Mr. Ronny Mabokela | NLP and AI | Best Researcher Award
PHD at University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Koena Ronny Mabokela is a South African computer scientist with a diverse background in technology and education. Currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, he has built a career focused on speech technology, system integration, and tech innovation. With years of experience as an educator, lecturer, and researcher, he also holds a leadership role at the University of Johannesburg, where he serves as Acting Deputy Head of Department and Head of the Technopreneurship Centre. Koena is passionate about fostering technological advancements, particularly in education and enterprise systems.
Profile
🎓 Education
Koena Ronny Mabokela holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of the Witwatersrand (2020-2024). He earned a Master of Science in Computer Science with a focus on Speech Technology at the University of Limpopo (2012-2014). His academic journey includes a Bachelor of Science Honours in Computer Science (2011) and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics (2008-2010), both from the University of Limpopo.
💼 Experience
Mabokela’s career spans various leadership and academic roles. He is currently the Acting Deputy HoD for CEPs/SLPs and Online at the University of Johannesburg. Previously, he served as the Head of the Technopreneurship Centre, managing strategy, projects, and research. He has taught various programming modules and supervised postgraduate students while conducting research and engaging in community development. His professional experience also includes roles at Vodacom and Telkom in business systems integration and product development.
🏆 Awards and Honors
Mabokela has received numerous accolades, including being a session chair for SATNAC 2014 and a peer reviewer for prestigious conferences like IEEE and SATANC. He has also contributed to the scientific community with his published research in areas such as sentiment analysis and AI for under-resourced languages. His leadership skills and contributions to innovation have been recognized throughout his academic and professional career.
🔬 Research Focus
Koena Mabokela’s research interests revolve around speech technology, AI, and multilingual sentiment analysis, particularly for under-resourced languages. He focuses on enhancing language identification and sentiment analysis systems for South African languages. His work includes exploring distant supervision approaches and applying AI to tackle social challenges, as seen in his published papers and presentations at international conferences. His research aims to bridge technological gaps in underrepresented languages and communities.
Conclusion
Koena Ronny Mabokela is an outstanding researcher with a diverse and impactful portfolio that bridges academia and industry. His extensive experience, leadership in academic development, and commitment to advancing knowledge in computer science and technology position him as a top candidate for the Best Researcher Award. While there are opportunities to expand his interdisciplinary work and enhance the practical impact of his research, his contributions to the academic community and the field of technology are significant. His future work promises to continue shaping the landscape of digital innovation and research.