Dr Kavita Behara

Academic Profile

Dr. Kavita Behara is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering at Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa, with over 23 years of experience in higher education, research, academic leadership, and industry. She holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and postgraduate qualifications in Higher Education and Educational Technology. Her expertise includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Healthcare Informatics, Internet of Things (IoT), Software Engineering, Educational Technology, and Renewable Energy Systems. Her research focuses on applying AI and emerging digital technologies to healthcare, engineering education, intelligent energy systems, and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on explainable AI and deep learning for medical diagnostics.

Dr. Behara has published peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, and has presented her research at national and international conferences. She collaborates with researchers and institutions in South Africa and internationally, contributing to interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange. She also supervises postgraduate research and is actively involved in curriculum development, programme accreditation, quality assurance, and community engagement.

Her academic contributions have been recognised through the Vice-Chancellor’s Emerging Researcher Award (2025) and Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Excellence Awards (2020 and 2025). She is committed to advancing research, innovation, and technology-enabled solutions that contribute to sustainable development and societal impact.

Research Interests

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Explainable AI, Computer Vision, Medical Image Analysis, Skin Cancer Detection, Healthcare Informatics, Internet of Things (IoT), Intelligent Systems, Software Engineering, Educational Technology, Engineering Education, Renewable Energy Systems, Smart Energy Optimisation, Sustainable Computing, Digital Transformation, and Data Analytics. Her research integrates AI and emerging digital technologies to develop innovative, ethical, and sustainable solutions for healthcare, engineering, education, and industry.