CPUT celebrates three new NRF Research Chairs

In a major boost for research excellence and innovation, CPUT has been awarded three of the newly launched National Research Foundation (NRF) Decadal Plan Aligned Research Chairs. Announced at a prestigious event held at the NRF last week, the initiative forms part of the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) and represents a significant investment in strengthening research capacity across Historically Disadvantaged Institutions, Universities of Technology, and Emerging Universities.

A total of 41 new research chairs were announced and were selected through a competitive application process following a call that closed on 14 February 2025.

Established in 2006 by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the NRF, SARChI was designed to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities through the establishment of Research Chairs with a long-term investment trajectory of up to 15 years.

The three CPUT Research Chairs are:

Prof Jennifer Case – (Research Chair in Engineering Education)

Case will commence her appointment from August 2026. She began her academic career in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UCT and was a founder member and served twice as Director of the Centre for Research in Engineering Education (CREE) at UCT. After 21 years at UCT she moved to Virginia Tech in the USA where she served as Head of the Department of Engineering Education. She is an NRF B1-rated researcher and has received both the Mandela-Mellon fellowship from Harvard and the fellowship from the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study as well as several awards.

Prof Tiko Iyamu (ICT for Development: Innovation for Smart and Sustainable Development)

Iyamu is a Professor in the Department of Information Technology at CPUT. He worked for Nedcor Invest Bank and Metropolitan and was the Chief Architect of the City of Cape Town and Enterprise Architect at Old Mutual. He served as Head of IT Strategy and Governance at Mweb before joining the academic sector. Iyamu was the head of the Department of Informatics at Tshwane University of Technology and a Director at the School of Informatics, Namibia University of Science and Technology. He has authored eight books, edited five books and authored more than 200 peer-reviewed research articles. He has received several excellence awards for research and supervision of postgraduate students.

Prof Zayd Waghid – (Education, Social Justice and Society)

Waghid is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at CPUT. He is a NRF C-rated researcher, and the co-author of 36 DHET-accredited journal articles, 19 book chapters, five monographs and an edited volume. He was the Interim NRF (SARChI) Chair (Teacher Education) from 2023 to 2025 and Acting Director of the Global Institute for Teacher Education and Society at CPUT. Waghid is a recipient of multiple teaching excellence awards, a DHET Future Professors Fellow and was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Cornell University.

Underscoring the importance of this milestone in advancing the university’s ambitions, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said: “CPUT is on a consistent upward trajectory as a leading University of Technology and achieving our goal of becoming the MIT of Africa. Our focus remains on 'creating futures and growing greats' and ensuring that our Smartness and Oneness is reflected in the continued success of these chairs.”

Prof Marshall Sheldon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, expressed her pride: "This achievement is a validation of our institutional journey toward Vision 2030, supporting our strategic goal of research and innovation that respond to real-world problems and have an impact on society. Central to our vision is our commitment towards a multi-; inter-; and trans-disciplinary approach. As we move toward our V2030, we remain committed to creating an environment where research and innovation thrive. Congratulations to Professors Case, Iyamu, and Waghid - this is a proud moment for all of us.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za