Research Development and Postgraduate Support

Postgraduate Support

Postgraduate Support includes diverse workshops on research methods (qualitative, quantitative, mixed), academic writing (proposals, theses, articles), project management, and ethics. These are delivered in-person, online, hybrid, or via recorded YouTube sessions. Workshops are categorized as generic (open to all disciplines), bespoke (tailored to specific departments), or funder-requested (aligned with funding body requirements).

Funding managed in the department is from various sources including NRF, Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Bradlows, Hillensberg Trust, SYLFF (PhD only), Ada and Bertie Levenstein, and others, with new opportunities emerging throughout the year. The coaching service employs PhD students as peer mentors to assist Master’s and Doctoral candidates with writing and data analysis, fostering academic community and improving retention.

The Work Study Programme offers financial aid through part-time roles (10–20 hours/week) as research assistants, providing income and research experience. Applications are made through faculty research offices and the Research Development and Postgraduate Support unit.

Support for:

Dr Kenechukwu Ikebuaku: UWC Alumnus and Ambassador

Dr Kenechukwu Ikebuaku is a distinguished development scholar, educator, and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in teaching, mentoring, business, and youth development. He earned all his academic qualifications—undergraduate to doctorate—at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), embodying the institution’s spirit of excellence and transformation.

His academic journey has shaped his research interests, which focus on youth education, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship.

As the founder and CEO of Mozisha, a pioneering technology workforce development firm, Dr Ikebuaku is dedicated to cultivating Africa’s next generation of skilled professionals. Mozisha empowers young people with industry-relevant skills through an innovative practice-based training model that combines immersive learning, capstone projects, mentorship, and apprenticeship programmes.

By bridging the skills gap and connecting trained professionals with global enterprises, the initiative contributes meaningfully to tackling youth unemployment in Africa. Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Dr Ikebuaku serves as a PhD supervisor at the University of Lusaka, mentoring emerging scholars and professionals. He is also an editorial board member of the Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies and plays a key role in selecting recipients for the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarship.

Driven by a deep commitment to education and empowerment, Dr Ikebuaku strives to create opportunities that enable young Africans to realise their full potential.

His unwavering dedication to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship has cemented his reputation as a leading advocate for youth development on the continent.
 

Lynn Hill: Dynamic Speaker, Poet, and Leadership Coach

Lynn Hill is a 17 times Global Award-Winning Inspirational Speaker, Author, Poet, Mental Health Practitioner, Leadership & Executive Leadership Coach & Humanitarian. Lynn has become her message which is one of resilience, transformation, and empowerment. A proud alumna of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), her career began as a Peer Counsellor and Facilitator at the University’s Centre for Student Counselling while still a Senior Student at UWC. She has since become an influential voice in the fields of: GBV, Leadership development, Personal Branding, Diversity Management & Mentorship.

With over 30 years of experience across Education, Energy, Financial services, and the NGO sector, Lynn has held professional roles ranging from Educator, Recruitment & Selection Practitioner & Psychometrist, Human Resources Development Practitioner, National Nuclear Cadet Custodian to Director,Consultant and CEO of Limitless by Lynn Hill. She is an Honorary Ambassador of the Talk Love Africa Foundation and Global Champion of SHE COUNTS, an initiative empowering African teenage girls. Amb.Lynn has just been selected into a core group of Master Mentors (CWENA) who will use their accumulated wisdom to mentor young female African Entrepreneurs.

Lynn’s most noteworthy Award has been her induction into the Women Appreciating Women Hall of Fame (UK- London-2021) This is flanked by two Lifetime Achievement Awards: Arise Africa Awards(2021)and the Christian Woman’s Entrepreneurial Network of Africa (CWENA -Oct 2024) for which her relentless empowerment contributions on the African continent have been recognized. As a survivor of immense personal adversity, Lynn uses her experiences to inspire and empower others through her: speaking and training; coaching; consulting; media engagement; poetry performances, and writing. Her first Book: An Amazon International Bestseller: Butterfly My Soul Got Wings, what Life has taught me has touched lives worldwide and won the AfriCAN Authors’ Award –genre Inspirational in 2020. Lynn continues to break barriers through her upcoming publications, global empowerment initiatives and her commitment to lifelong learning.

Read more: www.limitlessbylynnhill.co.za
 

Thando Mjebeza: From UWC Postgraduate to Industry Leader

Thando Mjebeza is the CEO of Zimele Technologies, a B-BBEE Level 1 company specialising in Software as a Service (SaaS) and secure enterprise software solutions, offering implementation and support services to both public and private sectors locally and internationally.

Thando completed a Master's degree in Information Management in 2002 having also done his undergraduate and two Honours degrees at UWC prior to that. "UWC provided me with the critical thinking skills, leadership attributes and industry connections that propelled my career. The UWC environment also provided me with the environment to explore my business and leadership skills. The lecturing staff are great and have the ability to identify and nurture talent."

As the CEO Thando has played a pivotal role in driving strategic innovation and new business development, successfully navigating the company through the ever-evolving IT landscape. Under his leadership, the company has fostered a culture of excellence, reflected in its robust strategies, commitment to personal development, innovation, and strong business execution practices.

Thando’s success is a testament to the power of postgraduate education in elevating careers and shaping industries. He encourages aspiring postgraduate students to choose UWC as a platform for growth, research, and leadership.