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Recognition from respected research entities

- Wits University

National research associations have awarded accolades to Witsies across a range of scholarly disciplines as well as in research management and ethics.

African Academy of Science of South Africa

The following professors were amongst 44 of the country’s leading scholars and scientists inaugurated as members of the African Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) on 24 October 2024:

ASSAf’s core function is to honour the country’s most outstanding scholars by electing them to membership of the Academy. Members are drawn from the full spectrum of disciplines and new members are elected annually by the existing membership. 

A prestigious and honorable inauguration, membership recognises scholarly achievement. Members are ASSAf’s core asset and give of their time and expertise voluntarily in the service of society.

Furthermore, ASSAf appointed a new Council on 23 October 2024 with Professor Thokozani Majozi at the helm. Majozi is the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Wits and a Professor in the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering. 

Other ASSAf Council members from Wits include Professor Nithaya Chetty, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Irvy (Igle) Gledhill, Visiting Adjunct Professor of Flow Physics; and Linda Richter, Distinguished Professor in the Centre of Excellence in Human Development.

South African Education Research Association

For outstanding contributions to educational research and unwavering dedication to advancing knowledge in education, Professor Brahm Fleisch received the prestigious South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Award.  

SAERA’s main aim is “to professionalise, cohere and improve educational research and academic work in South Africa.”

Fleisch is Professor of Education Policy and Head of the Division of Educational Leadership, Policy and Skills in the Wits School of Education.

His primary research interests are equity in education policy and system-wide instructional change, while his current research and professional work focuses on successful system-wide instructional reform. 

His books include Primary Education in Crisis: Why South African Schoolchildren Underachieve in Reading and Mathematics and (co-authored with Stu Woolman) The Constitution in the Classroom: Law and Education in South Africa, 1994-2008.

Southern African Research and Innovation Association

Eleni Flack-Davison is the Research Legal Adviser, Research Compliance Manager,  Head: Research Integrity Office, and Research Data Protection Officer at Wits. 

Eleni-Flack-Davison-SARIMA-award-Oct24

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) awarded Flack-Davison its award for Professional Excellence in Research Management at the 2024 SARIMA Conference, held in Maputo, Mozambique, on 4 September 2024.

SARIMA is a membership organisation of research and innovation managers that operate at an institutional, national and international level and provides a platform for the promotion and facilitation of best practice in research and innovation management in Southern Africa. 

This award recognises individuals who have been in the Research Management or Innovation Management profession, who are well established, and are making an increasing contribution to their organisation and the R&I Management community.

Flack-Davison was awarded for her outstanding contributions to advancing research management, specifically in the critical areas for research of legal, compliance, ethics, integrity, and data protection.

Dr Robin Drennan, Director of Research Development at Wits, in his nomination of Flack-Davison, wrote, “Under the leadership of Eleni, the Research Legal, Compliance, Integrity, and Ethics Office has significantly advanced strategic initiatives aligned with the Wits Research Strategy.” 

Regarding her contributions to Wits specifically, Drennan wrote, “Since joining the Research Office in 2014, Eleni has significantly transformed research management at Wits with her innovative and practical approach. Her contributions have notably strengthened Wits' research capabilities through several key initiatives.” 

These initiatives include the establishment of Research: Legal Services; creation of the Research Integrity Office; ensuring compliance and governance; benchmarking and training Initiatives; policy development and advisory roles.

“Eleni’s leadership has propelled the Research Legal, Compliance, Integrity, and Ethics Office to uphold the highest standards and set new benchmarks in research ethics and integrity,” wrote Drennan. 

Flack-Davison dedicated the award to her family, and colleagues in the Wits Research Office, acknowledging that their unwavering support and guidance were integral to her achievements.

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