colleagues for their unwavering commitment, passion, and hard work. Our award categories encompass not only traditional research distinctions, but also a salute to excellence in teaching and learning. These accolades hold immense significance, allowing us to recognise our colleagues' dedication and outstanding contributions,” she said.

The awards were presented in three categories: Teaching and Learning Excellence Awards, Research Excellence Awards, and Media Engagement Awards, all using various metrics to award the recipients.

Prof Theuns Steyn, Deputy Dean of Teaching and Learning, presented the Teaching Excellence Awards. He highlighted that excellence in teaching is pivotal in shaping the quality of higher education, which contributes to student outcomes and the Faculty’s reputation.

“Excellence in teaching is not just about delivering content, but about creating transformative learning experiences that prepare students to navigate the complexities of the modern world. By prioritising teaching excellence, the EMS Faculty hopes to create an environment where students are challenged to think critically, collaborate effectively, and adapt to complex global challenges,” he said.

Three awards were presented under the Teaching Excellence Awards: Innovation in Teaching, Leadership in Teaching and Learning, and the Distinguished Teacher Award. Drs Dawie Bornman and Sean Kruger of the Department of Business Management received the Innovation in Teaching Awards for their innovative teaching practices in OBS 211. The Leadership in Teaching Award was presented to Dr Catherine le Roux, also of the Department of Business Management, for displaying leadership in advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning and contributing to broader improvements in teaching practices or curriculum development. The Distinguished Teacher Award was awarded to Dr Corlia Joynt of the Department of Accounting for her commitment towards enhancing students’ experience and her leadership in pedagogical innovation.

Winners and nominees of the 2024 EMS Awards

The Research Excellence Awards were presented by Prof Karin Barac, Deputy Dean for Research and Postgraduate Affairs, who noted that the while the Faculty had experienced a decline in research outputs in comparison to the 2023 academic, there was an increase in the number of publications in international journals. Additionally, in 2024 “the Faculty produced more master’s and doctoral graduates than ever before,” she said.

The Research Awards were presented in four categories, namely First Journal Article Publication, Best Researcher of the Year in a Discipline (senior and junior), Top Researcher of the Year and Most Improved Research Output by a Department.

Dr Ann van der Westhuizen from the Department of Human Resource Management and Dr Bianca Frost of the Department of Marketing Management were joint winners for the First Journal Article Publication Award, recognising their first publication in an accredited journal. The Best Researchers of the Year in Management Sciences were awarded to Dr Mary Mangai (junior) and Prof Adrino Mazenda, both of the School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA).

In the financial sciences discipline the award was presented to Dr Eduard Toerien and Dr Karel Fouche (joint junior winners), and Prof Elda du Toit (senior) – all in the Department of Financial Management. In the economic sciences discipline, the recipient of the junior award was Prof Eleni Yitbarek and the best senior researcher award was presented to Prof Roula Inglesi-Lotz. Prof Rangan Gupta from the Department of Economics was awarded the Best Researcher of the Year Award, a title he has held for 11 years consecutively. In 2024, he was awarded for authoring and co-authoring a total of 40 articles, including publications in A and B-ranked journals.

The final awards that were presented during the ceremony were the EMS Media Engagement Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to media relations and public engagement. These awards honour staff members who have actively shared their research, expertise, and insights with the broader public through various media platforms.

Dr Sean Kruger of the Centre for the Future of Work was the recipient of the Junior Newsmaker of the Year Award for his impactful media commentary on the future of work. Pof Adrino Mazenda from the School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA) was honoured with the Senior Newsmaker of the Year Award in recognition of his research contributions on food security. Prof Mazenda also received the EMS Conversation Africa Award for publishing the highest number of articles on the platform.