Dr. Nonkanyiso Pamella Shabalala | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Lecturer | University of South Africa | South Africa

Dr. Nonkanyiso Pamella Shabalala (PhD) is a Lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and an emerging leader in environmental education whose work aligns with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. She holds a PhD (2023), MEd (2020), B.Ed. Honours cum laude (2018), and B.Ed. (2017) from UNISA, complemented by a Higher Certificate in Adult Basic Education and Training (2012). Her doctoral research focused on distributed leadership strategies for managing environmental education in KwaZulu-Natal secondary schools, reflecting her commitment to curriculum innovation, indigenous knowledge systems, and climate change education. At UNISA, she lectures large undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts, supervises MEd and PhD students, develops curricula infused with African epistemologies, and contributes to key institutional projects including Climate Change Education and Global Citizenship Education. Her professional journey also includes service as a facilitator at the Durban University of Technology and teaching roles in secondary schools under the Department of Basic Education. A recipient of multiple honors, including the 2021 UNISA Research and Innovation Competition (Social Sciences Doctoral Winner) and the 2021 UNISA Three Minute Thesis Competition (Winner), she currently holds an NRF Thuthuka grant (2024–2026). With 7 publications, , over 2 citations, an H-index of 1, national and international conference contributions, book chapters, and collaborations with scholars in Africa and the UK, Dr. Shabalala continues to advance decolonised and sustainable education through innovative research and academic citizenship.

Featured Publications

Shabalala, N. P., Hebe, H., & Mnguni, L. (2023). Characterization of curriculum leadership by South African school leaders and teachers in environmental education. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 81(3), 401–415.

Shabalala, N. P., & Gumbo, M. (2024). Africanising distributed leadership in environmental education curriculum management. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 39, 1–?.

Shabalala, N. P. (2019). Perceptions of teachers and learners towards the integration of environmental education in the classroom (Doctoral dissertation). PQDT-Global.

Ramulumo, M., & Shabalala, N. P. (2024). Comparing environmental literacy in STEM and non-STEM preschools: Evaluating the impact on young children’s understanding and attitudes. International Journal of Early Childhood, 1–16.

Shabalala, N. P. (2023). Environmental education as a catalyst to teach students about their economy and politics. Jurnal Pendidikan Indonesia Gemilang, 3(2), 306–322.

Dr. Donghwa Kim | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Donghwa Kim, IR Team, Office of Planning, Cheongju National University of Education, South Korea

Dr. Donghwa Kim is a post-doctoral researcher at the Cheongju National University of Education, South Korea 🏫. He earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Sungkyunkwan University in 2024 🎓, with a focus on the relationship between career development, job-search self-efficacy, and college life satisfaction 📚. Dr. Kim has contributed significantly to educational research, publishing works on topics such as labor market outcomes, cyberbullying, and student loan impacts 📊. His innovative use of text mining and multivariate analysis sets him apart in the field of education research, making valuable contributions to policy development and student success 📈.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Research Excellence and Focus

Dr. Kim’s research portfolio spans critical areas in education, including career development, teacher education, labor market outcomes, and student loan impacts on college graduates. His use of text mining and multivariate growth models to explore educational trends highlights his innovative approach to research methodology.For instance, his work on career development and job satisfaction (Kim, 2024) offers insights into the structural relationships influencing students’ career preparation, a vital area of modern educational discourse. His research contributes significantly to understanding how external factors like stress, work experience, and student loans impact student success and post-graduation outcomes.

Innovative Contributions

Dr. Kim’s use of text mining to study cyberbullying and government student loans (Kim & Ban, 2021, 2023) positions him as a forward-thinking researcher utilizing cutting-edge methodologies to uncover trends that shape educational policies. These contributions are not only innovative but also relevant to contemporary challenges faced by educators, policymakers, and students.

Conclusion

Dr. Donghwa Kim’s impressive body of work, innovative use of methodologies, and consistent publication record make him a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award. His research aligns with critical educational challenges, offering both theoretical insights and practical solutions that contribute to the advancement of the field.

Publication Top Notes

The Mediating Effect of Stress on the Relationship between Career Development and College Life Satisfaction (2024) 📅 | Journal of Educational Innovation Research
Exploring the Longitudinal Relationships and Predictors between the Change Trajectory of Externalizing and Internalizing Problem Behaviors (2024) 📅 | Studies on Korean Youth
Research Trends in Labor Market Outcomes Using Text Mining (2024) 📅 | Journal of Vocational Education & Training
Structural Relationship among Career Preparation Behavior and College- and First Job Satisfaction (2024) 📅 | Education Research Institute
A Study on the Research Trends in Bystander at Cyberbullying Using Text Mining (2023) 📅 | Korean Educational Research Association
The Mediating Effect of Work Experience in the Relationship between Burden on Student Loan Repayment and Leisure Time Usage (2023) 📅 | Journal of Education & Culture
Developmental Trajectories and Predictors of Wage in the Early Labor Market for College Graduates (2022) 📅 | Journal of Vocational Education & Training
A Study on the Research Trends in Government Student Loans Using Text Mining (2021) 📅 | The Institute for Educational Research

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