{"id":45277,"date":"2026-11-05T09:41:06","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T09:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/?p=45277"},"modified":"2026-11-05T16:46:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T16:46:17","slug":"vut-appoints-dr-kentse-motsetse-to-lead-chemical-and-metallurgical-engineering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vut.ac.za\/st\/vut-appoints-dr-kentse-motsetse-to-lead-chemical-and-metallurgical-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"VUT appoints Dr Kentse Motsetse to lead Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Dr Kentse Motsetse takes up permanent leadership of VUT\u2019s Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, prioritising teaching, research and student success.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

05 November 2026 | Story by: Thomas Rasehloka | Picture: Peter Masela<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nako ea ho bala metsotso e 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n \"VUT\n
\n Leading the way in Engineering Education! Dr Kentse Motsetse takes up permanent leadership of VUT\u2019s Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, with a focus on strengthening teaching, research and student success.\n\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dr Kentse Motsetse has been appointed Head of the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering (CME) at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), effective 1 October 2026. Her appointment follows nearly five years without a permanent head and brings continuity to the Department\u2019s academic and strategic leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having served as Acting Head of Department and, on several occasions, Acting Executive Dean, Dr Motsetse brings experience in academic management and an understanding of the University\u2019s operations. The Faculty of Engineering and Technology welcomed her appointment, highlighting her academic experience, research expertise and industry engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof Khaled Abou-El-Hossein, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, identified teaching and learning, programme accreditation and student success as priorities for the Department. He also emphasised the importance of accountability and collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Departmental leadership is not only about managing academic activities, but also about inspiring staff, creating opportunities for students and building a department that continuously strives for excellence,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Motsetse holds a National Diploma, Bachelor of Technology (BTech), Master of Technology (MTech) and Doctor of Engineering (DEng) in Metallurgical Engineering from Tshwane University of Technology. She worked in industry-based research and technical roles before entering academia, where she progressed to Senior Lecturer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She credits leadership experience, institutional mentorship and support from colleagues with shaping her approach to the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My vision is for learning and innovation that drives digitally smart and sustainable progress and socio-economic transformation,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her priorities include preparing graduates with the technical, digital and entrepreneurial skills needed in the workplace. She plans to strengthen practical learning through engineering simulations, project-based teaching, mentorship, work-integrated learning and industry-informed capstone projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research and industry partnerships will also form a central part of her work. Her experience includes mineral processing, leaching processes and metallurgical engineering, supported by National Research Foundation (NRF) funding and collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on this work, Dr Motsetse aims to expand research in sustainable mineral processing, environmental technologies, materials development and the green economy. She also intends to draw on the Department\u2019s multidisciplinary expertise to develop partnerships and attract external funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof Abou-El-Hossein said the Faculty would support her through strategic guidance, staff development and opportunities for research and industry collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We encourage Dr Motsetse to lead with integrity and inclusivity, while maintaining a clear commitment to academic excellence and student success,” he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Motsetse\u2019s appointment provides an opportunity to turn these priorities into a coordinated departmental programme, connecting teaching, research and industry engagement with the needs of students and staff. Her approach also places community engagement, effective governance and teamwork at the centre of the Department\u2019s development.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“Dr Kentse Motsetse takes up permanent leadership of VUT\u2019s Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, prioritising teaching, research and student […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":45278,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-45277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news-vaal-university-of-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t