Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asheena Singh-Pillay | Sustainability | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Prof. Asheena Singh-Pillay is an Associate Professor of Technology Education and Academic Leader of the Bachelor of Education Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa. With over three decades of experience in education, she is recognized for her leadership in curriculum innovation, academic planning, and pedagogical transformation in higher education. She has been instrumental in national and international educational reforms, STEM advocacy, and professional development initiatives for teacher education.

🔹Professional Profile:

Scopus Profile

Orcid Profile 

Google Scholar 

🎓Education Background

• PhD in Science Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2011)

• Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2016)

• Master’s in Science Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal (2004)

• Bachelor of Science, UNISA (1994)

• Junior Secondary Education Diploma, Springfield (1985)

💼 Professional Development

Prof. Singh-Pillay has served as Academic Leader of the B.Ed. programme at UKZN since 2019, and currently also leads Teaching and Learning activities. Her academic career spans roles as Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, and previously as a high school teacher and master teacher in Life and Physical Sciences from 1986 to 2012. She provides strategic leadership in curriculum development, academic monitoring, and quality assurance across undergraduate education programmes. Her international engagements include keynote addresses, faculty exchanges, and contributions to global educational dialogue on sustainability and technology in education.

🔬Research Focus

Her research focuses on Science and Technology Education, Sustainable Development, Curriculum Innovation, STEM Education, and Teacher Development. She has a strong orientation toward integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) with digital transformation and pedagogical strategies for equity and access.

📈Author Metrics:

Prof. Asheena Singh-Pillay has a Google Scholar h-index of 11, reflecting the influence and citation of her published research in the fields of science and technology education. Her ResearchGate score stands at 361.8, demonstrating active academic engagement and broad readership of her work. She maintains an ORCID profile under the ID 0000-0003-1540-8992 and is also registered with the Web of Science under the ResearcherID AAK-4895-2020. These metrics highlight her consistent scholarly contributions and visibility within both national and international academic communities.

🏆Awards and Honors:

• NRF C2 Rated Researcher (2025)

• Dean’s Award for Teaching and Learning – UKZN (2020, 2024)

• Top 30 Most Published Researchers – UKZN (2018)

• Top 10 Most Published Women Researchers – UKZN College of Humanities (2018)

• Early Career Academic Award – UKZN (2017)

• Guest Editor – Discover Education (2025)

• Keynote Speaker – ISFAR Conference (Zanzibar), Education Webinars (India)

• International Research Award – Sustainability Journal, SciFat (2024)

• Moderator – South African Life Sciences and Natural Sciences Olympiads (2014–present)

• International Faculty Exchange – Chandigarh University (2023)

• Independent Peer Reviewer – SAJEE, Academy of Science of South Africa

📝Publication Top Notes

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Asheena Singh-Pillay exemplifies the qualities of a Best Researcher Awardee—she is scholarly, impactful, innovative, and committed to educational transformation. Her three-decade-long career in teaching, research, and leadership—especially her recent work on ESD, simulation-based learning, and digital equity—has positioned her as a thought leader in her field.

Recommendation: She is strongly recommended for the Best Researcher Award in recognition of her scholarly contributions, sustained excellence, and influence on sustainable and equitable education.