Postgraduate Student Presents Research on Upward Communication During BRICS Forum

Postgraduate Student Presents Research on Upward Communication During BRICS Forum

Upward Communication as a Vehicle for Effective Communication was the title of a paper presented by UKZN student and staff member, Ms Simangele Mkhize at the 2nd BRICS Research Forum hosted by the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.

Mkhize is a student in UKZN’s Graduate School of Business and Leadership (GSB&L) and a College of Law and Management Studies’ Academic Monitoring and Support staff member. 

The Forum was part of the 2023 BRICS Summit and presented emerging and senior researchers from all BRICS nations with an opportunity to share and identify research in nations belonging to the organisation under the theme: Building Resilience in the BRICS Countries and Beyond: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development. 

Presenting under the sub-theme of Entrepreneurship and Development in Sharing Knowledge and Innovation, Mkhize’s paper – co-authored with Professor Emmanuel Mutambara – – investigated upward communication as a vehicle for enhancing effective communication. 

‘Upward communication plays a huge factor in impacting how effective communication is,’ said Mkhize.

Having her research selected from more than 300 abstracts submitted and the final 100 presented at the forum by postgraduate students from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has motivated Mkhize to explore doing more research. 

‘It was an honour to have my study chosen as one of the South African submissions and it was an amazing learning experience to receive guidance from BRICS scholars on how to refine my work. I would love to collaborate with other researchers from the BRICS countries to enhance knowledge on improving communications in their organisations and institutions.’ 

Words: Thandiwe Jumo

Photograph: Supplied