# Research Chairs at the University of Johannesburg

**Source**: https://www.uj.ac.za/research-at-uj/uj-research-and-innovation-ideation-chairs/

UJ Research and Innovation / Ideation Chairs

UJ Research and Innovation / Ideation Chairs

The University of Johannesburg hosts SARChI Chairs spread across all its Faculties.

In addition, the University hosts Research and Innovation/Ideation Chairs which include UNESCO Chairs, SETA Chairs and a NEDBANK Chair.

[Back to Research@UJ](https://www.uj.ac.za/research-at-uj/)

## Quick Links to Faculties

[Art, Design and Architecture (FADA)](#jump-fada)\
 [Business and Economics (CBE)](#jump-cbe)

[Education (FE)](#jump-education)\
 [Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE)](#jump-febe)

[Health Sciences (FHS)](#jump-health)\
 [Humanities (FH)](#jump-humanities)

[Intelligent Systems (IIS)](#jump-iis)\
 [Johannesburg Business School (JBS)](#jump-jbs)

[Law (FL)](#jump-law)\
 [Science (FS)](#jump-science)

## More about Research Chairs

#### [SARChI Chairs](#sarchi-chairs)

The SARChI Chairs initiative was established in 2006 by the then Department of Science and Technology (now Department of Science and Innovation) under the custodianship of the National Research Foundation (NRF).

The programme was “designed to attract and retain excellence in research and innovation at South African public universities…”, and have a strong focus on the production of “high quality postgraduate students and research and innovation outputs”.

This initiative targets researchers with an established track record and regarded as experts in their respective fields. Since the launch of the initiative, the NRF has awarded more than 200 SARChI Chairs located at the majority of South Africa’s public universities.

[More about SARChI Chairs](https://www.nrf.ac.za/core-mandate-business-divisions/risa-directorates/research-chairs-and-centres-of-excellence-rcce/south-african-research-chairs-initiative/)

#### [UNESCO Chairs](#unesco-chairs)

Launched in 1992, the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, which involves over 850 institutions in 117 countries, promotes international inter-university cooperation and networking to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work.

The programme supports the establishment of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks in key priority areas related to UNESCO’s fields of competence – i.e. in education, the natural and social sciences, culture and communication.

[More about UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs](https://www.unesco.org/en/unitwin)

#### [SETA Chairs](#seta-chairs)

In South Africa, the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) are entities of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). The SETAs establish Research Chairs in various industries for rigorous and systematic inquiry and analysis, including the reporting, sharing, publishing and disseminating of research.

Research may be empirical or theoretical, quantitative or qualitative, applied or basic. It may involve the critique of policy; analyses of regularly compiled datasets; explanations of trends; observations; case studies; research investigations; or meta-reviews etc.

Rigorous evaluation studies of educational and training programmes or interventions, including cost-benefit analyses and impact studies, fall under the research umbrella, as do high level analyses of statistics. Research includes: Evaluations; Sector Skills Plans (SSPs); Tracer studies; Research carried out by Research Chairs and Research Partners; Statistical analysis and User satisfaction surveys.

Annual reports; Training reports; Research carried out by interns, Doctoral (PhD) and Master’s Students are excluded.

[More about Post-School Education and Training](https://www.dhet.gov.za/Current%20and%20Planned%20Research%20Documents/Research%20being%20undertaken%20and%20planned%20in%20the%20DHET%20and%20its%20entities%202021-2024.pdf) (PSET) that is currently taking place or planned to be undertaken in the 2021/22 – 2023/24 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period by the DHET.

## College of Business and Economics (CBE)

#### DHET/DSI/NRF Chair in Entrepreneurship Education

##### Prof. Cecile Nieuwenhuizen

Department of Business Management\
 Email: [cecilen@uj.ac.za](mailto:cecilen@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/college-of-business-and-economics/schools/school-of-management/sarchi-in-entrepreneurship-education/)

#### DSI/ NRF/ Newton Fund Trilateral Research Chair in Transformative Innovation, the 4th Industrial Revolution and Sustainable Development

##### Prof. Erika Kraemer-Mbula

Department of Economics and Econometrics\
 Email: [erikakm@uj.ac.za](mailto:erikakm@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/college-of-business-and-economics/trilateral-research-chair-in-transformative-innovation/)

#### SARChI Chair in Industrial Development

##### Prof. Fiona Tregenna

Department of Economics and Econometrics\
 Email: [ftregenna@uj.ac.za](mailto:ftregenna@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/college-of-business-and-economics/schools/school-of-management/south-african-research-chair-in-industrial-development/)

#### Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) Research Chair

##### Prof. Noleen Pisa

Department of Transport & Supply Chain Management\
 Email: [noleenp@uj.ac.za](mailto:noleenp@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-noleen-pisa/)

#### Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA) Research Chair

##### Dr. Simona Pillay

Department of Marketing Management\
 Email: semonap@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/college-of-business-and-economics/schools/school-of-consumer-intelligence-and-information-systems/marketing-management/uj-wholesale-and-retail-seta-chair-gauteng/)

## Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA)

#### SARChI Chair in South African Art and Visual Culture

##### Prof. Brenda Schmahmann

Department of Visual Art\
 Email: [brendas@uj.ac.za](mailto:brendas@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/art-design-and-architecture/sarchi-2/)

## Faculty of Education (FE)

#### DHET /DSI/ NRF Chair in Community and Worker Education

##### Prof. Salim Vally

Centre for Education Rights and Transformation\
 Email: [svally@uj.ac.za](mailto:svally@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/education/centres/centre-for-education-rights-and-transformation/)

#### UNESCO Chair on Mental Health and Psychological Support for Teachers and Learners; and

#### SARChI Chair in Education and Care in Childhood

##### Prof. Jace Pillay

Department of Educational Psychology\
 Email: jacep@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-jace-pillay/)

#### SARChI Chair in Integrated Studies of Learning Language, Mathematics and Science in the Primary School

##### Prof. Elizabeth (Elbie) Henning

Department of Childhood Education\
 Email: [ehenning@uj.ac.za](mailto:ehenning@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/education/research/chair-integrated-studies-of-learning-language-mathematics-and-science-in-the-primary-school/)

#### SARChI Chair in Teaching and Learning in PSET

##### Prof. Shireen Motala

Department of Childhood Education\
 Email:  smotala@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/education/research/sarchi-chairs/south-african-research-chair-in-teaching-and-learning/)

#### UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair in Values Education – Learning to Live together

##### Dr. Nazreen Dasoo

Department of Education and Curriculum Studies\
 Email: [ndasoo@uj.ac.za](mailto:ndasoo@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/dr-nazreen-dasoo/)

## Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE)

#### **South Africa-Switzerland Bilateral Research Chair in Blockchain Technology (**SARChI Chair**)**

##### Prof. Nnamdi Nwulu

Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science\
 Email: [nnwulu@uj.ac.za](mailto:nnwulu@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-nnamdi-nwulu/)

#### SARChI Chair in Green Hydrogen

##### Prof. Tien-Chien Jen

Department of Mechanical Engineering Science\
 Email:  [tjen@uj.ac.za](mailto:tjen@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-tien-chien-jen/)

#### SARChI Chair in Sustainable Construction Management and Leadership in the Built Environment

##### Prof. Clinton Aigbavboa – Interim Chair

Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying\
 Email: [caigbavboa@uj.ac.za](mailto:caigbavboa@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/professor-clinton-aigbavboa/)

## Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS)

#### SARChI Chair in Laser Applications in Health

##### Prof.  Heidi Abrahamse

Department of Biomedical Technology\
 Email: habrahamse@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/health-sciences/research-centres/laser-research-centre/)

## Faculty of Humanities (FH)

#### SARChI Chair in African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

##### Prof. Chris Landsberg

Department of Politics and International Relations\
 Email: clandsberg@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/humanities/research-centres/sarchi-chair-african-diplomacy-and-foreign-policy/)

#### SARChI Chair in Welfare and Social Development

##### Prof. Lauren Graham – Interim Chair

Centre for Social Development in Africa\
 Email: lgraham@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/faculties/humanities/research/research-centres/centre-for-social-development-in-africa-csda/south-african-research-chair-in-welfare-and-social-development/)

## Faculty of Law (FL)

#### SARChI Chair in International Law

##### Prof. Hennie Strydom

Department of Public Law\
 Email: hstrydom@uj.ac.za\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-ha-strydom/)

## Faculty of Science (FS)

#### SARChI Chair in Indigenous Plant Use

##### Prof. Ben-Erik Van Wyk

Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology\
 Email: [bevanwyk@uj.ac.za](mailto:bevanwyk@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/ben-erik-van-wyk/)

#### SARChI Chair in Nanotechnology for Water

##### Prof. Philiswa Nomngongo

Department of Chemical Sciences\
 Email: [pnnomngongo@uj.ac.za](mailto:pnnomngongo@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/prof-philiswa-nomngongo/)

#### SARChI Chair in Sustainable Preservation and Agroprocessing Research on Horticultural, Indigenous and Medicinal Food Crops

##### Prof. Olaniyi Fawole

Department of Botany and Plant Biotechnology\
 Email: [olaniyif@uj.ac.za](mailto:olaniyif@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/members/olaniyi-amos-fawole/)

#### UNESCO Chair on Medical Geology

##### Prof. Hassina Mouri

Department of Geology\
 Email: [hmouri@uj.ac.za](mailto:hmouri@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/news/prof-hassina-mouri-awarded-the-unesco-chair-on-medical-geology-in-africa/)

## Institute of Intelligent Systems (IIS)

#### Nedbank Research and Innovation Chair

##### Prof. Terence van Zyl

Email:  [tvanzyl@uj.ac.za](mailto:tvanzyl@uj.ac.za)\
 [Learn More](https://www.uj.ac.za/news/nedbank-awards-uj-new-research-chair/)