Graduate School of Technology Management

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Graduate School of Technology Management

We offer post graduate degrees in Engineering-, Technology and Innovation- and Project Management

10/09/2026

WHEN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BREAKS DOWN

Turning research into real-world impact is one of the biggest challenges facing universities, industry and government.

What do you see as the biggest bottleneck in technology transfer?

1. Funding gaps
2. Skills and capability
3. Regulation and compliance
4. Industry linkages

Share your answer in the comments - and tell us why.

09/09/2026

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH AND LEADERSHIP

The Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) at the University of Pretoria proudly celebrates the achievements of one of our PhD candidates, Dr Vhuhwavho Tshavhungwe, who was recently recognised as a Finalist at the South African Women in Science Awards (SAWISA) and awarded the prestigious DSTI–Prof. Keolebogile Shirley Motaung Fellowship.

This remarkable achievement reflects not only a commitment to research excellence, but also the impact of interdisciplinary scholarship in addressing real-world challenges. Through GSTM's PhD programme, our candidate has been able to continue advancing research in the wood processing sector while integrating an Engineering Management perspective, demonstrating how technology management can drive innovation and industry advancement.

We congratulate the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the SAWISA organisers for hosting an inspiring event that celebrates the outstanding contributions of women researchers in South Africa. We also acknowledge initiatives such as the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP), which continue to empower emerging academics and researchers to pursue excellence in both teaching and research.

At GSTM, we are proud to support researchers who challenge boundaries, embrace interdisciplinary thinking, and contribute to meaningful societal and industrial impact. We extend our congratulations on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to seeing the continued impact of this important research journey.

More details: https://www.dsti.gov.za/

07/09/2026

“IN THEORY, THEORY AND PRACTICE ARE THE SAME. IN PRACTICE, THEY ARE NOT.”

The ETM Honours degree brings this quote to life very quickly. The programme gives you strong theoretical foundations, academic depth, and practical tools, and then instantly reminds you that real workplaces rarely behave as neatly as the diagrams suggest.

The programme strikes a good balance between theory and practice, which is what makes the degree so valuable. It pushed me to stretch my abilities, think more critically, and reflect meaningfully on my own workplace and professional context.

The lecturers brought both academic expertise and real-world insight, helping to bridge the gap between what makes sense on paper and what actually happens in organisations.

I found the degree both challenging and rewarding. It made a meaningful contribution to my academic and professional development, not only in theory and in practice, but especially in the translation space between the two. - Stephani Austin

Read more about the ETM programme:
https://www.up.ac.za/graduate-school-of-technology-management/honours-engineering-and-technology-management-etm

03/09/2026

NEW GRADUATES. COUNTLESS POSSIBILITIES.

On 1 September, the Graduate School of Technology Management (GSTM) proudly celebrated the achievements of graduates, including 2 newly awarded PhDs, Lucas J Shabangu and Orrico Ramos Nicolina Maria Sousa at our Graduation Ceremony.

This milestone reflects the dedication, resilience, and academic excellence of our students, who are now equipped to lead innovation, technology, and engineering management across industries. We congratulate each graduate on their remarkable accomplishment and look forward to the impact they will make in shaping the future.

01/09/2026

ONE VIRTUAL DAY. A LIFETIME OF CAREER SUCCESS.

With a progressive curriculum that's constantly evolving to meet changing industry needs, GSTM is the first educational institution of its kind in South Africa.

If you have been searching for a postgraduate degree that offers real-world learning while equipping you with the skills and knowledge needed in a technology-driven world, don't miss the upcoming Virtual Open Day.

📆 17 September 2026
🕛 18:00 - 19:00
✅ Register here: https://tinyurl.com/26w9ejy5

Questions? Visit www.up.ac.za/gstm for more information.

28/08/2026

CONGRATULATIONS PROF SCHALK GROBBELAAR

Congratulations to Schalk Grobbelaar on being selected as a Director of the Institute for Timber Construction South Africa (ITC-SA) during its Annual General Meeting.

The ITC-SA is a registered non-profit company, a SAQA-recognised professional body and an ECSA-recognised voluntary association. It promotes quality, safety, professional development and compliance with industry standards in South Africa’s prefabricated timber roof truss sector.

This appointment recognises Prof Grobbelaar’s professional expertise and provides an important opportunity to contribute to industry development, governance and professional practice. GSTM wish Schalk every success in this role.

More about ITC-SA : https://itc-sa.org/

27/08/2026

REMINDER: VIRTUAL OPEN DAY: 27 AUGUST 2026
Honours in Engineering & Technology Management (ETM)

Join us to meet our Academic team, Students and Admissions team to learn more about the ETM programme, offered by the Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria.

🗓️ 27 August 2026
🕕 18:00 – 19:00 (UTC+02:00)
💻 Online | Join from anywhere!

It’s free, but spots are limited.
👉 Register now: https://shorturl.at/h30kE

Read more about the programme:
https://www.up.ac.za/graduate-school-of-technology-management/honours-engineering-and-technology-management-etm

26/08/2026

SOUTH AFRICA’s CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY HAS A RISK MANAGEMENT PROBLEM

Risk management is one of the most important tools a construction project has. Yet in South Africa, its implementation continues to fall
short, with real consequences for project outcomes.

New research by Schalk Grobbelaar, Kgotatso Masea, and Ferdinand Hassan set out to understand why. Through in-depth interviews with experienced industry professionals, the study identified both the barriers holding risk management back and the enablers that make it work.

The findings are pointed. Inadequate knowledge, communication breakdowns, financial constraints, and resistant attitudes are holding risk management back. But the research also shows what works: leadership support, clear policies, and proactive engagement. From these findings, the researchers developed a practical framework to help construction organisations close the gap between knowing risk management matters and really making it work.

Kgotatso Masea received the award for the second-best paper published in the South African Journal for Industrial Engineering at the annual SAIIE awards evening.

Access the full paper here:
https://sajie.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/3229/1355

Published in: South African Journal of Industrial Engineering

24/08/2026

FROM CONSTRUCTION TO INNOVATION: BUILDING A FUTURE BEYOND BOUNDARIES

“My path into Engineering and Technology Management was not the obvious one. I had built my academic foundation in Construction Management, and it was a field I was proud of. But I began to feel that there was more I wanted to understand, not just how things are built, but how technology is managed, how innovation is led, and how we can think more clearly about the big, messy problems the world keeps presenting us with. So I made a decision to follow that feeling, and I have not regretted it for a single day.

The ETM programme gave me exactly what I was looking for. Modules like Systems Thinking and Engineering, Technology and Innovation Management, and Engineering Technology Economics did not just teach me content. They changed the way I see things. I came in hoping to find better answers. What the programme actually gave me was a better way of asking questions, and an appreciation for just how deep and layered the world's challenges really are. That, to me, is more valuable.

I will not pretend the journey was always easy. There were moments when my group mates and I would look at each other under the pressure of deadlines and workload and say, "We will speak of this in past tense, but for now we have to make sure we speak good things about it." And now, on the other side of it, we absolutely do.

If you are thinking about this programme, take the step. It will stretch you, shape you, and leave you better equipped to face whatever comes next.” - Motlatsi Robert Rankoloko

20/08/2026

INNOVATION METHODS
There are many innovation frameworks - but which ones perform best in the real world? Share your comments: which approach works best in your environment, and what makes it succeed?

- Lean Startup
- Design Thinking
- Stage-Gate
- Agile innovation

Address

Enterprises Building, 140 Lunnon Road
Hillcrest
0083

Telephone

+27124204244

Website

http://www.up.ac.za/gstm

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