BLOEMFONTEIN – The Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, has appointed the astute Prof. Samson Sitheni Mashele as the new deputy vice-chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Engagement. He officially started his tenure on 1 November.
Mashele previously held the position of dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences.
The university stated that Mashele has significantly contributed to the university’s growth, and his new role marks an exciting chapter in advancing the university’s research and innovation agenda. The institute described Mashele as a visionary and change-maker for his distinguished scholarship and transformative leadership role in higher education. He is widely recognised for his outstanding record in academic leadership, research innovation and institutional transformation.
Mashele’s career spans several decades during which he made an indelible impact on the South African higher education landscape through his visionary approach to teaching, research, and digital transformation. He has championed excellence across all academic and research domains, driving innovation that bridges science, technology, and societal impact.
A highly accomplished researcher, Mashele established the Drug Discovery and Development Unit, which has since evolved into a centre of international repute. Under his stewardship, the centre has forged global collaborations with leading institutions. His prolific scientific output, comprising over 125 accredited publications in high-impact journals, reflects his sustained contribution to advancing knowledge in drug discovery, pharmacology, and health innovation.
Mashele has supervised more than 50 master’s and doctoral degree students and over five postdoctoral fellows, many of whom now occupy leadership positions in academia and industry.
Mashele’s exceptional contributions have earned him multiple national and international accolades, including recognition as Best Facilitator and a prestigious nomination to “Who’s Who in the World”, an acknowledgment of his global influence in science, education, and innovation.
The university added that Mashele epitomises excellence in scholarship, leadership and impact.
“His unwavering dedication to advancing knowledge, empowering others, and reimagining the role of universities in society continues to inspire transformation, not only at the CUT, but across the broader African and global higher education landscape,” the CUT stated.
