Dr. Eric Bakama Becomes First African to Earn PhD in Quality Engineering at South Africa Varsity
Dr.Eric Bakama,a lecturer and tutor coordinator at the University of Johannesburg (UJ),has made history as the first person in Africa to receive a PhD in Quality Engineering. In addition to his PhD, Bakama holds a national diploma, a BTech, and an MTech in Operations Management. He aims to enhance Africa’s international standing and foster collaboration with other African universities in the future.
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Dr.Eric Bakama,a lecturer and tutor coordinator at the University of Johannesburg (UJ),has made history as the first person in Africa to receive a PhD in Quality Engineering.
His groundbreaking achievement comes as the Department of Quality and Operations Management at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) introduced a new program to address the lack of postgraduate qualifications in the field.
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Bakama’s thesis focused on developing a framework for a robust higher education system in South Africa, integrating quality and Education 4.0. At just 28 years old, Bakama, who began his academic journey at UJ as a student, has progressed to become a lecturer and tutor.
He shared his hope to inspire students interested in this qualification. “I can inspire many young people. By God’s grace, I completed my PhD at 28, and I remain humble. Many students ask me how to achieve this qualification, showing their motivation,” Bakama said. “As African students, we strive for excellence. I hope that in the next five, ten, or fifteen years, we will see many young black academics succeeding and impacting their communities.”
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Bakama attributes his success to the support of his family and colleagues. “The university provided me with a platform. Even now, it feels unreal to be called a doctor. But I want to look beyond that and impact communities through community engagement,” he added.
He also expressed his openness to collaborations to create innovative solutions for the future. “I welcome collaborations at all levels. I want the government to understand that educating people positively impacts South Africa’s economy and international image,” he said.
In addition to his PhD, Bakama holds a national diploma, a BTech, and an MTech in Operations Management. He aims to enhance Africa’s international standing and foster collaboration with other African universities in the future.
