College of Economic and Management

Sciences
Research Focus Areas
(2023)

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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 Dr I Maloma Masters: up to 5
E-mail: malomi@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 4
Economics

International Economics Dr TS Rametsi Masters: up to 7

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 3

Public Economics Prof T van der Merwe Masters: up to 4

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

Department of Financial Modelling Prof HP Mashele Masters: up to 7

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

Mathematical and Statistical Modelling, Prof M Mukeru Masters: up to 24

Heuristics and Optimisation E-mail: mukers@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 11

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

Computability, Complexity and Prof Petrus Potgieter Masters: up to 7

Randomness in Decision Science E-mail: Doctorates: up to 7
(CCRDS) Potgiph@unisa.ac.za

Department of Finance and Investments Prof P Makoni Masters: Up to 9

E-mail: makonpl@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: Up to 12
Finance, Risk
Management and
Banking
Insurance and Banking Prof AB Sibindi Masters: Up to 5
E-mail: sibinab@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: Up to 4

Risk Management Dr E van der Westhuizen Masters: Up to 8

E-mail: bothae2@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: Up to 4

Institute for Business Ethics1 Prof Neil Eccles Masters: 1

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

ICT and its role in Sustainability and Prof M Eloff Masters: 1

Corporate Citizenship Email : eloffmm@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 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: 1
Management E-mail: ecclens@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 1

Competitive Intelligence Prof Nisha Sewdass Masters: up to 1

E-mail: sewdan@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: No intake

Corporate Sustainability Dr Catherine le Roux Masters: 3

E-mail: lrouxc1@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: No intake

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

International Business and Finance Prof Adewale Aregbeshola Masters: No intake

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 Prof S Rudansky-Kloppers Masters: up to 6

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

Strategy-as-Practice Prof Annemarie Davis Masters: 11

E-mail : davisa@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 2

Women in management and leadership Dr Nthabiseng Violet Moraka Masters: 2

in the private and public sector E-mail : moraknv@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: 2

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
Growth and Profitability of SMMEs Dr Kuda Chodokufa Masters: Up to 6
E-mail : chodok@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: Up to 3

Department of Human Resource Management and Dr N Takawira Masters: up to 29

Organisational Behaviour E-mail: takawn@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 12
Human Resource
Management

Human Resource Development Dr T Molotsi Masters: up to 11

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

Employment Relations Dr AJ de Bruyn Masters: up to 5

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

Department of Consumer Behaviour Studies Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a
Dr C. H. Bothma total of up to 20 master’s
Marketing and E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za students;
Retail Management up to 5 doctorate students

Digital Marketing & Technology Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a
Dr C. H. Bothma total of up to 20 master’s
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za students;
up to 5 doctorate students

Retail Marketing Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a
Dr C. H. Bothma total of up to 20 master’s

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za students;
up to 5 doctorate students

Marketing Strategy Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a
Dr C. H. Bothma total of up to 20 master’s
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za students;
up to 5 doctorate students

Small Business Marketing Contact the M&D Coordinator For the entire department a
Dr C. H. Bothma total of up to 20 master’s
E-mail: bothmch@unisa.ac.za students;
up to 5 doctorate students

Department of Afrocentric Perspective Dr KP Moalusi Masters: up to 8

E-mail: moalukp@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 3
Industrial and
Organisational
Psychology
Systems Psychodynamics Prof MS May Masters: up to 3
E-mail: Mayms@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 5

Organisational Psychology Prof AP Flotman Masters: up to 19

E-mail: flotma@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 6

Psychological Measurement Prof S Grobler Masters: up to 4

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

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

Organisational Neuroscience Prof DJ Geldenhuys Masters: 2

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

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

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

Qualitative Well-being and Adjustment Prof HA Barnard Masters: up to 4

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

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

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

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

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

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

Robotics and Algorithms (STRATA) in E-mail: oosthrm@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 5

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Department name Focus Area Lead Researcher Capacity per Focus
(Contact Person) Area/Research Team
the Context of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution (4IR)

Open Distance e-learning (ODeL), Higher Mrs L Tonelli Masters: up to 4

and Secondary education E-mail: leyl@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 1

Integrity, Ethics and Risk Dr A van Niekerk Masters: up to 6

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

Coaching Psychology Dr L Steyn Masters: up to 2

E-mail: steynl3@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 2

Career Psych HDC and Retention Prof M Coetzee Masters: up to 9

E-mail: coetzm1@unisa.ac.za Doctorates: up to 5

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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

Operations Management, Quality Dr S Naidoo Masters: up to 1

Management, Project Management and E-mail: naidoosu@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: 1
Supply Chain Management

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

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

E-grocery supply chain, health care supply Prof M Mkansi Masters: up to 7

chain, and unified theory of acceptance and E-mail: mkansim@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 3
use of technology research (specific to my
supply and distribution innovation projects
in supply and distribution, academic service
quality, and research methods)

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

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

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

E-mail: Estere@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: None
Health & 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 Mrs Cheryl Rielander Masters: up to 2

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

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

Strategic safety & safety risk Dr Elriza Esterhuyzen Masters: up to 2

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

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

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

Toxicology Mrs Cheryl Rielander Masters: up to 2

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

OHS and Disaster Management Mr John Mashala Masters: 1

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

Quality system safety Dr Preshodan Naidoo Masters: 2

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

Safety Systems Management Dr Preshodan Naidoo Masters: 2

E-mail: naidoop@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: 1

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

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

Entrepreneurship Dr RM Khosa Masters: up to 5

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: No intake

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

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

Management E-mail: ambeim@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

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 5

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

Department of Local Government Management Prof P Khumalo Masters: up to 9

E-mail: khumap1@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 4
Public
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 4

E-mail: vjaarlc@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: up to 3

Public Finance Dr V Sambo Masters: up to 2

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

Public Human Resource and Prof EJ Van der Westhuizen Masters: Up to 5

Organisational Studies E-mail: vdwesej@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 1

Public Policy Prof WN Webb Masters: Up to 7

E-mail: webbwn@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 7

Public Service Delivery Dr R Wessels Masters: Up to 9

E-mail: rwessels@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 3

Administrative Technology Prof LL Luvuno Masters: Up to 8

E-mail: luvunll@unisa.ac.za Doctorate: Up to 4

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