CUT welcomes Dr Valile Dwayi, the new Senior Director: Centre for Global Engagement (CGE).

Dr Dwayi brings a wealth of experience in international higher education, academic leadership, and transformative scholarship to the Central University of Technology. With a distinguished career spanning over 25 years in higher education and training, and over 15 years in senior management roles, Dr Dwayi has been the driving force in advancing higher education transformation, internationalisation, quality enhancement, and leadership development. Prior to joining CGE, he served as the Director of International Higher Education at Walter Sisulu University.

He holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from Rhodes University, and has a strong research background, boasting over 30 accredited publications. His scholarly work focuses on transformation in higher education, particularly in quality, impact, and leadership. As a researcher and social justice activist, he champions disruptive and transgressive scholarship that challenges structural and cultural norms to drive meaningful transformation. His influence extends beyond academia, with affiliations to key organisations dedicated to education, social justice, and gender equity. He is a co-founder of the Higher Education Learning and Teaching Association of Southern Africa (HELTASA) and Director of the Africa Leadership Transformation (ALT) foundation, where he also served as Deputy Chairperson of the International Board of Directors.

Throughout his career, Dr Dwayi has played a pivotal role in international academic collaborations. He has also served as an advisor for several global projects, including NUFFIC-funded initiatives with Erasmus Rotterdam University and Rijks Groningen Universiteit in the Netherlands, as well as Eduardo Universidade in Mozambique. As he takes the helm at CGE, Dr Dwayi is committed to fostering international academic partnerships and advancing the centre’s vision of global academic engagement. His leadership promises to strengthen CUT’s global engagement strategy, drive innovation in global education, and enhance the university’s footprint on the world stage.