ICT’s Prof Du earns NRF recognition

The Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is celebrating the achievement of Prof Chunling Du, Head of the Department of Computer Systems Engineering (CSE), who recently received a C2 rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Prof Chunling Du Prof Du’s research focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent systems, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT) and control systems, with applications in smart agriculture, intelligent transportation, healthcare and cybersecurity.

Her work integrates AI, sensing, communication technologies and intelligent control systems to develop practical solutions to real-world challenges. Her research interests include AI- and IoT-based smart agriculture and livestock monitoring, intelligent traffic systems, medical image analysis, electroencephalography (EEG), and brain-computer interfaces.

Prof Du has authored and co-authored more than 150 research publications and has built a dynamic research team comprising academics and postgraduate students. She has also established international research collaborations with researchers in China, Canada and the United States, promoting knowledge exchange and creating opportunities for joint research initiatives.

For Prof Du, the C2 rating represents a significant milestone in her academic career. She regards the recognition as an acknowledgement not only of her individual research contributions but also of the collective support she has received from TUT, the faculty and the department, as well as from her students, colleagues and research collaborators.

The rating is expected to strengthen opportunities for postgraduate supervision, research collaboration, funding and industry engagement. It also enhances the research profile and international visibility of both the ICT faculty and TUT.

Prof Du believes that research excellence is built through consistency, patience and a clear sense of purpose. She encourages emerging researchers to focus on producing high-quality research, maintaining a sustained publication record, building collaborative networks and pursuing research that is both scientifically meaningful and socially relevant.

Looking ahead, Prof Du aims to deepen interdisciplinary and industry collaborations, with a particular focus on translating AI-driven research into practical solutions for pressing societal and industrial challenges. Her NRF C2 rating marks another important milestone in this journey and highlights the growing contribution of the Department of Computer Systems Engineering to research, innovation and postgraduate development at TUT.