Researcher rated alongside his brother

For Prof Zayd Waghid it’s a deeply meaningful and humbling experience to receive his NRF rating alongside his brother and the achievement is not just a personal milestone but a shared family moment that underscores their parallel academic journeys.

Waghid who has received his C3 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) alongside his brother, Dr Faiq Waghid, said it was rare to walk such similar paths at the same time, and it brings with it a profound sense of pride, gratitude, and mutual respect.

 The Acting Director of the Global Institute for Teacher Education and Society (GITES) and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education continued: “We were raised in a family that values education, critical thinking, and social responsibility. There was always encouragement to question, to read, to reflect and to use our knowledge in the service of others. Our parents instilled in us a strong sense of purpose and discipline, and that ethos has shaped how we approach our academic work.”

Reflecting on his brother’s achievement, Zayd said: “I am proud of my brother for reaching this milestone and [I] believe that he will continue to grow professionally and personally. Remain humble and dedicated to the communities we serve.”

The NRF uses a rating system to assess the quality and impact of researchers’ outputs. The prestigious national recognition serves as a useful benchmark to gauge whether researchers are emerging or established in their respective disciplines.

This national recognition is a vital benchmark for determining whether researchers are emerging talents or established leaders in their fields. Waghid’s C3 rating unequivocally highlights him as an established researcher. His case is noteworthy because he proactively requested a re-rating through the Designated Authority at CPUT before his previous rating—a Y-2—was set to expire in 2026. It’s important to emphasise that a Y-rating is exclusively awarded to individuals under the age of 40, making Waghid’s achievement particularly exceptional. “Given my age of 39, receiving a C-rating is a significant achievement.”

His rating underscores his established position in the field of social justice through educational technology within the context of teacher education. He holds the interim position of SARCHi Chair in Teacher Education, where he is involved in several projects aligned with the Chair’s objectives. Notably, one project, which has recently concluded, is dedicated to a book on Initial Teacher Education in South Africa, scheduled for publication later this year by Africa Sun Media. In addition, a project specifically related to my research rating focuses on Global Citizenship Education, which is funded by the NRF for three years with a funding allocation of R1.4 million.

“It’s a significant achievement for me as it shows that my research has been recognised by experts as both advancing my research area and having an impact… And one that I am immensely proud of, despite being in higher education for just over 10 years. It means that the teaching excellence awards I received at CPUT and at the national level, with the CHE-HELTASA Award in 2019, being a Future Professors Programme Alumnus and a Fulbright Scholar, contributed towards the achievement of my rating.”

Waghid who is inspired by his father, Prof Yusef Waghid, an emeritus professor at Stellenbosch University, has notable highlights, including obtaining a Fulbright Scholarship, where he spent time at Cornell University in 2024, and completing the DHET Future Professors Programme in 2023.

 He wants to continue to mentor the next generation of academics, and this means creating spaces for them to grow. “I believe that I can only grow through my interactions with others. I aspire to be an internationally acclaimed researcher, something that can only happen with time and continued commitment.” 

The father who enjoys spending time with his kid says CPUT has offered him opportunities that he could not have acquired from more developed traditional institutions. “I would not have imagined being an acting SARChI Chair during my career. The previous DVC: RTIP, Dr David Phaho, was instrumental in enabling this to happen.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: BoyceAp@cput.ac.za