VUT academic joins the prestigious Future Professors Programme

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) academic, Dr. Fathima Mahomed has been selected to join the prestigious Future Professors Programme (FPP), an initiative of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

Dr Mahomed responded to the Call for Applications for Phase 2 of the FPP in December last year, with hopes to further her academic career. Little did she know that fast forward, she will be one of the thirty-four (34) candidates to join the next intake of the Programme.  Following a rigorous selection criteria, this cohort was recommended to DHET’s Director General for approval, out of one hundred and three (103) applications from twenty-six (26) universities country wide.

This two-year highly competitive national initiative aims to prepare and mentor promising scholars for professorial positions. The FPP is designed to enhance participants’ academic leadership, research skills, teaching excellence, and community engagement. It aims to nurture the next generation of professors, equipping them with the tools needed to navigate the evolving landscape of higher education. The Programme also offers an exciting opportunity for participants to develop a dynamic professional identity, capable of managing change and contributing meaningfully to the future of higher education in South Africa.

As a senior lecturer in Human Resource Management, Dr Mahomed has spent many years shaping future HR professionals. She holds a PhD in Industrial Psychology from the North-West University (NWU) and completed the Teaching Advancement at University (TAU) programme in 2023. Her extensive teaching experience at VUT spans first-year students and advanced diploma candidates. She has also actively assisted HR students with their registrations through the South African Board for People Practices (SABPP) and supported the SABPP student chapter at VUT for several years.

Dr Mahomed expressed her excitement, stating: “As I embark on this journey, I am eager to leverage the mentorship, coaching, and resources provided by the FPP to advance my academic career and contribute meaningfully to the higher education sector. I look forward to the next 24 months, confident that this experience will be transformative in my path to becoming a future professor.”

As VUT continues to strive for excellence, Dr. Mahomed’s achievement marks a positive step forward in the university’s journey to becoming a leading institution that prides itself with being associated with world-class academics who also empower aspiring ones as their aides.

VUT proudly congratulates Dr. Fathima Mahomed on her selection and wishes her a prosperous and rewarding 24 months as she embarks on this remarkable journey.