The National Research Foundation (NRF) has a long history, dating back to 1984, of instituting a system of evaluating and rating researchers. Annually, researchers from universities and research councils - including international researchers - apply for evaluation by the NRF. Evaluated researchers are put in categories that depict their standing within the scientific community. These ratings are difficult to attain and are thus held in high esteem.
For information about ratings, and the criteria applied to each, visit the NRF website: http://www.nrf.ac.za/
Unisa is proud of all its NRF-rated researchers. One of the portfolio's goals is to provide the support needed for the university's researchers to attain higher ratings, as well as increase the number of NRF rated researchers in general. Not only is support seen as imperative, but numerous incentives are available to those who are rated as further encouragement in their pursuit of excellence.
Below is a list of Unisa's NRF rated researchers with the rating they currently hold:
An A rating is given to researchers who are unequivocally recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their field for high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof D Glasser | Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS) Research Institute | A1 |
| Prof Anthony G Reddie | Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology | A2 |
| Dr K Gazu | English Studies | A2 |
A B rating is given to researchers who enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof D Hildebrandt | Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS) Research Institute | B1 |
| Prof Jimi Adesina | Deanery | B1 |
| Prof S Eiselen | Private Law | B1 |
| Prof NRA Romm | Adult Basic Education | B2 |
| Prof M Coetzee | Industrial and Organisational Psychology | B2 |
| Prof Mohamed Seedat | Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS) | B2 |
| Prof EC Liebenberg | Geography | B2 |
| Prof PF Craffert | Biblical and Ancient Studies | B3 |
| Prof Paul Prinsloo | Business Management | B3 |
| Prof KH Jordaan | Decision Sciences | B3 |
| Prof JS Dreyer | Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology | B3 |
| Prof TA Dube | Mathematical Sciences | B3 |
| Prof J Pretorius | Mercantile Law | B3 |
| Prof SC Ray | Physics | B3 |
| Prof PR Bosman | Biblical and Ancient Studies | B3 |
| Prof GA van den Heever | Biblical and Ancient Studies | B3 |
A C rating is given to established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity in the field who are recognised by their peers as having:
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Naiema Taliep | Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS) | C |
| Prof Pieter Fourie | Communication Science | C1 |
| Prof JM Potgieter | Private Law | C1 |
| Prof J Heaton | Private Law | C1 |
| Prof AE Botha | Physics | C1 |
| Prof KM Malan | Decision Sciences | C1 |
| Prof G Nhamo | Corporate Citizenship | C1 |
| Prof M Mkansi | Operations Management | C1 |
| Prof T Pistorius | Mercantile Law | C1 |
| Prof M Wethmar-Lemmer | Jurisprudence | C1 |
| Prof A Loubser | Mercantile Law | C1 |
| Prof M Kelly-Louw | Mercantile Law | C1 |
| Prof DW Hedding | Geography | C1 |
| Prof MT Gumbo | Science and Technology Education | C1 |
| Prof HB Ebrahim | Early Childhood Education | C1 |
| Prof MC Maphalala | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C2 |
| Prof Nisha Sewdass | Business Management | C2 |
| Prof IM Knobel | Private Law | C2 |
| Prof EF Doungmo Goufo | Mathematical Sciences | C2 |
| Prof VS Vallabhapurapu | Physics | C2 |
| Prof MS Dhlamini | Physics | C2 |
| Prof WFM Luyt | Corrections Management | C2 |
| Prof MI Schoeman | Criminology and Security Science | C2 |
| Prof HA Barnard | Industrial and Organisational Psychology | C2 |
| Prof E Hurter | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof N Martins | Industrial and Organisational Psychology | C2 |
| Prof D Makina | Finance, Risk Management and Banking | C2 |
| Prof Z Robinson | Economics | C2 |
| Prof NM Odhiambo | Economics | C2 |
| Prof JS Wessels | Public Administration and Management | C2 |
| Prof PJ Segalo | Psychology | C2 |
| Prof N Eccles | Corporate Citizenship | C2 |
| Prof IL Potgieter | Human Resource Management | C2 |
| Prof J Murray | Deanery | C2 |
| Prof EN Nxumalo | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof AT Kuvarega | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof TAM Msagati | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof MS Dhlamini | Physics | C2 |
| Prof M Naidoo | C2 | |
| Prof Elsabé Kloppers | C2 | |
| Prof CD Scott | C2 | |
| Prof P Mungwini | Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology | C2 |
| Prof MJ Mphahlele | Chemistry | C2 |
| Prof ME Baloyi | Research Institute for Theology and Religion | C2 |
| Prof MA Kebede | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C2 |
| Prof R van Eeden | Psychology | C2 |
| Prof R Cassim | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Dr M du Bois | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof T Deane | Criminal and Procedural Law | C2 |
| Prof H Ramantswana | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C2 |
| Prof Hossana Twinomurinzi | Computing | C2 |
| Prof De Villiers | Computing | C2 |
| Prof PM Alexander | Computing | C2 |
| Prof Judy van Biljon | Computing | C2 |
| Prof E Mnkandla | Computing | C2 |
| Prof Jan H Kroeze | Computing | C2 |
| Prof. Itumeleng Daniel Mothoagae | Gender and Sexuality Studies | C2 |
| Prof W Bentley | Research Institute for Theology and Religion | C2 |
| Prof A Smith | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof A W Oguttu | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof R Kelbrick | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof H Schulze | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof T McIntyre | Life and Consumer Sciences | C2 |
| Prof S Gildenhuys | Life and Consumer Sciences | C2 |
| Prof LR Brown | Environmental Sciences | C2 |
| Prof CA Mbajiorgu | Agriculture and Animal Health | C2 |
| Prof HI Atagana | Life and Consumer Sciences | C2 |
| Prof AC Horn | Geography | C2 |
| Prof SY Ho | Economics | C2 |
| Prof FT Tabit | Life and Consumer Sciences | C2 |
| Prof Z Wang | Electrical Engineering | C2 |
| Prof X Liu | Research | C2 |
| Prof Legesse Kassa Debusho | Statistics | C2 |
| Prof Felix Bankole | Computing | C2 |
| Prof E Ranganai | Statistics | C2 |
| Ms M Bekink | Mercantile Law | C2 |
| Prof M Noor Davids | Educational Foundations | C2 |
| Prof Lourens Erasmus | Financial Governance | C2 |
| Prof M le Roux | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C2 |
| Prof GF Snyman | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C2 |
| Prof MJ Masenya | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C2 |
| Prof E Oliver | Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology | C2 |
| Prof PJJ Botha | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C2 |
| Prof JM Strijdom | Religious Studies and Arabic | C2 |
| Prof IJJ Spangenberg | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C2 |
| Prof TD Mashau | Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology | C2 |
| Prof KJ Maphunye | Political Sciences | C2 |
| Prof J Maritz | Health Studies | C2 |
| Prof A Kreuiter | English Studies | C2 |
| Prof FS Madonsela (SiSwati) Chair African Languages | African Languages | C2 |
| Prof E Dreyer | Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology | C2 |
| Prof R Barker | Communication Science | C2 |
| Prof OB Onyancha | Information Science | C2 |
| Prof GC Angelopulo | Communication Science | C2 |
| Prof E Bornman | Communication Science | C2 |
| Prof Bernadene de Clercq | Taxation | C2 |
| Prof Barry Ackers | Auditing | C2 |
| Prof E Johnson | Inclusive Education | C2 NRF rating (since January 2021) |
| Prof M Vambe | English Studies | C3 |
| Dr MP Mubiayi | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Prof J Knobel | Private Law | C3 |
| Prof BM Mothudi | Physics | C3 |
| Prof M Braun | Physics | C3 |
| Prof FJW Herbig | Criminology and Security Science | C3 |
| Prof A Mangu | Public, Constitutional and International | C3 |
| Prof M Tekere | Environmental Sciences | C3 |
| Prof D Hodge | Economics | C3 |
| Prof S Mukeru | Decision Sciences | C3 |
| Prof TC Du Plessis | Communication Science | C3 |
| Prof H Nienaber | Operations Management | C3 |
| Prof TTI Nkambule | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Dr I Kamika | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Prof LW Snyman | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | C3 |
| Prof Gordon E Dames | C3 | |
| Prof I Naidoo | Mathematical Sciences | C3 |
| Prof M Khumalo | Mathematical Sciences | C3 |
| Prof H Jafari | Mathematical Sciences | C3 |
| Prof JA Nel | Psychology | C3 |
| Prof HG Wünch | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C3 |
| Prof Elmarie Kritzinger | Computing | C3 |
| Prof VM Ngole-Jeme | Environmental Sciences | C3 |
| Prof AM Tsotetsi-Khambule | Life and Consumer Sciences | C3 |
| Prof H Stoffberg | Environmental Sciences | C3 |
| Prof Renier Steyn | C3 | |
| Prof MM van Wyk | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C3 |
| Prof LI Zungu | C3 | |
| Prof EB Farisani | Biblical and Ancient Studies | C3 |
| Prof Alex Mouton | History | C3 |
| Prof Jo-Ansie van Wyk | Political Sciences | C3 |
| Prof DS Matjila (Setswana) Language Head | African Languages | C3 |
A Y rating is given to young researchers (40 years or younger) who have held the doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years at the time of application, and who are recognised as having the potential to establish themselves as researchers within a five-year period after evaluation, based on their performance and productivity of quality research outputs during their doctoral studies and/or early post-doctoral careers.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof V Msomi | Mechanical Engineering | Y |
| Prof CL De Wet | Biblical and Ancient Studies | Y1 |
| Dr V Masindi | Environmental Sciences | Y1 |
| Prof P Stoop | Mercantile Law | Y1 |
| Prof E Donaldson | English Studies | Y2 |
| Prof N Saurombe | Information Science | Y2 |
| Prof TR Carney | Afrikaans and Theory of Literature | Y2 |
| Prof Elnerine WJ Greeff | Communication Science | Y2 |
| Prof KF Mearns | Environmental Sciences | Y2 |
| Prof A Saurombe | Mercantile Law | Y2 |
| Dr G Mamba | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | Y2 |
| Prof TLA Leshoro | Economics | Y2 |
| Prof J Wessels | Environmental Sciences | Y2 |
| Prof. M Mabelebele | Agriculture and Animal Health | Y2 |
| Prof NO Mapholi | Agriculture and Animal Health | Y2 |
| Prof A du Plessis | Geography | Y2 |
| Prof AW Gunter | Geography | Y2 |
| Prof KEM Krauss | Computing | Y2 |
| Dr Corne Van Staden | Computing | Y2 |
| Prof Adele Da Veiga | Computing | Y2 |
| Prof MS Kgatle | Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology | Y2 |
| Prof VNN Mtshiselwa | Biblical and Ancient Studies | Y2 |
| Prof A Saurombe | Criminal and Procedural Law | Y2 |
| Prof M Swanepoel | Jurisprudence | Y2 |
| Dr JH de Villiers | Jurisprudence | Y2 |
| Dr CA Agyingi | Mathematical Sciences | Y2 |
| Prof GJ van Wyngaard | Y2 | |
| Prof Tshepo Lephakga | Y2 | |
| Dr N Chimwani | Research | Y2 |
| Prof T Matambo | Research | Y2 |
| Dr C Bhondayi | Institute for the Development of Energy for African Sustainability (IDEAS) Research Institute | Y2 |
| Prof MJ Madito | Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability | Y2 |
| Dr KK Blamey | Y2 | |
| Prof J Maluleka | Information Science | Y2 |
| Prof LC van Jaarsveldt | Public Administration and Management | Y2 |
| Prof B Moyo | Economics | Y2 |
| Prof L Leonard | Environmental Sciences | Y2 |
| Prof M Budeli-Nemakonde | Mercantile Law | Y2 |
| Dr Allison Anthony | Public, Constitutional and International | Y2 |
| Prof PS Mbule | Physics | Y2 |
| Prof SJ Moloi | Physics | Y2 |
| Prof L L Noto | Physics | Y2 |
| Professor Eugene Baron | Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology | Y2 |