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07 May 2025 | Story Precious Shamase | Photo Supplied
Dr Regret Sunge
Dr Regret Sunge – the newly rated NRF Y2 academic.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is proud to announce that Dr Regret Sunge, Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Finance within the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, has been awarded a prestigious Y2 rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF). This significant achievement highlights Dr Sunge's exceptional potential as a rising leader in the field of economics and finance.

The NRF Y2-rating is bestowed upon young researchers, typically under the age of 40 and within five years of obtaining their PhD, who have demonstrated considerable potential to establish themselves as leaders in their area of expertise. Dr Sunge's inclusion among the 3,8% of newly rated researchers in South Africa highlights the quality and impact of his work.

Dr Sunge expressed his excitement, stating, "I am thrilled to have received the NRF Y2-rating for the period 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2030. Receiving such recognition through this meticulous process in the field of Economics and Finance – which has a share of only 4,9% of total rated researchers – is even more amazing." He further emphasised the rigorous nature of the NRF rating process, and the insightful feedback received.

 

Factors contributing to this recognition

Dr Sunge attributes his success to a combination of personal dedication, collaborative efforts, and institutional support. His PhD thesis provided a strong foundation, with three of the five reviewed papers originating from this work. Subsequent research collaborations with international peers fostered during his PhD journey further enriched his research by integrating the critical fields of agricultural production and environmental sustainability. The growing number of citations his work has received speaks to its increasing relevance and impact.

The academic also acknowledged the significant influence of key individuals on his research journey, including his PhD supervisor, Prof Nicholas NgepahDr Delphin Kamanda Espoir – a research partner, and his postdoctoral host, Dr Calvin Mudzingiri.

Beyond academic research, Dr Sunge's engagement in research consultation with regional and international organisations has played a vital role. In 2022, he formed a team within the United Nations Young Economists Network (UN-YEN) to study Africa's macroeconomic growth. Additionally, he contributed as a research assistant to the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the African Union Commission (AUC) for their annual Africa Development Dynamics (AfDD) publication.

Dr Sunge also highlighted the crucial institutional support he received from the University of the Free State, specifically the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) on the Qwaqwa Campus, where he was a postdoctoral research fellow at the time of application.

 

Impact of the NRF rating on research standing

The Y2 rating is already proving to be a catalyst for Dr Sunge's research endeavours. "It’s a motivator, I am more confident, and it has greatly enhanced my CV," he noted. He anticipates that this recognition will unlock opportunities for further collaborations and access to competitive research grants and funding programmes, both nationally and internationally.

Furthermore, Dr Sunge's achievement while based on the Qwaqwa Campus enhances the University of the Free State's reputation for supporting young researchers and fostering excellence across all its campuses. His rating serves as a significant source of inspiration for his colleagues on the Qwaqwa Campus, particularly within EMS, where NRF-rated researchers are still few. Dr Sunge hopes that his success will encourage colleagues in the faculty to pursue similar achievements through commitment, dedication, and collaboration.

 

Research focus and its importance

Dr Sunge's research primarily focuses on the intersection of agricultural production and environmental sustainability. His work addresses the critical challenge of ensuring food security amid the growing impact of climate change in a sustainable manner. Recognising the dual challenge of increasing agricultural output to combat food insecurity while mitigating climate change, his research aims to inform environmentally sustainable agrifood systems in South Africa and beyond.

Specifically, his research holds local relevance for Phuthaditjhaba, where livestock agriculture is a significant part of the local economy, with the potential to contribute to more sustainable livelihoods. Utilising a range of econometric methodologies, his research approach is adaptable to various fields of study, facilitating collaboration with researchers from diverse backgrounds.

Acknowledging the dynamic nature of research in economics, particularly in econometrics and data analysis, Dr Sunge emphasises the importance of continuous learning through conferences and workshops. He aims to further develop his econometric and critical thinking skills, as well as sharpen his writing abilities, to elevate his research to new heights.

 

Future research trajectory

Looking ahead, Dr Sunge envisions a research trajectory that combines academic rigour with impactful societal engagement. This involves identifying research problems, providing in-depth academic analysis, and developing solutions that directly benefit communities. His future includes initiating research-based interventions and conducting impact assessments. Achieving this vision necessitates securing research grants, supervising postgraduate students, and actively engaging in community initiatives.

 Over the next five years, Dr Sunge aims to transition from a Y2 to a C-rated researcher, a goal that requires careful planning to balance his research and teaching responsibilities. While committed to advancing his research, Dr Sunge remains passionate about teaching and ensuring that his research activities enhance, rather than detract from, his classroom engagement.

 Dr Sunge’s achievement of the NRF Y2-rating is a significant milestone, both for his personal career and for the University of the Free State. His dedication, collaborative spirit, and impactful research focus serve as an inspiration to colleagues and aspiring economists alike. As Dr Sunge eloquently stated, "My word to aspiring economists, especially from marginalised circumstances, is that with the right mindset, commitment and dedication, we can be counted."

News Archive

Public Protector addresses large audience
2012-04-23

Adv. Madonsela condemns corruption and poor service delivery in South Africa.
20 April 2012

Audio of the lecture


Video of the lecture

Apartheid cannot be blamed for poor service delivery in the country - corruption should shoulder the blame. Eighteen years into democracy, South Africa still has a long way to go before it becomes the society it envisaged for itself.

“We are not there yet,” South Africa’s Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, told a packed Wynand Mouton Theatre on the University of the Free State’s Bloemfontein Campus on Tuesday 17 April 2012. She delivered a public lecture on “Academic freedom and corruption in the context of secrecy laws”.

“Are we closer to becoming a society where values such as human dignity are sacrosanct, where freedom for everyone is the order of the day?” Adv. Madonsela asked the audience comprising students, academics and community members. She said corruption is the silent thief that steals the country’s constitutional dream, causing the poor to live undignified lives.

Adv. Madonsela appealed to students and academics to help retrieve the constitutional dream. In encouraging academic discourse on corruption, she said corruption is not only one person’s problem, but that of everybody. She told academics they could help develop the law and so help in the fight against corruption.

Adv. Madonsela, who spent most of Tuesday on the Bloemfontein Campus, met with senior management from the university as well as students earlier.

Her public lecture late on Tuesday afternoon had the Wynand Mouton Theatre bursting at the seams. Some members of the audience sat on the steps inside the theatre to hear the lecture.

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