Faculty of Commerce Research Profiles


Ms Erna Kruger-Pretorius

Head of Faculty: Faculty of Commerce 


  • Qualification (s)

    • BA Psychology and Industrial Sociology (PU for CHE)/ (NWU);
    • BA Hons Psychology (PU for CHE)/ (NWU);
    • BA Hons Industrial Psychology (PU for CHE)/ (NWU)
    • PGC in Higher Education (UP)
    • MPhil in Education and Training for Lifelong Learning (US)
    • Candidate PhD in Computer Integrated Education (Continuing) (UP) 
  • Research Interests

    • Lifelong learning

    • Curriculum design

    • Teaching and Learning

    • Computer Integrated Education

  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Erna is a PhD candidate in Computer-Integrated Education at the University of Pretoria and holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy in Education and Training for Lifelong Learning. Erna completed various undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in the disciplines

    of Psychology, Industrial Psychology (including Human Resource Management) and Education. Her academic background and keen interest in Lifelong Learning has led to her co-authoring a variety of textbooks in these disciplines i.e. Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Human Resource Management and Training and Development (Education) with these remaining her areas of research interest as well. 

Dr Erika Zeelie

Deputy Head: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • BCom Tourism Management and Industrial Psychology (NWU);
    • Hons Tourism Management (NWU);
    • MCom Tourism Management (NWU);
    • PhD Tourism Management (NWU).

  • Research Interests

    • Tourism Management


  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Erika has completed her PhD in Tourism Management at the North-West University. Her research interest varies from arts festivals, economics in tourism and employees in the tourism industry. Erika is an external examiner for M-studies and examiner and moderator for various institutions.

Dr Conrad van Greunen

Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce 


  • Qualification (s)

    • BCom (General – Business Management and Economics) (NMMU)
    • Honours (Business Management) (NMMU)
    • MCom (Business Management) (NMMU)
    • PhD (Business Management) (NMMU)
  • Research Interests

    • Knowledge management

    • Knowledge sharing

    • Strategic management


  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Conrad van Greunen completed a Bachelor’s degree, specialising in Economics and Business Management, and went on to obtain his PhD in Commerce in 2017. He started his career as a lecturer at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and has worked at various other academic institutions over the past decade, obtaining extensive experience in education management, quality assurance, curriculum development and academic programme accreditation. Conrad has also developed and facilitated various training programmes, focusing on financial management and economics, with organisations such as Eskom, African Bank (ABIL), Ashanti, Mercedes Financial Services and the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC).


    Besides education management, Conrad actively participates in research. He is a member and conference reviewer for The Southern Africa Institute for Management Scientists. Conrad is also a judge for the Nedbank and Old Mutual Budget Speech Competition – a national essay writing competition launched in 1972 in which some of the top economic minds of our country participates. In addition, Conrad acts as a reviewer for selected academic journals and has published several articles that make a valuable contribution to knowledge-intensive organisations. Finally, Conrad is a contributing author and editor of academic textbooks and supervisor of postgraduate students. 


Ms Priya Ramgovind

Senior Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • Bachelor of Business Science (UKZN)
    • MCom in Supply Chain Management (UKZN)
    • PGDip in Higher Education (IIE)
  • Research Interests

    • Supply Chain Management 

    • Logistics Management 

    • Curriculum Development 

    • Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 

  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Priya has completed a MCom in Supply Chain Management (SCM) focusing on survival strategies and has recently completed a PGDip in Higher Education through the IIE. Priya contributes towards the discipline of SCM through the co-editing and co-authoring of discipline specific articles and textbooks. 

Mr Vusumuzi Moyo

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • Diploma in Banking
    • Honours Degree in Economics
    • Candidate MCom Economics Continuing

  • Research Interests

    • Innovation Economics;

    • Trade &Regional Integration (SADC)

  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Vusumuzi is currently studying towards a Master of Economics Degree with Tshwane University of Technology. 

Ms Thandeka Dlamini

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • BA Cultural and Heritage Tourism (UKZN)
    • BSS (Hons) Policy and Development (UKZN)
    • MCOM: Leadership Studies (UKZN)


  • Research Interests

    • Local Economic Development 

    • Youth Development

    • Tourism Management 

    • Marketing Management 

    • Gender Issues 

    • Education

    • Public Policy 


  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Thandeka has completed her Master's degree with a focus on Local Economic Development and Rural Development. She is interested in growing her research portfolio based on her research interests. 

Ms Lesego Marule

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce Hospitality


  • Qualification (s)
    • Bachelor Consumer Science (Hon included)
    • Masters in Consumer Science (on-going)

  • Research Interests

    • Consumer Science space, specifically concerning food, sustainability, consumer psychology, Nutrition

  • ORCiD ID

    N/A


  • Brief Bio

    Having sought out working with food due to my great interest and love for the industry, I completed my qualification in 2014.

    Went straight into the industry, venturing into roles such as cost control, food and beverage management, product development and lecturing in the Department of Consumer and Food Science at the University of Pretoria. 

    Amid all the industry exposure, I pursued my Masters in Consumer Science, having had the honor to present at conferences and engage with other researchers in the food-related industry.

    I am excited about my future research, as I do believe the fields of Consumer Science have the potential to be studied, for the sake of the future, its sustainability, the consumer, and education thereof.


Dr Andria Cornelia du Toit

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • BCom Financial Management - UP
    • BCom (Hons) Business Management - UP
    • MCom Business Management (Business Rescue) - UP
    • Senior Certificate SARIPA Insolvency Law and Practice - Enterprises@UP 
    • Candidate PhD Business Management (Business Rescue) - UP
  • Research Interests

    • Business Rescue

    • Small business distress

    • Strategic Management 


  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Andria is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Pretoria under supervisor Prof Marius Pretorius and is completing her PhD in Business Rescue (Tensions experienced by BRPs during the BR event). Andria is a research supervisor for several honours students and an examiner for honours and MBA candidates. 

Ms Yathika Gowpall

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • B.Com Marketing and Business Management (UKZN)
    • B.Com (Hons) Marketing Management (UKZN)
    • M.Com Marketing Management (UKZN)
  • Research Interests

    • Consumer Behaviour

    • Marketing Management

    • Branding

    • Education


  • ORCiD ID

    https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5817-9419


  • Brief Bio

    Yathika completed a Masters degree with a specialisation in Marketing Management and is interested in pursuing a PhD. She is involved in various fields within academia and is currently an external moderator for Durban University of Technology and North West University. Yathika is also co-editing a textbook in the field of Consumer Behaviour.

Ms Bakhetsile Sandzile Vanessa Mangena

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce


  • Qualification (s)

    • Master of Commerce in Leadership and Economic Development

    • Postgraduate Diploma in Policy and Development Studies

    • Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology, HRM and Drama)


  • Research Interests

    • Local economic development

    • Education learning tools for private higher education

    • Stakeholder engagement in higher education

    • Spatial planning as means for growth and development

    • Redesigning modes of delivery that are fit for purpose


  • ORCiD ID

    N/A


  • Brief Bio

    Bakhetsile Mangena is a researcher in the field of local and regional economic development. Her master's thesis looked on the relationship between social capital and local economic growth in a small town as a regeneration strategy for change. Ms Mangena has investigated several teaching and learning technologies in the private higher education arena throughout the years, as well as contributed to the development of curriculum that addresses contemporary student demands.

Ms Minette Steenkamp 

Head of Programme: Faculty of Commerce 


  • Qualification (s)

    • Master of Philosophy in Strategic Management 
    • Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Business Management
    • Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management


  • Research Interests

    • International Business and Globalization

    • Strategic Leadership

    • The future of management 

    • Education / learning and development 

  • ORCiD ID

    N/A

  • Brief Bio

    Minette has a MPhil in Strategic Management with a focus on International Business Management. She has engaged in impactful teaching practices across commerce qualifications and modules, predominantly at The IIE's Varsity College. Over the course of her career, she has been dedicated to adapting teaching practices to cater to the diverse needs of students and embracing to the changes of the modern technological world. She has experience in both assessment and content development where she worked to engage with content in a creative and meaningful way in order to set assessments that build skills and test knowledge. 


    Minette is interested in what the future holds for management and education. She has also always had a keen interest in how international companies operate in the ever changing global landscape. 


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