Dear colleagues,

The University of Pretoria is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Professor Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu for a second term as Dean for the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) for a further four (4) years, effective 01 August 2025 until 31 July 2029.

Under the leadership of Professor Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, the Faculty of EMS at the University of Pretoria has undergone significant transformation and achieved notable milestones. During her tenure, the foundations laid in previous years culminated in the Faculty attaining the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) accreditation in 2023, placing the Faculty in an elite global group and making it the only Faculty of its kind in Africa to hold this distinction.

Professor Chitiga-Mabugu's tenure has been defined by a focus on strategic renewal, inclusivity, and academic excellence. The Faculty introduced key initiatives to promote this focus by establishing the EMS Research Day, Teaching and Learning Day and Postgraduate Day. These platforms have promoted academic engagement, reflection, and knowledge exchange. She has actively championed staff development, mentorship and organisational cohesion while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration through the provision of seed funding and the creation of leadership opportunities for emerging scholars. In addition, the Faculty has established several new centres, including the Centre for the Future of Work, the Public Policy Hub, and the Energy Economics Research Unit. These centres have attracted significant external funding and forged partnerships across Africa and beyond, serving as hubs for impactful, interdisciplinary research.

The Faculty’s global engagement has also expanded through new international collaborations, student mobility programmes, and participation in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects, further enriching the academic experience for staff and students. Notably, EMS has continued its tradition of academic excellence, securing a 100% pass rate in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (SAICA) Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) for three consecutive years. Postgraduate enrolments, the proportion of staff with doctoral qualifications, and research outputs have also seen sustained growth. Several disciplines within the Faculty have improved or maintained strong positions in global academic rankings.

Professor Chitiga-Mabugu continues to lead with integrity, upholding both her academic and social responsibilities. The University community recognises and appreciates her transformative leadership and the impact of her contributions to the Faculty and the institution as a whole.

Please join me in congratulating Professor Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu on her re-appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. We wish Professor Chitiga-Mabugu continued success as she leads the Faculty into its next chapter of growth, innovation and global engagement.

Kind regards,

Professor FW Petersen

Vice-Chancellor and Principal