Professor - Development Studies at Nelson Mandela University

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

• Coordination of academic programmes within the Department, including strengthening content related to development finance, entrepreneurship, and applied economic development.
• Supervision of masters’ dissertations, treatises and guided reports, particularly in areas such as development finance, SME development, innovation, and socio-economic transformation.
• Supervision of doctoral theses across development-finance, entrepreneurship ecosystems, public-sector finance, and related development-related themes.
• Teaching on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with the ability to deliver modules in development finance, managerial/project finance, entrepreneurship, and broader Development Studies.
• Contribute to Departmental research output, especially in accredited journals, through high-quality publications in development finance, venture capital, entrepreneurship, and socio-economic development.
• Efficient academic administration as required by the Head of Department, including curriculum development, programme coordination, and research administration.
• Capacity to work well with other members of the Development Studies team and support collaborative, multidisciplinary research.
• Capacity to contribute to the Department’s expanding themes in fields such as Development Finance; Oceans Economy/Maritime and Marine Research; Socio-Ecological Development; and Socio-Economic Development.
• Provide a mentorship role to emerging scholars within the Department, supporting their research development, academic writing, and career progression.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Ability to coordinate academic programmes.
• In-depth understanding of the theory and application of Development Studies, with specialised expertise in development finance, venture capital in emerging markets, entrepreneurship ecosystems, SME development, and socio-economic transformation.
• Ability to facilitate learning at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, with a strong track record of teaching finance-related modules such as managerial finance, project finance, financial management, entrepreneurship, and research methodology.
• Proven experience in successfully supervising masters’ dissertations, treatises and guided reports across development-finance, entrepreneurship, innovation, and socio-economic development themes.
• Proven experience in successfully supervising doctoral candidates to completion in areas including development finance, innovation, entrepreneurship, and public-sector development.
• Demonstrated contribution to knowledge creation through an extensive and sustained publication record in accredited peer-reviewed journals, scholarly books, and book chapters, particularly in development finance, entrepreneurship, and development management.
• Working knowledge of national development policy frameworks, including the National Development Plan, and the ability to situate research and teaching within broader development agendas.
• A good understanding of research ethics in the South African context.

REQUIREMENTS

• A relevant PhD in Development Studies or Development Finance.
• A substantive academic background—demonstrated through supervision experience, accredited peer-reviewed publications, external examination work, funded research projects, and research leadership—in at least two of the following areas: Development Finance, Socio-Economic Development, Entrepreneurship and SME Development, Rural and Township Economies, Innovation and Venture Capital, Economics, Socio-Ecological Development, or Marine/Maritime Development.
• More than five years of tertiary teaching/research or industry experience, with a strong track record of lecturing across undergraduate and postgraduate levels in finance-related and development-oriented modules.
• Proven experience in the successful supervision of both master’s and doctoral students to completion.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating academic programmes and leading academic units
• Knowledge and experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods, including statistical analysis, as evidenced by supervision, publications, and research project outputs.
• A strong record of attracting research funding, including NRF-funded projects and externally supported institutional collaborations.