College of Economic and Management Sciences

Research Focus Areas

(2022)

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COLLEGE OF ECONOMIC AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES (CEMS): RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS FOR
MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL STUDIES
This document outlines the selection criteria, selection process and research focus areas for applying for a Master’s or Doctorate qualification in CEMS.

Selection criteria:
Students’ applications will be reviewed in accordance with the Procedures for Master’s and Doctorate Degrees (sections 3.1 to 3.3). Note that the selection panel is not obliged to accept
prospective students who meet the minimum criteria, as there are other factors (see below) that are considered (section 3.1):

 Meeting the minimum requirements as set out online  The topic the student wishes to research
 Academic record  The topic’s alignment with the preferred research focus area
 Academic background  Capacity and expertise to supervise student
 Language competency  Limitations imposed by enrolment planning

Selection process:
Eligible students’ applications will be forwarded to the relevant Academic Department’s selection panel for consideration. Only after the application period has closed and
applications have been processed (roughly mid-December), will the Academic Department’s selection panel consider the pool of applications per research focus areas and
not on a “first come first serve basis”. This will roughly take place in January. The selection panel evaluates each student’s application in terms of the criteria set out above.
Thereafter all applicants are ranked according to strength and supervisors assigned according to their expertise and capacity. The number of M and D registrations are
informed by the availability of suitable supervisors to ensure that available supervisory capacity is not exceeded. This will maintain supervisor/student ratios that would be
conducive to high-quality results. The Academic Department notifies the College of Graduate Studies: M&D Qualification Support of the outcome of the application (roughly
February) who in turn will inform the applicant.

For example:
A candidate holds a BCom Honours in Economics (average 61%) and as per admission requirements, applied for a Master’s in Economics. This candidate
is specifically interested in the Research Focus Area “Development Economics”, and has aligned his research outline accordingly. Twenty (20) eligible
Master’s candidates, however, have applied for this specific research focus with averages ranging from 60% to 80%. The eligible supervisors for this
specific research focus area, on the other hand, can only supervise ten (10) Master's candidates. The selection panel will review each candidate against
the criteria as set out above, rank the students from 1 to 20, select only the strongest ten (10) Master’s students and assign eligible supervisors.
Competition for a space in the programme is therefore fierce and is it the responsibility of the candidate to convince the selection panel that his/her
research outline is worthy of research.

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1.1 School of Economic and Financial Sciences
Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Department of Development Economics Prof S Nhamo Masters: up to 8
E-mail: nhamos@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 7
Economics

International Economics Dr TS Rametsi Masters: up to 6

E-mail: rametts@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 3

Monetary and Financial Economics Dr SY Ho Masters: up to 5

E-mail: hosy@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 4

Public Economics Prof T van der Merwe Masters: up to 5

E-mail: vdmert@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 4

Department of Financial Modelling Prof Petrus Potgieter Masters: up to 8

E-mail: Doctorates: up to 4
Decision Sciences Potgiph@unisa.ac.za

Mathematical and Statistical Modelling, Prof M Mukeru Masters: up to 20

Heuristics and Optimisation E-mail: mukers@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 14

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 Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team

Computability, Complexity and Randomness Prof Petrus Potgieter Masters: up to 5

in Decision Science (CCRDS) E-mail: Doctorates: up to 5
Potgiph@unisa.ac.za

Department of Finance and Investments Prof P Makoni Masters:

E-mail: makonpl@unisa.ac.za Doctorates:
Finance, Risk
Management and
Banking
Insurance and Banking Prof AB Sibindi Masters:
E-mail: sibinab@unisa.ac.za Doctorates:

Risk Management Dr E van der Westhuizen Masters:

E-mail: bothae2@unisa.ac.za Doctorates:

Institute for Business Ethics1 Prof Neil Eccles Masters: up to 2

E-mail : ecclens@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 1
Corporate Citizenship

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ICC supervisors supervise students from other departments.

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Business and Climate Change Prof Godwell Nhamo Masters: 0
Email : nhamog@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 2

4IR and Climate Change: The role of ICT Prof Mariki Eloff Masters: up to 1
E-mail: eloffmm@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 1

1.2 School of Management Sciences

Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Department of Business Business Ethics Prof Neil Eccles Masters: 2
Management E-mail: ecclens@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 1

Business Management in South Africa - Dr Kuda Chodokufa Masters: 4

Growth and profitability of SMMEs E-mail: chodok@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 1

Competitive Intelligence Prof Nisha Sedwass Masters: up to 2

E-mail: sewdan@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 3

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team

Intellectual Capital Prof Sumei Van Antwerpen Masters: 2

E-mail: vanans@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 1

International Business and Finance Prof Adewale Aregbeshola Masters: up to 2

E-mail:  aregbra@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 2

Responsible Management Prof Tersia Botha Masters: 1

Email: Brevit@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 1

Special application of sport management in Prof S Rudansky-Kloppers Masters: up to 7

South Africa: exploring the business E-mail: Rudans@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 2
environment

Department of Human Resource Management and Dr N Takawira Masters: up to 27

Organisational Behaviour E-mail: takawn@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 11
Human Resource
Management

Human Resource Development Prof MJ Bushney Masters: up to 7

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
E-mail: mbushney@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 1

Employment Relations Dr AJ de Bruyn Masters: up to 7

E-mail: dbruyaj@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 1

Department of Consumer Behaviour Studies Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a total
Dr C. H. Bothma of up to 6 master’s students;
Marketing and Retail E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za up to 4 doctorate students
Management

Digital Marketing & Technology Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a total
Dr C. H. Bothma of up to 6 master’s students;
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za up to 4 doctorate students

Retail Marketing Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a total
Dr C. H. Bothma of up to 6 master’s students;
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za up to 4 doctorate students

Marketing Strategy Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a total
Dr C. H. Bothma of up to 6 master’s students;
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za up to 4 doctorate students

Small Business Marketing Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a total
Dr C. H. Bothma of up to 6 master’s students;
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za up to 4 doctorate students

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team

Department of Organisational Psychology Prof AP Flotman Masters: up to 11

E-mail: flotma@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 5
Industrial and
Organisational
Psychology
Afrocentric Perspective Dr KP Moalusi Masters: up to 10
E-mail: moalukp@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 3

Systems Psychodynamics Prof MS May Masters: up to 3

E-mail: Mayms@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 4

Psychological Measurement Prof S Grobler Masters: up to 3

E-mail: grobls@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 2

Organisational Neuroscience Prof DJ Geldenhuys Masters: 1

E-mail: Geldedj@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 1

Performance Management, Reward and Prof F Maloa Masters: up to 12

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Remuneration E-mail: maloaf@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 3

Psychology of Career & Human Capacity Prof M Coetzee Masters: up to 10

Development and Retention E-mail: Coetzm1@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 4

Qualitative Well-being and Adjustment Prof HA Barnard Masters: up to 6

E-mail: barnaha@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 5

Work-related Sense of Coherence Dr N Bekwa Masters: up to 7

E-mail: Bekwann@unisa.ac.za Masters: up to 7
Doctorates: up to 1

Socio-analytic Methods Prof MS May Masters: up to 4

E-mail: mayms@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 4

Smart Technology, Artificial intelligence, Prof RM Oosthuizen Masters: up to 13

Robotics and Algorithms (STRATA) in the E-mail: oosthrm@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 7
Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution
(4IR)

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team

Open Distance e-learning (ODeL), Higher and Prof LM Ungerer Masters: up to 5

Secondary education E-mail: ungerlm@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 3

Integrity, Ethics and Risk Dr A van Niekerk Masters: up to 5

E-mail: vnieka2@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 2

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1.3 School of Public and Operations Management
Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Department of Intellectual Capital Prof Sumei van Antwerpen Masters: up to 2
E-mail: vanans@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 1
Operations
Management
Operations Management Prof A Tolmay Masters: up to 1
E-mail: etolmass@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: 3

Work Study Prof B Sookdeo Masters: up to 1

E-mail: bsookdeo@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 1

Wellbeing or Competitive Advantage Prof H Nienaber Masters: up to 2

E-mail: nienah@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 1

Project Management, Service Quality Prof Rigard J Steenkamp Masters: up to 1

E-mail: steenrj@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 1

E-grocery supply chain, health care supply chain, Prof M Mkansi Masters: up to 7
and unified theory of acceptance and use of E-mail: mkansim@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 3
technology research (specific to my supply and
distribution innovation projects in supply and
distribution, academic service quality, and research

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
methods)

Process/Improvement/Supply chain/Industry Dr Anthea Amadi-Echendu Masters: up to 1

4.0 E-mail: amadiap@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

Occupational Health Legal and Regulatory Compliance Dr Elriza Esterhuyzen Masters: up to 3

E-mail: Estere@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None
& Safety (OHS)
Management
Ethics and leadership Dr Elriza Esterhuyzen Masters: up to 2
E-mail: Estere@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

Occupational Health and Safety Management Mrs Cheryl Rielander Masters: up to 2

E-mail: rielacl@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

Strategic safety & safety risk management Dr Elrize Esterhuyzen Masters: up to 2

E-mail: estere@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

SMEs and entrepreneurial safety Ms Leonie Louw Masters: up to 2

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
E-mail: lubbelb@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

Toxicology Mrs Cheryl Rielander Masters: up to 2

E-mail: rielacl@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

Department of Business & Leisure Tourism and Events Prof C van Zyl Masters: up to 1
E-mail: vzylc@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 2
Applied Management

Entrepreneurship Dr RM Khosa Masters: up to 15

E-mail: khosarm@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 7

Integrated Logistics Prof IM Ambe Masters: up to 1

E-mail: ambeim@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None

Hospitality and Attractions Management Prof Nellie Swart Masters: up to 1

E-mail: swartmp@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 1

Transport and Travel & Tourism Prof C van Zyl Masters: None
E-mail: vzylc@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 2

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team

Procurement and Supply Chain Management Prof IM Ambe Masters: up to 3

E-mail: ambeim@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 2

Marketing of Tourism Destinations and Prof C van Zyl Masters: up to 2

Tourism Business E-mail: vzylc@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 2

Sustainable Tourism Dr D Queiros Masters: up to 6

E-mail: queirdr@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 1

Department of Public Local Government Management Prof P Khumalo Masters: up to 5

E-mail: khumap1@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 2
Administration and
Management

Meaningful Knowledge Prof JS Wessels Masters: up to 5

E-mail: wessejs@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 5

Public Administration Education Prof LC Van Jaarsveldt Masters: up to 5

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
E-mail: vjaarlc@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 3

Public Finance Dr V Sambo Masters: The number of students

E-mail: esambovt@unisa.ac.za selected will depend on the
capacity available in the
Department

Doctorate: The number of

students selected will depend on
the capacity available in the
Department

Public Human Resource and Organisational Prof EJ Van der Westhuizen Masters: The number of students
Studies E-mail: vdwesej@unisa.ac.za selected will depend on the
capacity available in the
Department

Doctorate: The number of

students selected will depend on
the capacity available in the
Department

Public Policy Prof WN Webb Masters: The number of students

E-mail: webbwn@unisa.ac.za selected will depend on the
capacity available in the
Department

Doctorate: The number of

students selected will depend on
the capacity available in the
Department

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Public Service Delivery Mr P Motsoeneng Masters: The number of students
E-mail: motsorp@unisa.ac.za selected will depend on the
capacity available in the
Department

Doctorate: The number of

Administrative Technology
Prof LL Luvuno
E-mail: luvunll@unisa.ac.za
students selected will depend on
the capacity available in the
Department
Masters: The number of students
selected will depend on the
capacity available in the
Department

Doctorate: The number of

students selected will depend on
the capacity available in the
Department

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