Seen Here: Professor Chengedzai Mafini, Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), celebrates excellence and impact as the faculty honours outstanding achievements in research, teaching, innovation, industry collaboration and community development at the Dean’s Awards 2026.Photo Credit: Supplied
Vanderbijlpark — 15 September 2026 — Excellence in teaching, research, innovation and community engagement took centre stage as the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Faculty of Management Sciences honoured outstanding academics and professionals at its 2026 Dean’s Awards.
Held on Friday, 28 August 2026, at the VUT Conference Centre in Vanderbijlpark, the ceremony brought together members of the university community to recognise individuals whose work is making a meaningful contribution to the faculty, the institution and wider society.
Held under the theme “Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Impact”, the awards highlighted the role of academic and professional excellence in strengthening higher education and creating solutions that respond to the needs of industry and communities.
The recognition extended across key areas including research, teaching, innovation, industry partnerships and community development, reflecting the increasingly interconnected role of universities in shaping both knowledge and society.
Recognising excellence beyond the classroom
For the Faculty of Management Sciences, the Dean’s Awards provided an opportunity to acknowledge achievements that extend beyond conventional academic performance.
The faculty’s work encompasses the development of graduates, research that contributes to knowledge and partnerships that connect higher education with industry and society.
Professor Chengedzai Mafini, Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, said the awards were an important platform for recognising the people contributing to the faculty’s continued development.
“As VUT celebrates 60 years of teaching and innovation, the Dean’s Awards offered an opportunity to honour the people who continue to contribute to the University’s legacy,” Mafini said.
He added that the achievements celebrated at the event demonstrated the value of recognising excellence while encouraging others to pursue meaningful impact.
“The awards recognised academics and professionals whose work strengthens the faculty and contributes to graduates, ideas and partnerships that respond meaningfully to the needs of industry and society,” Mafini said.
Building a legacy of innovation
The awards take place during a significant year for VUT as the university marks six decades of teaching and innovation.
The milestone provides an opportunity not only to reflect on the institution’s history, but also to recognise the people shaping its future through scholarship, innovation and engagement.
For the Faculty of Management Sciences, this includes developing academic programmes and research that equip students with skills relevant to an evolving economy, while strengthening relationships between the university, business and communities.
The Dean’s Awards therefore served as more than an acknowledgement of individual achievement. They also reinforced the faculty’s broader institutional priorities around excellence, leadership, knowledge creation and societal impact.
Inspiring the next generation
Recognition plays an important role in creating a culture in which excellence is encouraged and shared.
By celebrating academics and professionals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to their fields, the faculty aims to provide examples for emerging researchers, academics and students to follow.
The theme “Celebrating Excellence, Inspiring Impact” captures that dual purpose — acknowledging achievements already made while encouraging continued innovation and contribution.
As VUT moves forward into the next chapter of its 60-year journey, initiatives such as the Dean’s Awards reinforce the importance of people in sustaining an institution’s academic and social mission.
For the Faculty of Management Sciences, the message from the 2026 awards is clear: excellence matters most when it creates impact beyond the individual — strengthening institutions, advancing knowledge and making a meaningful difference in society.
