Economic and Management Sciences
Tourism Research in Economic Environs and Society (TREES)
TREES is an acronym for Tourism Research in Economics, Environs and Society. It is a leading tourism research entity that is making a contribution to reduce the scarce skills in tourism research in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa (through post-graduate studies), as well as growing the field of knowledge through published research specifically focused on three pillars namely; economics, environs and society. We identify and implement most of our research at events, local regional authorities, resorts, conservation activities, game farms and South Africa as a destination like Oppikoppi Arts Festival, Aardklop, Cape Town Cycling Tour, Southern Sun, North West Department of Agriculture and Conservation.
Research focus
TREES research is led by qualified researchers and is focused on identifying, conducting and publishing quality tourism research, training and workshops within the economics, environmental and community (society) spheres in order to improve the quality of life of communities, address relevant and current societal issues like poverty, unemployment, scarce skills and a lack of education. We also focus on expanding new and innovative research in the tourism industry in general as well as developing skilled researchers and post-graduate students that can compete internationally.
Director:
- Prof. Elmarie Slabbert
- Elmarie.Slabbert@nwu.ac.za
- 018 299 1806
Workwell: Research Unit for Economic & Management Sciences
WorkWell is a multidisciplinary research unit of the North-West University, founded in 1998. The name ‘WorkWell’ is a collective term that refers to the optimal functioning of organisations in all respects – which should work well. In WorkWell, the emphasis is on research and postgraduate education in the context of the economic and management challenges facing Africa and the globe.
Research focus
The focus is on identification and development of policies, measures and decision-support methodology to ultimately optimise utilisation of organisational resources such as information, people, customers, marketing, finances, and management while maintaining a focus on issues of diversity and a developing economy. The Research Unit draws on the expertise of researchers from all schools within the Faculty (Accounting Sciences, Management Sciences, Economic Sciences, and Industrial Psychology & Human Resource Management). Currently, the Research Unit has membership from schools across all three campuses of the NWU which totals more than 130 academic staff members.
Director:
Prof Crizelle Els
Trade and Development (TRADE)
TRADE is an acronym for Trade and Development and a leading centre of excellence that specialises in the fields of international trade and economic development. TRADE is recognised as one of the most prominent and premier, niche research entities in its kind by serving as a highly respected influencer and think tank in collaboration with various external bodies like the Department of Trade and Industry, the World Bank, International Centre for Trade and Sustaina-ble Development etc. enriching export promotion and development as well as finding opportuni-ties and solutions to greater competitiveness, investment-flows, integrated connectivity, econom-ic policies and briefs. It also holds a prestigious Chair in the WTO (World Trade Organisation) Chairs Programme and drives the TRADE Research Advisory (Pty) Ltd, which is TRADE’s commercial advisory arm and a spin-out company of the NWU. At the heart of the TRADE Ad-visory lies the TRADE-DSM (Decision Support Model) that is used to identify realistic export opportunities for countries, provinces and industry sectors as well as government stakeholders in the form of high-potential, product-market and service-market combinations and demands for example; In 2017 we conducted research for The Exotic Leather Cluster (SA) NPC on the base-line study of international export potential with specific focus on Crocodile leather and related products and Ostrich leather and related products.
Research focus
TRADE’s research is not only focused on academics but also on practical activities in order to identify, promote and develop high-potential export opportunities for South Africa and other countries like Botswana, Thailand, Netherland, China, Rwanda, the UK etc. and to deliver well-rounded graduates, focused research and commercialised expertise as well as policy briefs. TRADE’s research outputs are being used to ultimately enable integration and connectable trade opportunities throughout the world by bridging the gap between academic institutions, the gov-ernment and the private sector.
Director:
Prof Pieter Buys
Global Innovative Focussed Talent (GIFT)
GIFT’s strategic objective is to lead the research and practice of talent management as an applied science in the workplace. With a key goal of setting norms and standards, the entity offers a holistic perspective on research and practices focused on the successful implementation of talent management. GIFT does this by focusing on several sub-programs which together, form the anagram, GIFT and covers the entire employee engagement lifecycle.
Research focus
The main focus of GIFT is to develop an empirically tested talent body of knowledge that will set the standard and guidelines for the effective application of talent management practices in the workplace. GIFT consists of four sub-programmes that have been structured to contribute to the “GIFT” of talent:
- Global and strategic Talent Management
- Innovative Talent Management technologies (e-Talent Management)
- Forefront Talent Risk Management and Assessment
- Talent Value Proposition and Branding
Director:
Technology-Enhanced Learning and Innovative Educationand Training, South Africa (TELIT-SA)
TELIT-SA is a research entity committed to create an interdisciplinary research community of practice to enhance best practices for teaching and learning with technology.
Members come from various disciplines:
- Accounting Sciences,
- Economic Sciences
- Management Sciences
- Communication Studies
- Information Systems
- Language Practice
- Mathematics and Statistics and
- Instructional Design.
Director:
Prof Liandi van den Berg
Education
Education and Human Rights in Diversity (Edu-HRight)
Self Directed Learning (SDL)
Community-Based Educational Research (COMBER)
Edu-Lead
Engineering
Centre of Excellence in Carbon-Based Fuels
Unit for Energy and Technology Systems
Multilingual Speech Technologies (MuST)
DST/HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence in hydrogen production, storage, reticulation and safety codes and standards
dti Centre for Advanced Manufacturing (CFAM)