On behalf of the Executive Management Committee of the University of Venda (UNIVEN), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Postgraduate Studies, Prof Nosisi Feza is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Jabulani Makhubele as the new Director of Research and Innovation with effect from 01 February 2023. Prof Makhubele is a C3 NRF Rated Researcher and was awarded the Overall Best Researcher at the University of Limpopo in 2021.
Prof Jabulani Makhubele – Director of Research and Innovation
Before joining UNIVEN, Prof Makhubele was the Professor and Head of the Department of Social Work at the University of Limpopo (UL) where he spent 14 years. Before joining UL, Prof Makhubele had a short stint at North-West University. He has also worked in government department where he served as the Provincial Manager of the Free State Provincial Government’s Department of Social Development responsible for substance abuse services and youth development programmes. Prior to that, Prof Makhubele was the Principal Social Worker in the Department of Correctional Services.
Academically, Prof Makhubele supervised more than 37 Masters and 17 PhD candidates. He has published more than 80 articles in accredited and refereed journals, edited a book and wrote more than five (5) book chapters. His research interest includes Public Health, Social Work issues (substance abuse), Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), Climate Change, and Migration Studies. He has led several domestic and international collaborations including 2 projects with Namibia, Finland and Sweden. Prof Makhubele has successfully conducted commissioned studies, for instance, led a team on substance use, misuse and abuse amongst the youth in Limpopo Province funded by Department of Social Development (DSD) – Research and Population Unit and developed Sexual Offender Treatment Programme which the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) implemented countrywide.
Prof Makhubele is the external examiner for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies for the following universities: Wits, University of Johannesburg, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, North-West University, University of Cape Town, University of Namibia, just to mention a few.
Prof Feza wished Prof Makhubele well in his new position and called upon staff members to support and work with him to contribute towards the achievements of the University goals outlined in the 2021-2025 UNIVEN Strategic Plan.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525/8710
Date: 06 February 2023
