Mulala Simatele

University professor at University of Witwatersrand

• South Africa - Johannesburg
• My current job since February 2013

I am currently employed by the University of the Witwatersrand and located in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies (SGAES). My current position and my title within the university and the school is lecturer and I am a professor of environmental management and sustainability science. SGAES is a dynamic multidisciplinary intellectual hub for advancing multifaceted archaeological, geographical, and environmental knowledge globally. It aspires to be a leader in its subject fields in the Global South by being a research-intensive centre of geographical, archaeological, and environmental studies, while maintaining student-centric teaching, all to support Sustainable Development Goals in Africa. In view of this, some of my key duties, obligations and responsibilities include:
• Teaching undergraduate, honours and postgraduate courses in environmental management and sustainability including disaster risk management.
• Supervision of postgraduate students undertaking both taught and research programmes and studying different topics relating to human-environment interactions as well as environmental and disaster management.
• Undertaking administrative tasks mainly related to the Environmental management and sustainability degree pathway.
• Developing and implementing new methods of teaching within the broader framework of environmental management, policy, and sustainable development to reflect changes in areas of my research expertise.
• Designing, preparing, and developing teaching materials in various modules at the undergraduate and post graduate levels.
• Delivering lectures, seminars, and tutorials.
• Assessing students' coursework as well as examinations.
• Supporting students through a pastoral/advisory role.
• Undertaking personal research projects and actively contributing to the institution’s research profile.
• Establishing collaborative links within and outside the university with industry, commercial, community and public organizations and government entities and international organisations.
• Acting as an external examiner for several institutions in South Africa and outside South Africa.
• Dissemination of research findings through international and local conferences as well as workshops.
• Establishing collaborations with different government departments within South Africa and outside of South Africa in the role of providing technical advice and support on environmental issues, climate change and disaster risk management.
• Advancing community development and empowerment through community outreach activities and engagement.