Nduvho Ramulongo is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Researching Education and Labour (REAL Centre), University of the Witwatersrand. Her doctoral research project evaluates the contribution of vocation skills development initiatives to transformation and inclusive industrial growth in South Africa¡¯s Clothing and Textile industry. She was awarded a Masters in Education- Education Policy and Leadership studies by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her research interest include the relationship between education and development, managing educational change, privatisation of education and evaluation research methods.

Palesa Molebatsi is interested in the relationship between higher education, and the South African society and economy. Her research problem asserts that despite the available work suggesting that universities should, and do contribute to national development, there is only partial evidence regarding how they do so. The aim of the study is to try to better understand and theorise the relationship between higher education and development. The study attempts using two conceptual tools: the ¡®Developmental University¡¯, and the ¡®Public Good¡¯ character of universities, in order to better understand what universities can and cannot do for development.

Cecilia Selepe is a doctoral student at the REAL Centre, University of the Witwatersrand. Her PhD study is focuses on the relationship between higher education and the community. Her study is aimed at unpacking the role of higher education as understood by communities in relation to the notion of the public good and what university-community engagement mean from the society¡¯s perspective. Ms Selepe holds a Master degree in Curriculum studies attained at the University of Witwatersrand. Her research interests are Higher Education and Human Development.

Marloes de Munnik¡¯s PhD research is about learning for work in changing digital technology work-contexts. The aim of the study is to try to increase the understanding about learning for work and using the relations between the human and nonhuman actors in the practice in the construction-engineering professional, as a case study. She holds a Master of Education by coursework and research from Utrecht University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands.  Her current research interests are; educational technology applications for learning, curriculum studies, the changing world of work and implications for education, shifts in work skill requirements, workforce development, and the use of data science to improve educational decision making.

Surprise is a registered PhD student at the Wits REAL Centre. Her research focuses on skills development- water nexus for sustainable development in Urban Cities. She is particularly interested in understanding how human and environmental processes interlink with different ecosystems and how these relationships influence sustainable livelihoods. She uses the idea of inclusive green economy transition as key to building sustainable communities considering that green economy has become the latest strategy in fostering economic development. In her research, she analysis green skills essential to support sustainable water planning and building sustainable communities. Surprise¡¯s research interests are sustainable development and green skills.

Sibusisiwe Mavuso studies skills formation within the South African clothing industry. Her current research explores the interactions and partnerships between education and training institutions and other stakeholders in the clothing and textile clusters in South Africa. Prior to joining the Centre for Researching Education and Labour, she earned a Masters in International Development Studies from Radboud University, in the Netherlands and another Masters in Population Studies from the University of KwaZulu Natal South Africa.

Rudo is a PhD student at the REAL Centre. Her research study investigates effectiveness of Work Integrated Learning in developing occupational competence in students. This is in line with her research interests, which included the TVET NCV curriculum and meeting Industry needs. Rudo holds a Masters Degree in Education ( Education and Work) from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Dandira Mushangai is an awaiting examiners PhD candidate. His doctoral study was  on the Sectors, Skills, and the Economic Evolution of South Africa Programme. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Economic History, History and Archaeology) from the University of Zimbabwe, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Development Studies and a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand. He has a background in teaching, research and small business development.

Dandira has conducted research for the African Monitor; the Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Social Economy (CSESE- University of Johannesburg); the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC- SA); the National Skill Authority (NSA- South Africa); the Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (South Africa); and the Department of Environmental Affairs (South Africa).

His research interest include institutions; inequality, access and social justice; skills formation, knowledge production, transfer and commercialisation; innovation and creative distraction; cooperation, collaboration, partnerships and networks in development; environmental justice and climate change; and the political economy of development.