Africa’s youngest PhD holder becomes Associate Professor at UJ

Date: Oct 5, 2022 | College of Business and Economics, Faculties, Industrial Psychology and People Management, Research

Prof. Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe became a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial Psychology in 2017, breaking an astounding academic record of becoming the youngest female Ph.D. graduate in Africa, at 23.

She enrolled at the University of the North West at the age of 16, and by the time she was 21, she had attained her master’s in industrial psychology. She wasted no time and delved right into her PhD the following year, completing this qualification also, in a record time of two years.

Prof. Saurombe previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the North-West University and later as a Senior Lecturer at the University of the Free State Bloemfontein. She joined the University of Johannesburg in 2021 and was promoted to Associate Professor at the UJ in 2022.

Prof. Saurombe lectures courses in Human Resource Management and Industrial Psychology and supervises postgraduate research. She is also known for the work she does as a civic innovator, particularly concerning women and youth.

Dr. Musa’s research interests are mainly, talent and performance management, talent management of academic staff, women talent, the psychological contract, and employee value proposition.