Dr. Tshililo Farisani | Sustainable Livelihoods | Best Researcher Award
Central University of Technology | South Africa
Dr. Tshililo Farisani is a Senior Lecturer and Director of the Centre for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Studies (CEES) at the Central University of Technology, where he also serves as a Judge for the Africa and Middle East Gender Mainstreaming Awards. He earned his PhD in Leadership Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, focusing on sustaining rural SMMEs through a sustainable livelihoods approach. With more than two decades of experience as an entrepreneur, researcher, and academic, Dr. Farisani has authored a Scopus-indexed academic book, several book chapters, and manuscripts within the past two years. He has presented research at globally recognized conferences in Spain, Japan, the UK, and the USA, and served as session chair in international forums. Recognized for his expertise in entrepreneurship, gender mainstreaming, and sustainable development, he actively contributes as a reviewer for journals and conferences and plays a leadership role in advancing inclusive entrepreneurship education globally.
Profile:
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Education:
Dr. Tshililo Farisani holds a PhD in Leadership Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal where his doctoral research focused on sustaining rural small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) through a sustainable livelihoods approach within South African municipalities. He previously obtained a Master of Commerce in Leadership Studies at the same university, where his dissertation addressed empowering disadvantaged businesses in local economic development projects. Prior to that, he completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership and Management, majoring in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Management. His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography , also from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he specialized in sustainable business, environmental management, and economic geography. This strong multidisciplinary educational foundation has equipped him with advanced expertise in entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and leadership practices, positioning him as a leading academic voice in advancing inclusive business practices and sustainable economic growth in developing contexts.
Experience:
Dr. Tshililo Farisani brings combined entrepreneurial, academic, and leadership experience. He currently serves as Senior Lecturer and Director of CEES at the Central University of Technology, supervising postgraduate research and managing institutional initiatives. Previously, he held academic positions at MANCOSA, Boston City Campus, and the University of South Africa, contributing to postgraduate teaching, PhD supervision, and curriculum development. His research career includes a postdoctoral fellowship at UKZN, where he co-authored publications with graduate students and advanced rural livelihoods research under the SARChI Chair. Beyond academia, he has significant experience in entrepreneurship, having managed TRF Original Security , and engaged in consultancy for the KZN Department of Economic Development. He has also led community-focused projects under Notre Dame’s initiative and Harvard University’s Entrepreneurship Lab. His extensive professional trajectory reflects a balance of academic scholarship, project leadership, entrepreneurship training, and global conference engagement.
Awards and Honors:
Dr. Tshililo Farisani has been recognized with multiple prestigious awards and fellowships for his leadership, research, and entrepreneurial contributions. He is a judge for the Africa and Middle East Gender Mainstreaming Awards and the Southern Africa Gender Mainstreaming Awards in the Economic Development category. he won the KwaZulu-Natal Accenture Gender Mainstreaming Award in the Inclusive Leader category and also received the National Small Enterprise Inclusive Leader Award. Earlier in his career, he was a Bergen Summer Research School Fellow in Norway, focusing on Sustainable Development Goals. His academic excellence has been honored through the Golden Key Award at UKZN, National Research Foundation PhD grants , and the Social Entrepreneurship Award by KZN EDTEA and UKZN . He has also received Tata Africa Scholarships , funding awards for his Master’s thesis, and recognition in national sports leadership. His diverse awards showcase excellence in research, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development.
Research Focus:
Dr. Tshililo Farisani research centers on entrepreneurship, leadership, sustainable development, and inclusive economic growth, particularly within rural and developing contexts. His work emphasizes sustaining small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in South Africa through innovative, sustainable livelihoods frameworks. He has published extensively on topics such as rural entrepreneurship, cannabis legalization and business opportunities, digital transformation in higher education, women’s empowerment in entrepreneurship, and the role of policies in local economic development. His research also explores participatory digital cultures, sustainable farming, social entrepreneurship, and innovation in higher education amidst crises such as COVID. Internationally recognized, he has presented at conferences in Spain, Japan, the UK, and the USA, often serving as session chair or reviewer. His projects integrate sustainability with economic policy, rural development, and inclusive leadership, reflecting a multidisciplinary focus that aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supports entrepreneurship as a driver of social and economic transformation.
Publication:
Title: The impact of social and institutional networks in sustaining South African rural small, medium and micro enterprises during the crisis
Year: 2022
Citations: 14
Title: Assessing the impact of policies in sustaining rural small, medium and micro enterprises during COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
Year: 2022
Citations: 12
Title: Evaluating the capacity of rural-based South African stakeholders in the transformation of small, medium-sized and micro-enterprises
Year: 2022
Citations: 9
Title: Empowering South African rural stakeholders to participate in the legal cannabis market: A sustainable livelihoods approach
Year: 2023
Citations: 5
Title: Redesigning Assessments Post the Corona Virus Pandemic and the Age of Intelligent Technology
Year: 2024
Citations: 3
Title: Accessibility of Digital Higher Education in the Global South
Year: 2023
Citations: 3
Title: The financial legislative role and capacity of municipal councillors at Ulundi Municipality
Year: 2023
Citations: 2
Title: Assessing innovation and entrepreneurship transformations in two South African universities amidst the COVID-19 crisis
Year: 2024
Citations: 1
Title: The drivers of innovation at universities: A case of South African universities
Year: 2023
Citations: 1
Title: Model for Empowering Rural Municipalities’ Stakeholders to Guide Pre-Investment Evaluations by Big Businesses and State-Owned Enterprises
Year: 2022
Citations: 1
Conclusion:
Dr. Tshililo Farisani is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award given his remarkable contributions to entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and gender mainstreaming research. His consistent publications, leadership roles, and international academic participation demonstrate a dynamic and impactful research career. With strategic global collaborations and increased high-impact publications, he has the potential to elevate his influence further on the international stage. Overall, his academic, professional, and societal contributions make him a strong candidate deserving of recognition through this prestigious award.