Mr Brendan Boyce, a lecturer in the Human Settlements programme at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), has won the Overall Best Scientific Paper Award at the prestigious third Pan African Symposium held at the historic University of the District of Columbia in Washington DC, USA.
The symposium, convened by the USA-Africa Collaborative in partnership with the Institute for Human Settlements Practitioners SA, brought together academics, practitioners, and students from Africa, the USA, the Caribbean, and Asia from 23 to 28 June 2025. The gathering aimed to identify solutions to global housing and human settlements challenges.
Mr Boyce presented initial findings from his PhD research, which considers the “Prospects, Constraints and Opportunities to Professionalisation of Human Settlements Practice in SA. The paper stood out among more than 100 submissions presented at the international event.
“I am honoured to have my research recognised on an international stage,” said Mr Boyce. “It is a privilege to represent UFH globally and to showcase the research excellence emerging from African universities.”
His award-winning paper presented a critical review of literature on professionalising the civil service in South Africa’s Human Settlements sector, with a particular focus on the root causes of inefficiencies in service delivery. Drawing on systems thinking, theory of constraints, and institutionalisation of professional practices, the study assessed current policy frameworks and identified key leverage points for implementing professionalisation strategies.
The findings revealed significant systemic barriers hindering effective service delivery but also highlighted encouraging progress at policy, institutional, and inter-organisational levels, with new networks and collaborations emerging to drive professionalisation and improve household living standards and economic growth.
Ms Elizabeth Glenn, convenor and Board Chairwoman of the USA-Africa Collaborative, praised Mr Boyce’s dedication: “Mr Boyce is a founding member of the USA-Africa Collaborative and has consistently represented UFH and South Africa with distinction. We are delighted to recognise his outstanding research and valued his keynote address to this conference.”
Professor Prudence Khumalo of UNISA, who is a member the conference’s scientific committee, added: “This symposium has evolved into a respected platform now supported by the prestigious Frontiers publication. We were impressed by the calibre of contributions and congratulate Mr Boyce on his achievement, wishing him continued success in his academic journey.”