For Immediate Release – 31 March 2025
Two more MUT academics receive higher NRF ratings
The MUT research agenda is becoming stronger and stronger; the number of rated researchers at the University is increasing. Lately, the Institution has welcomed news that Professor Papy Numbi of the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Dr Courage Mlambo of the Department of Public Administration and Economics, have new National Research Foundation (NRF) ratings. Professor Numbi’s Y2 has been upgraded to C2. This is a massive jump by Professor Numbi, from the lowest rating to the middle rating. Dr Mlambo has been given a C3 rating. C rating is for established researchers with a recent record of productivity in the field who are recognised by other peers as having produced a body of quality work, the core of which has coherence and attests to ongoing engagement with the field. These researchers will have demonstrated the ability to conceptualise problems and apply research methods to investigate them.
In terms of C2 rating, all the reviewers are firmly convinced that the applicant is an established researcher as described. The applicant may, but need not, enjoy some international recognition for the quality and impact of their research outputs. As for the C3, most of the reviewers concur that the applicant is an established researcher, as described. Researchers in this group are recognized by the overriding majority of reviewers as having demonstrated the potential to become future international leaders in their field based on exceptional research performance and output from their doctoral and/or early post-doctoral research careers.
Dr Mlambo said he was very happy with his rating. “I am pleased to receive a C3 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. This recognition confirms my standing as an established researcher and serves as both a recognition of my contributions and a motivation to further improve my work,” Dr Mlambo said. He said the rating shows that his research has been recognized at a national level. “While I celebrate this achievement, I also see it as a stepping stone towards greater academic excellence. My goal is to elevate my research standing by expanding collaborations with international scholars,” Dr Mlambo said.
Dr Mlambo said that he was planning to build on this foundation by broadening the scope of his work and fostering global academic partnerships. “I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and remain dedicated to advancing knowledge and innovation,” he said.
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