Durban University of Technology (DUT) proudly celebrates the international achievement of PhD candidate and staff member, Mr Thembinkosi Peter Kalanga, who presented at the 5th BRICS Postgraduate Forum held at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil, from 9 to 11 June 2026.
The prestigious forum, convened under the theme BRICS and Sustainable Development in a Multipolar World: Governance, Innovation, and Market Transformation, brought together postgraduate researchers, academics and policy experts from BRICS+ countries and across the Global South. The event provided a dynamic platform for critical dialogue on governance, sustainability, innovation and inclusive economic development.
Mr Kalanga demonstrated exceptional scholarly excellence by successfully submitting three research papers, including one that was selected for presentation at the forum. His work contributed meaningfully to ongoing academic and policy discussions on sustainable development and entrepreneurship within emerging economies.
Among his submissions was a paper titled, “Municipalities as Strategic Enablers of Waste Entrepreneurship in BRICS Economies: A Qualitative Desktop Study.”
The research highlights the critical role municipalities can play in fostering waste entrepreneurship, driving environmental sustainability and promoting inclusive economic growth across BRICS nations.
In recognition of his outstanding contribution, Mr Kalanga received the Best Paper in Session award in the PhD category. He was also awarded a Certificate of Achievement as the Second Runner-Up in the PhD category.
These accolades underscore the quality and global relevance of DUT’s postgraduate research and reflect the university’s commitment to producing impactful, policy-oriented scholarship that addresses real-world challenges.
Reflecting on his achievement, Mr Kalanga expressed sincere gratitude for the support he received.
“I am deeply appreciative of the Durban University of Technology, the Faculty of Management Sciences, my PhD supervisor, Prof Pfano Mashau, the BRICS Research Institute and the conference organisers. Their encouragement and support have been instrumental in enabling me to participate in international scholarly platforms and contribute to global conversations,” he said.
His supervisor, Prof Pfano Mashau, Director of the DUT Business School, was equally delighted by Mr Kalanga’s success and said the achievement demonstrated the calibre of postgraduate research being produced at the university.
“Congratulations to Mr Kalanga on this outstanding achievement. His success is a testament to the quality of research emerging from DUT and serves as an inspiration to other postgraduate students to pursue excellence and take advantage of opportunities to showcase their work on international platforms,” said Prof Mashau.
The BRICS Postgraduate Forum continues to serve as a flagship initiative dedicated to strengthening postgraduate research capacity, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and advancing knowledge production across the Global South.
Mr Kalanga’s success not only elevates DUT’s international academic profile but also inspires emerging scholars to pursue excellence and actively engage in global research communities.
Pictured: Mr Thembinkosi Peter Kalanga at the 5th BRICS Postgraduate Forum in Brazil.
Zinhle Zungu-Rashee
