The National Research Foundation (NRF) has a long history, dating back to 1984, of instituting a system of evaluating and rating researchers. Annually, researchers from universities and research councils - including international researchers - apply for evaluation by the NRF. Evaluated researchers are put in categories that depict their standing within the scientific community. These ratings are difficult to attain and are thus held in high esteem.
For information about ratings, and the criteria applied to each, visit the NRF website: http://www.nrf.ac.za/
Unisa is proud of all its NRF-rated researchers. One of the portfolio's goals is to provide the support needed for the university's researchers to attain higher ratings, as well as increase the number of NRF rated researchers in general. Not only is support seen as imperative, but numerous incentives are available to those who are rated as further encouragement in their pursuit of excellence.
Below is a list of Unisa's NRF rated researchers within the College of Education with the rating they currently hold:
A B rating is given to researchers who enjoy considerable international recognition by their peers for the high quality and impact of their recent research outputs.
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof NRA Romm | Adult Basic Education | B2 |
A C rating is given to established researchers with a sustained recent record of productivity in the field who are recognised by their peers as having:
| Name | Department/Institute/Centre/Unit | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Prof MT Gumbo | Science and Technology Education | C1 |
| Prof HB Ebrahim | Early Childhood Education | C1 |
| Prof EC du Plessis | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C2 |
| Prof MC Maphalala | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C2 |
| Prof B Smit | Educational Leadership and Management | C2 |
| Prof J Seroto | Educational Foundations | C2 |
| Prof M Noor Davids | Educational Foundations | C2 |
| Prof MW Lumadi | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C2 |
| Prof F Machaba | Mathematics Education | C2 |
| Prof AJ Hugo | Language Education, Arts and Culture | C2 |
| PRACTICE Mrs CJ KOTZE | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C2 |
| Prof G Van den Berg | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C2 |
| Prof E Johnson | Inclusive Education | C2 NRF rating (since January 2021) |
| Prof MM van Wyk | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C3 |
| Prof JG Ferreira | Curriculum and Instructional Studies | C3 |