Another MUT academic has been rewarded for his toils. Dr Khulekani Yakobi, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Office Management and Technology, in the Faculty of Management Sciences, has been granted a Y2 NRF rating. On 21 July 2025, Dr James Meiring, NRF’s Director: Review and Evaluations (RE), penned the following statement to Dr Yakobi: “I have pleasure in informing you that after a rigorous evaluation by peers your application for evaluation and rating has been finalised. Based on the quality and the impact of your research outputs and the comments of the reviewers, you have been placed in the Y category at level Y2.”
Dr Yakobi said he was really delighted to have received the NRF Y rating, he is honoured, humbled, and motivated as a young person. “The award validates the importance and possible effect of my early research efforts. It is a big milestone that reflects the mentorship I have received, the collaborative initiatives that I had the opportunity to participate in, and the support of my academic community,” he said.
Dr Yakobi said that professionally, the Y-rating enhances his academic credibility and visibility, both nationally and internationally. “It opens opportunities for competitive research funding, international collaboration, and leadership in scholarly networks,” said an academic who has published 30 papers. He said the rating also positions him to play a more active role in postgraduate supervision, and ensuring that supervised research leads to publication that will contribute immensely to support his overall academic contribution.
Dr Yakobi said the rating not only encourages him to deepen and widen his research, but also to contribute to the creation of a more inclusive and innovative scholarly environment, particularly in areas that are aligned with national development goals. Dr Yakobi said he considered it a responsibility to continue aiming for quality, mentoring emerging academics, and making important contributions to knowledge production, particularly in South Africa and the broader African context.