The prestigious International Lifetime Achievement Award in Education from the London School of Digital Business (LSDB) has been presented to University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). Professor Gabriel Kabanda, Head of Doctoral Programmes at the Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L).
The award, announced during a global virtual ceremony that attracted more than 450 delegates from 107 countries, recognises Kabanda’s outstanding contributions to Higher Education, research, and innovation. He later attended the official award ceremony in Dubai on 6 November to receive the honour in person.
Selected from a competitive pool of 240 nominees across 24 categories, Kabanda’s recognition reflects his sustained scholarly excellence, transformative leadership, and global impact. With more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, 100 international conference presentations, and extensive doctoral supervision, his contributions span Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, blockchain, and educational technology.
His leadership at UKZN exemplifies strategic academic development, evidenced by the integration of AI-enhanced learning analytics and the launch of initiatives such as Sustainable Business Futures aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Kabanda’s academic journey is marked by visionary leadership and institutional transformation. His facilitation of doctoral training workshops, including Pedagogy of Supervision and Academic Writing and Publishing, underscore his commitment to capacity building and scholarly rigour. His strategic alignment with UKZN’s 2023-2032 Strategic Plan and the REACHT values – Respect, Excellence, Accountability, Collegiality, Honesty and Trust – has cultivated a high-performance academic culture within the GSB&L.
The award not only affirms his individual achievements but also elevates UKZN’s international profile.
As noted in his PMRafrica podcast presentation, this honour reflects the convergence of strategic clarity, human capital excellence and values-driven leadership that define service excellence at UKZN.
Kabanda’s recognition by the LSDB is the result of a career dedicated to advancing global education through ethical leadership, innovative pedagogy and transformative research. His achievements serve as a blueprint for institutional resilience and scholarly impact, reaffirming UKZN’s commitment to academic excellence and global engagement.
Words: Lungile Ngubelanga
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini