Rate My Professor Roxanne Piderit

Associate Professor Roxanne Piderit is an Information Systems scholar in the Business Innovations and Entrepreneurship Department and Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Management and Commerce at the University of Fort Hare. She holds a PhD in Information Technology from Nelson Mandela University (2012), a Master of Commerce in Information Systems from the University of Fort Hare (2008), a Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Information Systems cum laude from the University of Fort Hare (2006), a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education and Training cum laude from the University of Fort Hare (2014), and a Bachelor of Commerce from Rhodes University (2005). Her academic expertise lies in systems analysis and design, information security, digital transformation in higher education, and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into teaching and learning. Her research focuses on the intersection of technology, society, and education, with particular emphasis on AI in higher education, digital literacy, student success, and the localisation of curricula through indigenous knowledge systems. She has contributed peer-reviewed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters in areas such as e-government, cloud computing, information security, and AI in education. Her recent work explores the ethical and pedagogical implications of generative AI, as well as innovative approaches to enhancing student learning through digital tools and multilingual integration. She has secured and led research grants and collaborative projects, including funding from the National Research Foundation, Mozilla Responsible Computing Challenge, and Digital Humanities initiatives, with collaborations extending nationally and internationally through the South African Sweden University Forum and other multi-institutional initiatives.

Her academic career at the University of Fort Hare spans nearly two decades, beginning as a tutor and progressing through the ranks of Junior Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Associate Professor. She has held several key leadership roles, including multiple terms as Head of Department: Information Systems and currently serving a second term as Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning, providing strategic leadership in curriculum development, academic quality assurance, and innovative teaching practices. She has played a central role in curriculum transformation and qualification development, leading the design and accreditation of new programmes such as the Bachelor of Entrepreneurship and Bachelor of Information Systems. A dedicated educator and mentor, she has supervised numerous postgraduate students at Master’s and Doctoral levels. Her teaching excellence has been recognised through the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award, and she is a TAU Fellow. Beyond the University, she has served as President of the South African Chapter of the Association for Information Systems, contributing to strengthening the visibility and impact of information systems research in South Africa and across the African continent.