The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) has appointed Professor Mogomme Alpheus Masoga as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, effective from 1 August 2026.

Prof. Masoga holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of the Free State (UFS). He began his academic journey at the erstwhile University of Natal (UN), Pietermaritzburg Campus, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, followed by two Honours degrees and a Master of Arts degree. He subsequently earned a second Master of Arts degree in Musicology, with distinction, from the University of South Africa (UNISA). In addition, Prof. Masoga completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

He has served in several senior academic leadership roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Free State (UFS), Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU), and Research Professor in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Limpopo (UL), as well as in the School of Human and Social Sciences at the University of Venda (UNIVEN).

Prof. Masoga is a respected scholar and acclaimed researcher with a National Research Foundation (NRF) rating. He has maintained a coherent research trajectory with an extensive record of research and publications in the fields of oral history, Africanism, and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. His contributions include managing the NRF’s Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Education Research portfolios, serving as Research Manager for Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and leading the School of Historical Sciences at the former University of the North. He also founded the African Renaissance Centre at the former University of the North and directed the Research Department of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission).

He is the book editor of the series publication titled Knowledge Pathing: Multi-, Inter-, and Trans-Disciplining in Social Sciences, published by AOSIS. He brings extensive and distinguished national and international experience, including substantial management expertise, with the past decade spent in senior leadership roles. He has served as Acting Academic Journal Editor at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), supervised numerous postgraduate students, and acted as an external examiner for a wide range of postgraduate studies. Prof. Masoga is widely published in peer-reviewed journals and academic book chapters. Until recently, he also served as President of the South African Deans Association (SAHUDA).

Currently, Prof. Masoga serves on several key boards and committees. He is the Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR), a member of the Quality Assurance Framework Community of Practice for the Development of the Higher Education Practices Standard (HEPS): Curriculum Transformation under the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and a member of the CHE reference group and research team tasked with developing a framework for transformation of, and in, higher education in South Africa, including a monitoring and evaluation framework.

Furthermore, he serves as Chairperson of the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) Board and the South African BRICS Think Tank, and as a panel member of the reference group for the Policy Framework for the Internationalisation of Higher Education in South Africa. In addition, he is currently the editor of several academic journals.

Given Prof. Masoga’s scholarly and academic background, CUT warmly welcomes him to the University and looks forward to his leadership contributions as the institution advances the implementation of its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan. His appointment comes at an important time as CUT continues to strengthen a student-centred academic ecosystem, enhance student success and support, and position itself as a future-focused University of Technology distinguished by innovation, impactful research, and strong industry partnerships.