Research Interests
In the 20+ years that I have been at the University, I have relished the opportunity to drive forwards excellence and enhancement of the student and staff experience in the areas for innovative use of technology to address societal challenges. Through my collaborative initiatives at an internationally multi-partner and multi-national level, I am known as an innovative and creative person who has extensive experience of both academia and industry. For the past 5 years I was also responsible for the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT), establishing it with no funding to a self-sustainable entity with a multi-million rand per year turnover. The CCT is now an established hub for research, innovation and professional consulting in support of using technology as an enabler in South Africa but also internationally. My research interests are of a multi-disciplinary nature including user experience and interaction with technologies, the requirements of a high technology 4th Industrial Revolution-mediated environment and infrastructure, virtual learning environments and innovative digital technologies to enhance healthcare on the African continent.
List of Publications
Darelle has published and presented more than 150 peer-reviewed research papers. She is frequently invited as a keynote speaker at international conferences across the globe.
Supervision
Darelle has successfully supervised 50 students to a Master’s (35) and Doctoral (15) degrees.
Research resulting in:
Policy briefs
• ICT Readiness Maturity Model for South African Schools (Joint policy brief for Department of Science and Innovation and Department of Basic Education)
• Universal design guidelines for inclusive education hearing impaired (DBE)
• Policy brief on Inclusive Innovation Development towards rural development (DST)
• Policy brief to revise School Health Policy based on pilots executed in rural Eastern Cape (DST)
Legislation
• Data Interoperability Standards for roll-out of National Health Insurance (Approved by Parliament, 23 April 2014) (National Department of Health)
Reviews/Reports on:
• Broadband Roll-out Sustainability Model for Rural Eastern Cape (USAASA)
• 4th Industrial Revolution and Education (Department of Communications)