Academics acknowledged during VC’S Academic Awards

EACH year, the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) holds a special awards ceremony to recognise academic staff members whose teaching, learning and research performance had been notable in the preceding year.

The recent 2022 Vice-chancellor’s Academic Awards was jointly organised by the Teaching and Learning Centre and the Research and Innovation Office. The glitzy event took place at Umfolozi Hotel Casino Convention Resort in Empangeni.

According to Professor Maria Sewela Mabusela, Director of Teaching and Learning, the awards ceremony is a significant period in the university as it gives due recognition to individuals who are “hard workers, (who) sacrifice, have a positive attitude and commitment, and make excellence a habit”.

“Furthermore, the awards serve to inspire emerging academics to do their best work while innovating, attaining cumulative output, and adapting to the ongoing changes in higher education,” she added.

To qualify for the teaching excellence awards, candidates had to be nominated by their peers in any of the three available categories: emerging academic, developed academic, and distinguished academic.

In the emerging academic category, nominees had to possess either a Master’s or doctoral degree. For the developed academic category, nominated academics had to be in a senior lecturer position and hold a PHD degree in their relevant field. Finally, the minimum requirements for those nominated in the distinguished academic category were a PHD degree and associate or full professorship.

The research excellence awards were handed over across four categories, namely Next Generation of Researchers, Established/ Productive Researchers, Women in Research, and Prestige Awards.

The first category was dedicated to researchers under the age of 40 who generated the most units in their faculty.

In the second category, three different groups of researchers were awarded: most productive researchers, supervisors who produced at least five Master’s graduates in the 2022 graduation season, and supervisors who produced at least three PHD graduates in the 2022 graduation season.

The third category honoured the best young woman researcher as well as the most established woman researcher.

In the final category, the three best departments were awarded, according to bronze, silver or gold status.

The recent VC’S Academic Awards ceremony was characterised by bliss as select academics were acknowledged for their dedication and unmatched performance in the preceding year. Eight staff members were lauded for their teaching and learning excellence, while over 30 were awarded for commendable work in their research and innovation as well as community engagement endeavours. Picture: James Thwala.