University of South Africa: Expert in 4IR and Digitalization Wins Principal Award for Research Excellence
Mncube is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Science. His research focuses on the institutional research niche area, Fourth Industrial Revolution and digitalisation, with specific reference to ICT as an enabler in the appropriation of e-learning and open educational resources in transforming comprehensive distance e-learning (CODeL) institutions such as Unisa. He consistently aligns his research with tuition and engaged scholarship, contributing to the expansion of knowledge in the field of information science. He has published over 20 research articles in national and international accredited journals.
Mcube holds a PhD in Information Systems (UCT), a Master of Information Science (Unisa) and an Honours in Library and Information Science (UZ). He teaches ICT and research methodology modules in the advancement of information domains. He supervises master’s and PhD students under the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digitalisation, and other ICT-related subjects. His research interests are web technologies, society 5.0, open educational resources, emerging technologies for virtual learning, e-learning, appropriation of ICT, Open Science, digital libraries, decolonisation of ICT and ICT4D in information sectors. He serves in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), representing the Sub-Saharan African Countries in Open Science under the Serials and Other Continuing Resources Section (SOCRS) from 2023 to 2027. Mncube was recently appointed as editor-in-chief of the newly developed journal titled African Journal of Information Science, Fine Arts and Speech Studies (AJISFASS).
The Department of Information Science commends Mncube for his outstanding achievements and celebrates his invaluable contributions to the field of information science. Chair of the department, Prof Lorette Jacobs, applauded him for his resilience and commitment to advancing the profession and discipline of information science. “His passion for ICT and teaching is combined in his research, which provides a platform for other professionals to benchmark and expand their knowledge constructs. Mncube has a bright future as a researcher and educator in information science, and we look forward to further achievements,” Jacobs concluded.