PhD student hones research in Germany

PhD student Khangelani Vuke has returned from an enriching and successful visit to Germany. He was the UCT Department of Information Systems’ first doctoral student to be sent on an exchange programme to Philipps University in the historic city of Marburg in Germany.

Vuke described his month away as “mind-opening, enriching and a great learning opportunity”.

With the help of international researchers, he spent some of his time there honing his research on how South African businesses can pursue strategic digital transformation to achieve a competitive advantage. He also found out more about the rapid technological advances taking place in Germany.

The PhD student, who hails from Mqanduli in the rural Upper Ngqwarha region of the Eastern Cape, said he made progress in narrowing down his research and aligning it to much-needed information and communications technology-based developments in South Africa.

He added that he was keen to advance his research skills and learn more about various research methodologies in the rapidly expanding field of information systems.

“A PhD is a long journey that requires time and fresh thinking, and international exposure is valuable.”

There was much to learn from Germany, he said. The concept of ‘Industry 4.0’ – the name for the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies – was coined there.

“You can see it in the way German businesses, retail and fast-food outlets embrace technological innovations to improve people’s lives,” observed Vuke.

“In South Africa we adapt to technological changes, but there is so much that we can learn from Germany and other developed countries.”

Vuke was very impressed with the way advances in digital technology are woven into everyday life in Germany.

“The city of Marburg has ... fast [open] internet for free surfing. Nowadays, we need the internet for almost everything. Seeing how they do things was very interesting, particularly because I am researching the area of digital transformation in businesses.”

Vuke said he was proud to be from UCT’s Department of Information Systems and that he held his own in debates and discussions with German postgraduate students.

He also found it very interesting to observe the “free and outstanding” education system in Germany.

Exchanging ideas

Vuke would like to establish informal partnerships between UCT and Philipps University for students to exchange ideas, as they had much to learn from each other.

It was extremely worthwhile to have international exposure, he said, to expand his research writing skills and to learn more, with the goal of delivering a quality and relevant dissertation. His German experience was also a tremendous springboard for his PhD studies.

“A PhD is a long journey that requires time and fresh thinking, and international exposure is valuable.”

UCT’s Department of Information Systems, which is in the Faculty of Commerce, has an agreement with the Philipps University of Marburg to extend the effective and mutually beneficial cooperation and the development of academic exchange in education, research and other scientific areas.

Kevin Johnston, Vuke’s PhD supervisor and head of the department, said that Vuke had clearly garnered invaluable information and ideas from his experience in Germany.

“It will strengthen his PhD, particularly in the research methodology he has chosen. I hope and trust that he will continue to use his talent and skills to benefit information systems in South Africa.”

During his stay in Marburg, Vuke was able to visit the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and also managed trips to Belgium and France. He immersed himself in foreign culture – something he would highly recommend to fellow students.