About
Dr. Beata Buhlungu is an economic sociologist and higher education leader with over 20 years of experience in academia, research, and international relations. Her work focuses on international business, South–South foreign direct investment, and the socioeconomic impact of South African multinational enterprises across Africa. She has held senior leadership positions at leading South African universities and is widely recognised for advancing higher education internationalisation, strategic partnerships, and multidisciplinary research collaborations.
Biography
Dr. Beata Buhlungu is an accomplished economic sociologist, researcher, and higher education executive with over 20 years of experience in academia, research, policy, and international relations. Her work focuses on international business, particularly South–South foreign direct investment and the activities of South African multinational enterprises in African host countries, examining their socioeconomic, political, and cultural impact, including business practices, leadership approaches, labour relations, and mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector. She has led national investment climate studies, including research commissioned by the United States Department of Labor in Mozambique, and has made significant scholarly contributions through her publications in labour studies, industrial relations, and economic sociology. In addition to her research, Dr. Buhlungu has taught and supervised postgraduate students in sociology, business management, and economic history, while holding senior leadership positions at Nelson Mandela University, the University of Cape Town, the University of the Free State, the Council on Higher Education, and the Department of Higher Education and Training. An expert in higher education diplomacy and internationalisation, she has developed and implemented internationalisation strategies, forged strategic global partnerships, mobilised resources for collaborative initiatives, and fostered multidisciplinary research that brings together universities, government, industry, and civil society to address complex regional and global challenges.