Dr Mantoa Contravetra Molete, Lecturer and Departmental Manager in the Department of Communication Sciences at CUT Welkom Campus, continues to raise the university’s research profile through her recent awarding of two prestigious national research grants.

These grants, the NRF Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP) Postdoctoral Grant and the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) Junior Researcher Grant for the 2024/2025 period, shows Dr. Molete's significant contributions to her field and the university's research standing.

Her unique research project, titled “Reform of Curricula: Creating the Language Practice Entrepreneur”, addresses a key gap in the Language Practice and Media Studies curriculum-the absence of entrepreneurship-focused training. “Language is a service, and like any other service, it must be marketable. Our students need to know how to sell their skills,” she explained. Through her work, she aims to embed entrepreneurial skills into the programme, preparing students to respond to industry demands and become self-sustaining professionals in the language services sector.

Both grants are envisioned to support early-career academics in achieving their research goals. They will be used for lecturer replacement, funding for conference attendance, and mentorship opportunities, among other things. “These grants will enable us to grow as researchers,” she said. “They create space for collaboration, building networks, and for advancing meaningful research without being overwhelmed by full teaching responsibilities.”

Dr Molete holds a Doctorate in Language Practice and is the first master’s and doctoral graduate produced by her department at CUT. She supervises both master’s and doctoral students and serves in numerous leadership roles, including Chairperson of the Institutional Forum, ALASA, and the Goldfields TVET College Council. Her work continues to align with CUT’s Strategy 2026–2030, which focuses on transformation, academic excellence, and the development of a strong and sustainable research culture.