ALI SA congratulates Fellow Professor Reza Daniels on his appointment as Dean of Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (FEMS). Your values-based approach strengthens our shared mission to develop Africa’s visionary leaders.
We sat down with Professor Daniels to explore his vision. Here is what he shared.
Charting Economic Leadership from Stellenbosch
“In the quiet strength of the baobab lies the wisdom to weather storms and bear fruit for generations.” This African proverb guides Professor Reza Daniels as he steps into his deanship amid South Africa’s economic shifts. FEMS (Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences) spans actuarial science, statistics, operations research, logistics, economics, transport economics, agricultural economics, human resources, industrial psychology, business management, the Stellenbosch Business School, the School for Public Leadership, and the School of Accountancy. It houses multidisciplinary centres like the Africa Centre for Inclusive Health Management and the Centre for Sustainability Transitions. “The faculty’s collective influence is potentially enormous,” Daniels notes. “Our graduates and research exert far-reaching effects on society”.
He links this to South Africa’s trajectory: more than a year into the Government of National Unity and six years of reforms against state capture. Rebuilding state-owned institutions and infrastructure positions the nation for robust economic growth and social development. As one of Africa’s top faculties, FEMS will play a pivotal role. Over the next five years, urgent priorities centre on amplifying this intellectual diversity for societal gain.
Harnessing Multidisciplinary Power for National Challenges
Daniels envisions FEMS contributing directly to South Africa’s socio-economic hurdles by uniting departments and schools. “Not only through graduate programmes, but through interdisciplinary research groupings devoted to societal problems,” he says. Stellenbosch University, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, prioritises collaborative learning and teaching, research for impact, purposeful partnerships, and inclusive networks. “It is our ambition to solve these challenges together with civil society and the private sector,” he adds—not in isolation, but in partnership.
Statistics highlight the urgency: South Africa’s youth unemployment stands at 45% (Stats SA), while Agenda 2063 urges inclusive prosperity across Africa. FEMS delivers through practical, impactful initiatives, equipping leaders with tools for ethical progress.
Strengthening Partnerships for Tangible Change
Bridging academia, policy, and development defines Daniels’ life’s work. “This pursuit remains central,” he affirms. As Dean, alongside teaching and research stewardship, he will forge purposeful partnerships. The Stellenbosch Business School and School of Public Leadership offer reach to shape community outcomes, business decisions, government policy, evaluation, and impact assessment. “We link their influence to our academic departments and partner with civil society to problem-solve,” Daniels explains. Centres like the Africa Centre for Inclusive Health Transitions and the Centre for Sustainability Transitions already engage communities directly. Stellenbosch upholds a rich tradition here; Daniels will build on it.
This collaborative spirit mirrors ALI SA’s network, turning knowledge into action—from success to significance.
Cultivating the Economic Leadership South Africa Craves
On leadership, Daniels aligns with the Presidency’s Strategic Plan 2025-2030, calling for concrete trade and industrial policies over a 20-year growth horizon. South Africa needs strategies to harness artificial intelligence and fifth industrial revolution technologies. “The USA and China lead; leveraging these unlocks long-term potential,” he states.
Universities cultivate this via concrete applications for public and private scaling through commercialisation. “This demands purposeful partnerships with clear strategic aims,” Daniels emphasises. Systems-oriented, execution-benchmarked programmes—across universities, public, and private sectors—forge the strategic, self-aware leaders Africa requires.
Defining Success: A Thriving Faculty and Nation
– In a decade, Daniels gauges his tenure by seven outcomes:
– Students experiencing a thriving, welcoming, supportive environment.
– Strengthened within-discipline research outputs.
– More interdisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate offerings and teams.
– Improved staff retention and progression.
– Augmented staff and student transformation.
– Greater social impact.
– Expanded international partnerships with universities and stakeholders.
For South Africa, success means the GNU endures or evolves into a coalition reinforcing constitutional gains—sustained growth, equity, stability.
Professor Daniels’ insights inspire ALI SA Fellows. His FEMS leadership fosters innovators addressing Africa’s challenges with integrity and collaboration.
Fellows, join this momentum. Champion partnerships in your ventures; connect through our network. What leadership step will you take today to advance the Good Society?
