Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences
Prof C Koornhof, Dean
Telephone number: 012 420 3330
Fax number: 012 362 5194
E-mail address: carolina.koornhof@up.ac.za
Message by the Dean
The vision of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences is to be at the cutting edge of economic, financial and management education and research with an African focus. In the last five years the Faculty has seen sustained growth in its research output. The intention is to build on this trend and to position our research competitively in the business sciences, both in the private and public sector.
The faculty aims to continuously improve research quality and output by:
- developing the supervision and research capacity of members of the academic staff;
- improving the quality of writing skills of staff and students;
- creating sufficient and effective administrative support to academic staff and redirecting their job descriptions to focus on teaching and research;
- increasing the number and quality of postgraduate students in the faculty; and
- increasing the number of rated researchers.
A concerted effort is also being made to establish relationships with international research universities and with South African businesses, chambers of commerce and government departments.
During 2007 the faculty produced 19 doctoral graduates and 271 Master's graduates. Three staff members of the faculty obtained their Master's degrees and 39 staff members are currently in the process of completing their doctoral or Master's degrees. At present a further 3 staff members are studying at international research universities to complete their doctoral degrees.
The faculty research award for the department that had the highest number of accredited publication units in the preceding year was again won by the School of Public Management and Administration. Research awards were also made to best individual researchers. Ms M Kruger of the School of Public Management and Administration received the award for the best lecturer. Dr R Gupta of the Department of Economics received the award for the best senior lecturer. Prof D Fourie received the award for the best professor. Several researchers in the faculty also received national and international acknowledgement for excellence in research.
In 2007 a 'hands on' five day writing skills workshop was conducted to sharpen the writing skills of new researchers. A previous workshop had resulted in at least five articles in accredited journals. During the annual faculty research day a panel discussion was held on the whole aspect of supervision of master and doctoral students. The respective departments also have regular 'brown bag sessions' to discuss the research projects of staff.
The School of Economic Sciences, in partnership with the Faculty of Law, was awarded a SARChi Chair in international trade and trade law to develop research capacity and strengthen postgraduate and continuing education programmes in Africa.
I would like to thank members of the academic and administrative staff, as well as our postgraduate students for their contributions in making 2007 a successful research year.
The aim for 2008 is to continue to build research capacity, nationally and internationally, and to improve by raising the research output and by improving research impact of articles of both staff and students.
Prof C Koornhof
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