Professor Hossana Twinomurinzi was appointed as the Vice Dean Research and Innovation in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg in April 2023, where he drives the CBE’s strategy to infuse data science into research, teaching/learning and community engagement. He has established three multidisciplinary and inclusive research committees for research funding, research excellence and research quality. Hossana has developed a digital system to improve the CBE administrative procedures and stimulated an enabling collaborative research environment that saw the fastest growth in research output, a 22% increase from 2023 to 2024 - and amended the policy on thesis by articles to align with global best practices and allow more PhD students the opportunity.
Hossana holds a BSc Hons in Mathematics, a Masters (Information Technology), a PhD (Information Technology), and an MSc (Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering). He is a C2 NRF-rated researcher and a 4IR Professor in the College of Business and Economics at the University of Johannesburg. He also serves as a Visiting Professor at the Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum.
Previously, Hossana was the Head of the Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS) at the School of Consumer Intelligence and Information Systems. He was the lead co-founder of the CADS, where he pioneered qualifications in applied data science, focusing on applying AI and data science in non-science fields such as business, economics, and the social sciences.
Hossana kickstarted the Masters in Applied Data Science, which has seen significant enrolment, and he started the DPhil in Applied Data Science, which, within two years, has enrolled more than 15 PhD students and has already graduated one student. Along with colleagues, they are working on developing the much-anticipated Bachelor in Applied Data Science and the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Data Science.
His academic citizenship and scholarship include being an active member of the working group to create South Africa's National AI Strategy. He is also an Associate Editor for the African Journal of Information and Communication and a past Associate Editor for the African Journal of Information Systems. He is the immediate past Chairperson for the ICT4D Flagship at the University of South Africa and the immediate past Secretary for SAICSIT.
He is a member of the editorial boards for multiple academic journals and has served as a convener, panellist, and technical chair at various international and national conferences. He has spearheaded national ICT research projects and conducted contract research across diverse sectors, including the military, government, non-profit organisations, and banking.
Hosanna’s primary research interests are Applied Data Science, Digital Skills, Digital Government, Digital Innovation and ICT for development.
His primary research interests include Applied Data Science, Digital Skills, Digital Government, Digital Innovation, and ICT for Development, where he has supervised the completion of more than 17 Doctoral students.
He has led national research projects on ICT and done contract research in various sectors ranging from the military, government, non-profit organisations, and banking.
He has extensive management and executive experience, serving in chief executive and senior management positions in South Africa, England, Swaziland, and Uganda.
He is a professional facilitator and is occasionally involved in social enterprise activities.