Rate My Professor Deresh Ramjugernath

Professor Deresh Ramjugernath is the 13th Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, having assumed the role on 1 April 2025. He previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching at Stellenbosch University and held senior positions at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, including Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Pro Vice-Chancellor: Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship. Ramjugernath completed his studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, earning a BScEng (Chemical) in 1993, an MScEng (Chemical) in 1995, and a PhD in Chemical Engineering in 2000. He was appointed professor of chemical engineering at UKZN at the age of 31 and later served as Assistant Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies in the Faculty of Engineering.

His research focuses on thermodynamics and separation processes, including high-pressure vapor-liquid equilibria, liquid-liquid equilibria, phase equilibria with chemical reaction, pyrolysis, gas hydrate separation, and related areas. Ramjugernath has received the NRF President’s Award, NSTF awards, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Research Award from UKZN. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa, the African Academy of Sciences, and the South African Academy of Engineering. Key publications include works on gas hydrate formation in separation processes (2012), estimation of pure component properties such as normal boiling point (2004) and vapor pressure (2008), and activity coefficients in ionic liquids (2003). As a leader in South African higher education, he contributes to institutional governance and academic advancement in engineering and related disciplines.