Prof Andrew Leitch

Prof Leitch holds a PhD in Physics from the former UPE (1984) and a Post-Doctoral qualification from the Hirst Research Centre, Wembley, UK (1985).

He has been in the employ of the university since 1982 and has risen through the ranks as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor of Physics, Executive Dean of Science and since December 2014, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Engagement).

He has a wealth of international research experience including two stints at the Max-Planck-Institut für Festkörperforschung in Stuttgart, Germany, a two month Visiting Scientist term at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany and numerous other short research visits to foreign institutions.

Prof Leitch is Head of the Optical Fibre Research Unit at NMMU (since its establishment in 2001), a grant-holder (past and present) of various research projects funded by industry in South Africa (Telkom, Aberdare Cables, Corning, etc) as well as the NRF, THRIP, NLC (National Laser Centre) and the ALC (African Laser Centre). Some of these projects have involved international collaboration with research partners in Sweden, Germany, France, Tunisia, Hungary and Senegal.

His disciplined-based research interests include Nanotechnology: Research interest in semiconductor thin film epitaxy (ZnO, etc), defect studies (by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy, Hall effect, DLTS, etc), photovoltaics and renewable energy, and fibre-optics for broadband technologies.

He has supervised/co-supervised more than 50 MSc, PhD and post-doc students and has authored or co-authored more than 100 refereed scientific papers published in journals listed in ISI and international conference proceedings. He holds a C2 research rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa.

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Leitch is responsible for the Research and Engagement activities of the University. Within his portfolio he is also responsibility for partnerships, internationalisation, Short Learning Programmes and Short Courses offered by the university. He is also responsible for NMMU’s Library Services.

His role is to provide strategic leadership in driving the university vision and establishing international partnerships, in line with the Vision2020 strategic objectives of NMMU.