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
Although the research outputs of the faculty mainly reflect theoretical research, the application of this research is also noticeable in the number of contract research reports completed to address critical research needs, both in the public and private sectors in South Africa and Southern Africa.
The faculty has set as a key priority the continuous improvement of research quality and outputs 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, increasing the number and quality of postgraduate students in the faculty, and increasing the number of NRF-rated scientists.
International networking with peers at renowned research institutions is of paramount importance in achieving the faculty’s goals, and a concerted effort is being made to establish and strengthen relationships. During 2008, the faculty produced 96 master’s and 24 doctoral graduates. Three staff members of the faculty obtained their master’s or doctoral degrees and numerous staff members are in the process of completing their master’s or doctoral degrees. A further seven staff members are studying at international research universities to complete their doctorates.
The Faculty Research Award for the department with the highest number of accredited research units in the preceding year was awarded to the Department of Economics. Faculty research awards were also made to individual researchers. Dr Edwin Ijeoma (School of Public Management and Administration) received the award for the lecturer with the best research output, while Prof Rangan Gupta (Department of Economics) received the award for the best performance at the professional research level. Several researchers in the faculty also received national and international acknowledgement for excellence in research.
In 2008, a hands-on, three-day supervision workshop was conducted with support from an external consultant to improve on the quality of supervision at the graduate level and to improve on the quality and quantity of research articles. The workshop ended with the annual Faculty Research Day. Supervision problems, solutions and best practices were discussed by a number of invited guests. Departments are encouraged to have regular ‘brown bag sessions’ and seminars to discuss the research projects and progress of staff members.
I would like to thank members of the academic and administrative staff, postgraduate students and, in particular, members of the faculty’s Research Committee, Postgraduate Committee and Research Ethics Committee for their contributions in making 2008 a successful research year.
The aim of the faculty in 2009 is to continue to build research capacity, to nurture a research culture, and to improve the research output and research impact of its staff and graduates, both in terms of quality and quantity.
Prof C Koornhof
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