Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is set to make institutional history as it prepares to confer its first-ever honorary doctoral degree during its Autumn Graduation Ceremony on 23 May 2025. The honour will be bestowed upon Professor Phuti Esrom Ngoepe, an internationally acclaimed scholar in the field of Physics, in recognition of his outstanding academic contributions to Materials Modelling and the advancement of science in South Africa and beyond.
The honorary doctorate will be awarded within the School of Science and Technology, underscoring SMU’s commitment to academic excellence and its growing recognition of transformative figures in science whose work aligns with the university’s mission to advance knowledge that serves society.
Ngoepe’s contribution to the scientific community spans over five decades, with a career marked by prolific research output, groundbreaking computational modelling in Materials Science, and an enduring commitment to mentorship. He has supervised 61 Master’s and 34 PhD students, mentored 16 postdoctoral researchers, and delivered over 1 000 conference presentations across local and international platforms. His academic footprint also includes a vast body of peer-reviewed publications that continue to influence emerging scholars and practitioners in Physics and allied disciplines.
Beyond the lecture halls, Ngoepe has played a strategic role in shaping science policy and research priorities in South Africa. He has served on numerous high-level councils and expert panels, including the Council for Geosciences, MINTEK, the South African Nanotechnology Initiative, and the Platinum Value Addition Initiative Steering Committee.
His accolades include some of the highest national and international honours: the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) awarded by the Presidency of South Africa in 2008 for his contribution to the natural sciences; the Chinese Government Friendship Award (2022); and multiple recognitions from science bodies including the Council for Geosciences, the Black Science, Technology and Engineering Professionals Award, and a 2023 Materials Science Workshop held in his honour.
Speaking on the significance of this conferment, Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli, the Acting Director: Department of Communications and Marketing, remarks: “It is both fitting and symbolic that SMU’s inaugural honorary doctorate is awarded to a scholar of Prof Ngoepe’s calibre, whose work exemplifies scientific rigour, innovation, and impact.”
“ Honouring Ngoepe is not only a celebration of a towering figure in science, but a defining moment for SMU. It signals the university’s unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge that transforms society, where health sciences, technology, and innovation intersect to shape a better future for South Africa, the continent, and the world,” concludes Mphaphuli.
