Graduate School of Technology Management

WHY DO KNOWLEDGE REPOSITORIES GO UNUSED?
Organisations invest heavily in systems to preserve and share knowledge, yet many of these repositories see low adoption and limited practical use.

New research by Renisha Nikeyi and Cornelis van Waveren examines how AI can change that. The study finds that AI-driven search and retrieval, automation, pattern recognition, and decision support can make repositories easier to use and more relevant to daily work, increasing both usability and motivation to engage.

The key takeaway: AI works best not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a complement to it. Organisations that combine the two are better positioned to unlock the knowledge they already have.

Access the published paper: https://doi.org/10.7166/36-1-3142

Published in: South African Journal of Industrial Engineering (1012-277x; E:2224-7890)

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: MPM'S TOP 3 ACHIEVERS HONOURED

GSTM proudly recognized its three highest-performing MPM students for their outstanding academic achievement, dedication, and commitment to excellence. Their remarkable success reflects not only their hard work and perseverance but also the values of excellence and continuous learning that define the MPM programme. Congratulations to our top achievers on this well-deserved recognition and for setting an inspiring example for their peers.

Yakir Rampersad - Artificial Intelligence in project management: Understanding and overcoming adoption barriers (Supervisor: Dr Suzaan Pretorius)

Sandile Mkhungo - Ex*****on readiness assessment for plant demolition (Supervisor: Prof Giel Bekker)

Zintle Mpatane - Exploring the effects of task-switching in multiple team memberships on individual performance in the South African Oil and Gas Industry (Supervisor: Prof Kai-Ying Alice Chan)

TURN PROJECTS INTO PURPOSEFUL IMPACT
Projects are powerful engines of change, yet without strategic insight and structured thinking, even the most promising initiatives can lose momentum.

The Masters in Project Management (MPM) equips professionals with the analytical tools and leadership capabilities required to guide projects from conception through to benefits realisation across sectors, scales, and life cycles.

The ability to navigate complexity with clarity is one of the most valuable professional assets you can develop, enabling you to deliver outcomes that are both effective and sustainable.

Learn more here: https://www.up.ac.za/graduate-school-of-technology-management/masters-project-management-mpm

EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH SCIENTIFIC THINKING & ADVANCED PROJECT MANGEMENT SKILLS
Thinking about taking your Project Management career to the next level?

The Graduate School of Technology Management at the University of Pretoria invites you to discover the MPM programme, accredited by the PMI GAC and SACPCMP, to experience what happens when industry experience meets academic excellence.

Get your questions answered at our FREE Virtual Open Day!
📅 25 June 2026 | 18:00 – 19:00

Meet our Academic team, connect with current students, and chat with our Admissions team – all from the comfort of your home or office.

Spaces are limited! Secure yours today.
🔗 Register here: https://tinyurl.com/45kpxx34

BRIDGING CONTINENTS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE AI INNOVATION

Researchers and students from the University of Pretoria’s GSTM joined forces with the University of Turku in Finland for an international workshop on Generative AI in education, research and innovation. The collaboration explored ethical, responsible and sustainability-focused AI use across the research process.

Participants worked with advanced AI tools, tackled real-world challenges, and co-developed research papers on topics ranging from smart homes to food waste reduction and agriculture. The exchange also highlighted the importance of AI governance, responsible research practices and AI literacy in higher education.

REIMAGINING FOOD SYSTEMS: INNOVATION FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE

The Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM), University of Pretoria, was represented by Dr. Funke Adedeji at a high-level Food Systems Roundtable hosted by Tetra Pak and the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria.

Held under the theme Delivering Resilient Food Systems, the roundtable brought together leaders across government, industry, and research to address food security through reduced waste and enhanced circularity.

Dr. Adedeji highlighted key challenges - food safety, access to nutritious food, value chain inefficiencies, and carbon impact -emphasizing the often-overlooked “hidden middle” (storage, logistics, and distribution) as a critical area for innovation.

Her contribution included a practical, stakeholder-driven framework to reduce food loss and waste, supported by measurable goals, collaboration, and skills development.

The dialogue reinforced a clear priority: building resilient food systems in South Africa requires coordinated, cross-sector innovation and action.

FOUR GSTM PhD GRADUATES CELEBRATED

GSTM marked a remarkable academic achievement on 18 May as four PhD candidates, Lungile Mashele, Sabelo Dlamini, Prisha Mandree and Martin Mbaya, graduated from the school in a single ceremony - an exceptional milestone reflecting research excellence and scholarly impact.

This proud moment highlights GSTM’s growing contribution to advancing knowledge in technology management and innovation, as well as the dedication of its doctoral scholars and supervisors.

Surrounded by colleagues, academics, and loved ones, the graduates were celebrated for their perseverance, intellectual rigour, and contribution to shaping future-focused research.

A truly inspiring moment in GSTM’s academic journey.

Read more: https://www.up.ac.za/graduate-school-of-technology-management/phd-and-post-doctoral-fellowships

YOUR FOOD'S JOURNEY IS GETTING SMARTER AND GREENER.
Your food travels thousands of kilometres before it reaches your plate. The systems behind that journey are changing fast - and new research shows sustainability is now driving the transformation.

A bibliometric study by Yan Bai, Dongdong Jiang, and Leon Pretorius analysed hundreds of papers to map where sustainable agricultural supply chain research is heading. The findings point to four accelerating trends. Swipe through to explore the key insights.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.17512/pjms.2025.31.1.02

Published in: Polish Journal of Management Studies (2081-7452; E:2081-7452)

GSTM STRENGTHENS GLOBAL RESEARCH COLLABORATION IN LITHUANIA

The Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) proudly participated in an Erasmus+ exchange visit to Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), contributing to the International Scientific Conference “Business and Management 2026”.

Prof Rudolph Oosthuizen, Dumisani Manzini and Peter Agede presented research on AI, organisational resilience, systems thinking and public healthcare infrastructure risk, while also engaging in workshops, networking and international knowledge exchange.

The visit strengthened global academic collaboration, enhanced research visibility and reinforced GSTM’s contribution to international conversations on competitiveness, resilience and sustainable management.

UNLOCK THE SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL BOOK PUBLISHING!
Join the PMSA National MasterClass Event featuring renowned project management expert and author, Prof Herman Steyn.

Gain valuable insights into:
● Writing and publishing a successful book
● Self-publishing vs established publishers
● Commercial success factors for authors
● Copyright, printing, and plagiarism essentials

📅 28 May 2026
⏰ 18:00 – 19:00
💻 Virtual via Microsoft Teams
🎟️ Free Event for All

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an internationally respected expert in project management publishing. Registration closes on 27 May 2026 at 12:00.

Register for the event on the PMSA website at https://www.projectmanagement.org.za/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2057940

Microsoft Teams meeting
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/326999847105838?p=xDr7Z7L6egu1QiaNjK
Meeting ID: 326 999 847 105 838
Passcode: Jc7EY2e9