Prof Van Greunen’s role as the Director of the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) at Mandela University, positions her as a trailblazer, who has consistently demonstrated that technology can be a powerful enabler of social transformation.
Her career has been defined by her innovative approach to research and her passion for using technology to improve lives.
Under her guidance, the CCT has emerged as a key player in delivering influential community-driven technological innovations that improve healthcare, education, and quality of life.
Her efforts have been particularly fruitful for marginalised communities, where she has worked to create opportunities for youth and women to enter the tech workforce and gain the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
“I have a fascination with innovation and how technology can be used as a catalyst for social transformation. My career has always been around community interventions and looking at how to support communities to co-create solutions to their challenges,” says Prof Van Greunen.
“Being the only person in academia to receive this award in 2024 says something about Mandela University and how we live in service of society, and how we live the University’s values”.
With technology, specifically mobile technology, playing a key and rapidly increasing role in facilitating community-level knowledge, the CCT engages with community members, particularly in South African townships and rural areas, to co-design technology solutions for everyday challenges, making technology an enabler.
“Our research requires a comprehensive understanding of the technical knowledge, infrastructure and socio-economic landscape of the communities we partner, to ensure that whatever technology solution being developed, addresses the needs and context of the users,” explains Prof Van Greunen.
The CCT, which is part of the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology (EBET), is the only South African university research unit that specifically focuses on ICT solutions for Africa, by Africans, in Africa.
Since 2014, the CCT has grown into an internationally recognised, award-winning research and engagement entity.
Among the projects led by Prof Van Greunen is MHealth4Afrika (Maternal Health For Africa), a digital health project funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 to South Africa, out of seven national submissions.
It is being used to build a mobile, electronic management system for patient/client data in public clinics and hospitals in Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia, focusing on the records and data for pregnant women and their full pregnancy cycle until the newborn phase.
The CCT has also won numerous European awards, such as the Commonwealth Digital Health Awards (CWDHA), a United Nations Award and the Outsystems international user experience and innovation award.
Additionally, Prof Van Greunen, affectionately known as the ‘people’s professor,’ won the National Research Foundation Innovation Award for making research more accessible in communities.
Her collaborative spirit characterises her approach to leadership. She understands that the most meaningful technological advancements come from working closely with communities, listening to their needs, and co-creating solutions.
“It would be great if we could build on the University’s existing partnerships, to extend the innovation footprint beyond the borders of South Africa into the African continent”.
“As we recognise these trailblazers, we hope to not only celebrate their accomplishments but also inspire the next generation of women leaders in STEM. Their journeys are a testament to the impact of diversity and inclusion in driving technological advancement and progress,” said Laura Stebbing, FiftyAfrica CEO.