The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Education has secured two major national accolades at the 13th Annual South African Education Research Association (SAERA) Conference, with Professor Jace Pillay receiving the prestigious SAERA Research Honours Award and the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) receiving the Research Recognition Award.
The awards were presented at the SAERA Annual Conference gala dinner on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Gqeberha.
Prof Pillay, South African Research Chair (SARChI) in Education and Care in Childhood and UNESCO Chair in Mental Health and Psychological Support for Teachers and Learners, received the SAERA Research Honours Award, the association’s highest recognition for sustained contributions to education research in South Africa. Prof Pillay was recognised for his substantial and sustained contribution to advancing education research through scholarly outputs, postgraduate supervision and service to the academic community. A Professor of Educational Psychology at UJ, his research focuses extensively on orphans, vulnerable children and children’s rights, contributing to a deeper understanding of the challenges affecting children and their educational wellbeing.
He joins a distinguished list of previous recipients, including Professors Jonathan Jansen, Heila Lotz-Sisitka and Deevia Bhana.
In a second achievement for the Faculty, UJ’s Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM) received the 2026 SAERA Research Recognition Award. Under the leadership of Director and Distinguished Professor Umesh Ramnarain, CALTSTEAM was recognised for its research-driven innovations addressing educational inequalities and expanding access to quality STEAM education. The Centre’s work focuses on integrating Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies, including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI), into teacher education and classroom simulations.
Through this work, CALTSTEAM seeks to translate research into practical educational applications, equipping teachers with innovative approaches to teaching and learning while contributing to more inclusive and accessible education. The Research Recognition Award acknowledges distinctive research contributions addressing significant educational issues with national or global relevance.
One such example is that in 2026, CALTSTEAM trained 20 female science teachers from the Vhembe District in Limpopo through a specialised Short Learning Programme focused on integrating virtual and augmented reality technologies into inquiry-based science teaching. This initiative strengthened teachers’ digital pedagogical competencies, empowering them to create innovative, engaging and inclusive learning experiences in under-resourced schools.
“The recognition of both Professor Pillay and CALTSTEAM reflects the depth and diversity of research within our Faculty. Their work demonstrates how rigorous scholarship can contribute to addressing some of the most pressing challenges in education, from supporting vulnerable children and strengthening learner and teacher wellbeing to advancing innovative approaches to teaching and learning. These awards affirm the importance of research that not only advances knowledge but also makes a meaningful difference in society,” said Executive Dean of UJ’s Faculty of Education, Professor Nadine Petersen.
