Jef Van den Branden

Prof Herman van der Merwe calls himself a “recycled Geneticist”, but his Vice-Chancellor renamed him “e-Man”! Prof Herman is currently Director of the Department Teaching and Learning with Technology at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Professor of Technology Enhanced Teaching & Learning and the CEO of an expert centre called CUTE (Centre for the Utilisation of Technology in Education).

Besides his recognised international expertise on the utilisation and management of technology in education, Prof Herman also serves on various national and international workgroups that do research in his field. He has a keen interest in the manner in which technology can enhance the teaching and learning experience of both lecturers and students, and has read numerous papers, nationally and internationally, on this topic. As chairman and CEO of CUTE, he organises and presents workshops and conferences to promote the empowerment of staff, actively.

Prof Herman acted as chairperson of the mLearn 2005 Conference and is a founder member and one of the directors of the International Association for Mobile Learning (IAmLearn). He is also a member of the advisory committee of the international Online Educa and e-Learning Africa conference series.