Walter Matli (PhD) is currently an Associate Professor in the area of Digital Transformation and Innovation at the Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) at the University of South Africa (Unisa). He is a member of UNISA Senate, SBL ICT steering committee, and serves on other strategic committees. Matli is involved with research, engaged scholarship, academic citizenship, and teaching and learning.
In his 14 years of experience in Academia, Governance and Industry (across domains such as ICT sector, Public Health and Education, and Technology Consulting), he has left a trail of awards and recognitions, publications, and an incredible record of innovative solutions. Matli is a recipient of several awards that include but are not limited to the Vice-chancellor’s Academic Excellence Award, Rectorate’s Award for Teaching Excellence (Highest Recognition category), Annual Research Awards (1st place), and received Special Commendation at the South African Accenture Rising Star Awards.
He has published widely; in refereed local and international academic journals, including African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development (2020); Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning (2021); Education +Training journal (2021); Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research (2021); A book chapter on Institutional, Economic, and Social Impacts of Globalization and Liberalization handbook (2020), and the International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy (2020) among others. At present, he is a reviewer for journals that include but are not limited to Behaviour & Information Technology (Taylor & Francis), Development in Practice (Taylor & Francis), International journal of manpower (Emerald), International journal of social economics (Emerald), and Journal of Business Research (Elsevier). Matli is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning (DHET accredited journal).
Matli is a Publons certified peer reviewer with an interest in ICT4Development cutting across a vast of social issues. He is a multidisciplinary researcher with an interest in ICT4Development cutting across a vast of social issues. His experience involves research on a range of topics that relates to young people in general. Some of his research work entails 4IR on jobs, Artificial Intelligence and Business Digital Futures, Information System Auditing, Remote working, Technology acceptance and use, Digital access and use, Telehealth, Innovation, ICT in Education, and capacity development of People who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs). The bright, enthusiastic, and committed Matli has read and presented academic papers in numerous places and some of the highlights are:
• BRICS Young Scientist Forum, 2018.
•VSS2019SouthAfrica Stakeholders' Perspectives on Sustainable Development and Bio-economy VSS/UNFFS, 2019.
•Nazareth College of Education International Conference on Student behavioural management, Avadi - India.
• Good governance workshop, Chennai – India.
Matli is committed to knowledge production, innovation, and the advancement of socio-economic development of young people in South Africa, Africa, and the world, in particular for the benefit of those who are not in education, employment or training from disadvantaged communities - given the rapid technological advances that continue to create new forms of the divide in the society.
