The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has appointed Professor Pfano Mashau as Director of the DUT Business School. Professor Mashau commenced in his new role on Monday, 01 July 2024.
Professor Mashau has a PhD in Management Science with an interest in economics, entrepreneurship and business models. His journey in the education sector and business stems from a deep love for learning and a commitment to developing future leaders and professionals.
“I have gained experience across various organisations, including Bioregional Africa, JET Education Services, eThekwini Municipality and UKZN (Schools of Business and Leadership, and Management and Governance). These experiences have shaped me into a seasoned researcher and manager. Over the past 11 years in education, I have published over 70 articles, two edited books, convened three international conferences and supervised 12 PhD students,” shared Prof Mashau.
As a distinguished academic, Prof Mashau is a member of a few associations of academics and researchers including the Centre for Business and Economic Research in London and he is a certified business advisor with the Institute of Business Advisory Southern Africa. He has mentored young academics, post-doctoral fellows and guided professionals on their career paths.
Being appointed Director of the DUT Business School has filled Prof Mashau with immense joy and honour. His duties include overseeing academic programmes, driving strategic initiatives, building strong industry partnerships, managing staff and ensuring the overall excellence and relevance of their education.
“In today’s rapidly changing technological landscape, I am passionate about guiding my team to harness these opportunities for innovation and growth. We are currently focusing on increasing our visibility as a school, reviewing our programme offerings, and updating the School’s strategic plan. DUT Business School stands out by catering to professionals with NQF qualifications often overlooked by other business schools. We are developing a pathway for these professionals to pursue Doctoral programmes. This means at the DUT Business School, a student will be enabled to progress from NQF levels 5 to 10, setting them up for success,” explained Prof Mashau.
Together with his dedicated team of industry experts, they are dedicated to steer the DUT Business School to become a leading business education institution in Africa by offering timely interventions and curriculum that reflects the needs of today’s economy.
“My primary goal is to elevate DUT Business School as a leading business education institution in Africa. We plan to introduce new interdisciplinary programmes that combine business with technology, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. In the meantime, we aim to strengthen our partnerships with industry leaders to provide even more experiential learning opportunities for our students. My team and I will be actively pursuing strategic partnerships to ensure we achieve this vision. Over the next year, we will focus on branding and increasing our visibility. We also have exciting plans to relocate to a new, state-of-the-art office space, creating a truly business-oriented environment for our valued clients, particularly our students,” reiterated Prof Mashau.
He is very passionate about business mentorship and Prof Mashau strongly believes that by guiding and empowering the next generation of business leaders, the DUT Business School can unlock their potential for remarkable success.
Pictured: DUT Business School Director, Professor Pfano Mashau.
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese
Simangele Zuma
