Professor Vivian Ojong.Top Appointment for UKZN Academic
Professor Vivian Ojong takes on a significant role with her appointment as Chair of the Advisory Board of the Africa Science Frontiers Initiative (ASFI).
The three-year assignment, with provision made for renewal, has the potential to put UKZN in the spotlight as a leader in research excellence.
As Dean of Research at the College of Humanities and the former Dean and Head of the School of Social Sciences, Ojong’s leadership is expected to further the University’s ambitions of becoming the Premier University of African Scholarship.
With her extensive experience as a dedicated educator, an accomplished researcher, and proven institutional leader, there is great excitement about the impact her work will have on advancing Africa’s development.
This recognition of Ojong’s contributions is seen as just the beginning of what many believe will be a transformative journey for both her and UKZN.
As the Chair of the ASFI, Ojong will oversee the generation of African scientists with suitable competencies to drive Africa’s developmental and transformational agenda through innovative scientific research. As part of its mission, the ASFI instils excellence in Africa’s science sector through competence acquisition, capacity building and career development, through which African scientists can play a more active role in the continent’s development.
Since its establishment more than five years ago, the ASFI has trained over 4 000 African scientists and scholars in various research capacity-building courses from in excess of 45 African countries. It has also run close to 40 regular career development workshops.
It provides African scholars and professionals, home and abroad, with a community space to learn, mentor, collaborate, publish and be visible. Its research journal, the ASFI Research Journal, is an online open-access multidisciplinary publication aimed at advancing, impacting and communicating research undertaken from all disciplines, both basic and applied research, in Africa.
Said Ojong: “I am honoured by this opportunity to serve the African academic community and to show leadership at an institution such as UKZN to further the interests of African scholars.”
Words: NdabaOnline
Photograph: Supplied