Degrees Held
- PhD (Science Education) UKZN
- PG Dip HE, UKZN
- Masters (Science Education) UKZN
- BSc, UNISA
- JSED, Springfield
Experience
- Currently Associate Professor of Technology Education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Academic Leader: Teaching and Learning- June 2025
- Academic leader Bachelor of Education programme (2019 to May 2025).
- Academic Advising Professional Development- UFS ( Level 1 with distinction)
- School Management Committee: 2019 to date.
- Discipline leader -Technology Education 2014 &2018.
- Coordinators Technology Hons programme.
- Coordinator, School of Education, PhD cohort: 2018.
- Coordinator Technology Master’s program: 2018.
- Eswatini Higher Education Council curriculum review panel- 2024- University of Eswatini
- Curriculum review panel 2024– BED and PGCE- Mancosa
- Curriculum review panel 2024 BED-PGCE-University of Limpopo
- Africa representative to the International Organisation for Science, Technology Education board (IOSTE) – 2020-2025.
- Guest Editor Discover Education special issue: Empowering Future Generations for Global Change. Advancing Sustainable Development Through STEM Education
- Editorial board International Society for Academic in Research (ISFAR).
- International Project Sustain: Research assistant and administrator– 2008-2010.
- External moderator for B. ED modules at the University of Free State, Durban University of Technology, UNISA,
- External moderator for postgraduate modules at the University of Johannesburg, UNISA, University of Witwatersrand and University of Pretoria.
- Examiner of national and international master’s and PhD theses.
- Reviewer of journal articles for:
- The African Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (AJRMSTE).
- Eurasian Journal of Research in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (EJMSTE)
- Alternation (UKZN)
- Perspectives in Education (PIE).
- South African Journal of Education (SAJE).
- South African Journal of Environmental Education (SAJEE).
- Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (EJMSTE).
- Discover Education
Professional Bodies Membership
- Member of SACE,
- SAARMSTE
- SAERA
- ISOTE
- ISFAR
- Epsilon Pi Tau and an international Honor Society for professionals in Technology (US-based)
Awards
- Dean’s Award for Teaching and Learning, 2024
- International research award- Sustainability- 2024
- Dean’s award for Teaching and Learning 2020
- Top 10 most published female researchers: CHUM 2018
- Top 30 most published researchers: CHUM 2018
- Teaching Excellence Award: 2018, 2019
- UCDP travel grant
- Early career academic award -2017
- Competitive Research Grant (UTLO): 2014
Research Interests
- Teaching and learning in technology education.
- Practical work, process skills, design process.
- Integration of NS-TECH.
- Education for sustainable development.
- issues of social justice and STEM.
- STEM education and teacher training and development.
Teaching Interests
- Teaching and learning engineering graphics and design,
- Social justice issues in STEM education,
- Indigenous knowledge systems,
- Practical work and process skills,
- Education for sustainable development
- Curriculum and policy issues in STEM
- Use of technologies in teaching STEM
Keynote Speaker
- Keynote speaker: Walter Sisulu University, September 2025:Innovation for a changing world: Co-creating sustainable futures brought through research, Technology, Equity, and Partnership: HEIs in the era of the Anthropocene
- Keynote/lead speaker: Bindura University of Science and Technology, 21-23 August 2025 : Curriculum and Pedagogy for the future: strategy for igniting innovation and industrialization
- International keynote : International Webinar: The Global impact of COVID 19 on teacher education: Transforming challenges into opportunities: Faculty of Education Raja Balwant Singh College, Agra (U.P.), India, June 2020.
- International keynote speaker: College of teacher education, Kotdwar, India, March 2020.
- International Keynote speaker, ISFAR conference, July 2023 Zanzibar.
Visiting Scholar
- Chandigarh University, India, 2019
- Mauritius Institute of Education, Mauritius, 2022
Selected Publications
Chapters in Books
Journal Articles
Chapters in Books
- Naidoo, J &Singh-Pillay, A.(2022) Digital Pedagogy for Mathematics and Technology Education: Exploring the Initiatives at One South African Teacher Education Institution. In Olivier,J., Oojorah, A & Udhin, W (eds). Perspectives on Teacher Education in the Digital Age. Springer Nature
- Singh-Pillay, A. (2021). Pre-service technology teachers’ learning experiences of teaching methods for integrating the use of technologies for the fourth industrial revolution. In Naidoo, J. (ed). Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century: Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. (pp. 106-118). Brill, USA.
- Singh-Pillay, A. & Naidoo, J. (2021). Pre-service teacher educators’ experiences of using mobile technologies in teaching and learning mathematics and technology education for the fourth industrial revolution. In Naidoo, J (ed). Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century: Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution (pp 119-136). Brill, USA
- Mudaly, R, Mabaso, B, Singh, S & Singh-Pillay, A. (2021) Why you touching me? This is scary.” Alcohol,Fear and Miniskirts as Risk Factors in Female Students’ Understandings of Violence on Campus. In Bhana, D., Singh, S & Msibi, T (eds). Gender, Sexuality and Violence in South African Educational Spaces. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave MacMillan
- Khumalo, S; Singh-Pillay, A.& Subrayen, R. Reflections on Differently Abled Students’ Challenges with Online Learning amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown. In Smit, J.A., N. Mkhize, N. Ndimande-Hlongwa & L. Ramrathan (eds.), Alternation African Scholarship Book Series, Volume # 04 – ISBN: 978-0-9869936-5-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29086/978-0-9869936-5-7/2020/AASBS04 ( 188 – 208). Durban: CSSALL Publishers
- Chirikure, T., James, A., Nzimande, N., Singh-Pillay, A. & Naicker, I. A microscope, a stone, a cap and a lampshade: Objects as conduits for recognizing teaching practices as teacher leadership in higher education. In D. Pillay, K. Pithouse-Morgan & I. Naicker (Eds.), Object Medleys: Interpretive possibilities for educational research (pp. 147-162). Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.
Journal Articles
- Singh-Pillay, A. (2023) .Pre-Service Teachers’ Experience of Learning about Sustainability in Technology Education in South Africa. Sustainability 2023, 15, 2149.https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032149
- Singh-Pillay, A & Naidoo J. (2022). Teaching and learning innovations during the pandemic: Reflections on online teaching and learning in the context of Covid-19. Southern African Review of Education, 27(1):77-92.
- Mtshali, T. I., & Singh-Pillay, A. (2022). The Enhancement of Pedagogical Capital by Civil Technology Teachers When Engaged with Practical Assessment Task: A Curriculum Transformation Legacy. Journal of Curriculum Studies Research, 4(2).https://doi.org/10.46303/jcsr.2022.14
- Naidoo, J & Singh-Pillay, A. (2022). Online Teaching and Learning Within the Context Of Covid-19: Exploring the Perceptions of Postgraduate Mathematics Education Students. Mathematics Education Journal, 5(2), 102-114.
- Singh-Pillay, & Sotsaka, D. (2021) Scaffolding Preservice Engineering Graphics and Design Teachers’ Interpretation Ability of Assembly Drawing. Nigerian Journal of Technology, 40 ,(6) , 992 –998.
- Naidoo, J & Singh-Pillay, A. (2021). Online Teaching and Learning Within the Context Of Covid-19. Exploring the Perceptions of Postgraduate Mathematics Education Students Mathematics Education Journals, 5 ( 2).102-114.
- Singh-Pillay, A (2020). Pre-service Technology Teachers’ Experiences of Project Based Learning as Pedagogy for Education for Sustainable Development. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 8(5): 1935-1943. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080530.
- Naidoo, J & Singh-Pillay, A (2020). Exploring Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Development: Embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Universal Journal of Educational Research 8(6): 2501-2508. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2020.080634.
- Samaneka, F & Singh-Pillay, A. (2020) The views and experiences of Grade 10 Life Sciences teachers on the compulsory practical examination. Perspectives in Education. 38(1): 242-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.18820/2519593X/pie.v38i1.17.
- Singh-Pillay, A & Naidoo, J. (2020) Context matters: science, technology and mathematics education lecturers’ reflections on online teaching and learning during the covid-19 pandemic. Journal of Baltic Science Education, 19(6A),1125-1136. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/20.19.00
- Sotsaka, D. & Singh-Pillay, A. (2020). Meeting the challenges first year engineering graphic design pre-service teachers encounter when they read and interpret assembly drawing. Journal of Education. Issue 80, http://journals.ukzn.ac.za/index.php/joe doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2520-9868/i80a04
- Singh-Pillay, A & Sotsaka, D. (2020). An exploration of First Year Pre-service Engineering Graphics and Design Teachers’ Spatial Visualisation Ability at a University of Technology, Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists (JEGYS), 8(2), 681-690, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17478/jegys.639351
- Naidoo, J & Singh-Pillay, A. (2020) Teachers’ perceptions of using the blended learning approach for stem-related subjects within the fourth industrial revolution. Journal of Baltic Science Education. 19(4),583-593. https://doi.org/10.33225/jbse/20.19.583.
- Singh- Pillay, A., & Sotsaka, D.S. (2017). Engineering Graphics and Design Teachers’ Understanding and Teaching of Assembly Drawing. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(5): 1213-1228.
- Singh-Pillay, , Alant, B.P., & Nwokocha, G. (2017). Tapping into Basic 7–9 Science and Technology Teachers’ Conceptions of Indigenous Knowledge in Imo State, Nigeria. African journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology education, 21(2): 125-135.
- Singh-Pillay, A., & Samuel, M.A (2017). Life Sciences teachers negotiating professional development agency in changing curriculum times. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(6):1749-1763
- Singh- Pillay, A & Ohemeng-Appiah, F. (2016). Interconnectedness of technology teachers’ perceptions of the design process to learner creativity. Perspectives in education, 34(2): 70
- Masinga, L., Myende, P., Marias, A., Singh- Pillay, A., Kortjass, M., Chirikure, T., & Mweli, P. (2016). Hear our voices: A Collective Arts-Based Self-Study of Early-Career Academics on Our Learning and Growth in a Research-Intensive University. Educational Research for Social Change, 5(2): 117-135
- Singh, S., Mabaso, B., Mudaly, R., & Singh- Pillay. A. (2016). Policy for Prevention of Sexual Assault on Campus: Higher Education Students’ Perspectives. Alternation, 23(1): 113 – 134
- Singh- Pillay, A. (2015). Pre-service Technology Teachers’ Reflections on their Learning during Service-learning: A Promising Marriage for ‘Pedagogy’. Alternations special edition, 16: 166-188.
- Singh- Pillay, A & Alant, B. (2015). Tracing the policy mediation process in the implementation of a change in the Life Sciences curriculum. African journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology education, 19(1): 12-22.
- Singh, S., Mudaly, R., & Singh- Pillay, A. (2015). The what, who and whereof female students’ fear of sexual assault on a South African University campus. Agenda, 29(3):95-105.
Community Engagement
- Working committee member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation- Department of Science, Technology and Innovation – 2025
- Advisory board of the International Organisation of Science and Technology Education (IOSTE)
- Advisory board member of The International Society for Academic Researchers (ISfAR).
- Advisory board member of The International Education Conference, Kotdwar, India.
- Presented a keynote lecture at the International Education Conference in India in 2020.
- Editor for the SAARMSTE Conference proceeding, 2019
- Part of faculty exchange programme, Chandigarh University, Punjab India, 2021
Student Supervision
PhD
Masters
PhD
I graduated 11PhD students in the Science and Technology Discipline.
- Dahunsi, Fatai Oladotun (220112291): Exploring Technology Lecturers’ Instructional Strategies to Prepare Basic Technology Pre-Service Teachers for Twenty-First Century Teaching- 2025
- Machaka, Mokgadi Elsa (221121641): Unveiling female students’ experiences in engineering disciplines at a technical and vocational education and training (TVET)- 2025
- Solomon Pharamela (223140027): Technical and Vocational Education and Training Lecturers’ Praxis of Developing 21st-Century Skills in Students -2
- Thokozani Mtshali (222116720): Exploring Civil Technology teachers’ pedagogical capital when engaged with Grade 10 Practical Assessment Tasks – 2023
- Henry Matienga (219041818): The Enactment of the Design and Technology Curriculum at Early Childhood Development level in Primary Schools in Zimbabwe. 2023
- Ohemeng-Appiah Frank: Learning to teach the design process using indigenous graphics knowledge at an under-resourced school through a self-study. 2023
- Chedoise Blessing (218085236): An Exploration of how Early Childhood Education Lecturers train Pre-service teachers to use Technologies at a Nigerian University- 2021
- Aladejebi David. Toyin (215081776): An Exploration of the Intended, Enacted, and Achieved Environmental Education Curriculum within the Social Studies Teacher Education Programme at a Nigerian University. 2020
- Sotsaka, Douglas (210555976): Unmasking how pre-service engineering graphics and design teachers read and interpret assembly drawing at a university of technology: A case in UMgungundlovu Kwa Zulu-Natal. 2020
- Gamira, Daniel (213574367): An exploration of pre-service Geography teachers’ understanding and learning of Environmental Education at a University in Zimbabwe. 2019
- Rurinda, Elias (213574317): An exploration of the use of Community-Based Participatory Action Research to create an innovative platform for engaging A-level Biology teachers in Biotechnology within the Biology curriculum in Zimbabwe. 2019
Masters
I have graduated 23 master’s students to date
- Basitheva, Karina (215022294): Intermediate phase teachers’ views and pedagogical practices on integrating Natural Sciences and Technology, Cum Laude, 2025
- Madlala, Andile (219006286): Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in the Teaching of Ecosystems in the grade 8 Natural Sciences Classroom, Suma Cum Laude, 2025
- Masuku, Siyanda (217059458), The Nexus in Pedagogical Practice used to Teach Electricity in Natural Sciences and Technology in Grade 9, A Case Study of the King Cetshwayo District, 2025
- Gambushe, Malibongwe Percival (216033031) : Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in the teaching of structures in the grade 4 Natural Sciences -Technology classroom, 2024
- Hove, Sithembile 219095250: An Exploration of Grade 11 Civil Technology Teachers’ Practice of Promoting Active Learning During Teaching of Graphic Communication: A Case Study of the uMgungundlovu District. Cum Laude 2023
- Machaka, Mokgadi Elsa (221121641): Exploring the impact of the use of technologies on accounting lecturers’ pedagogy during online teaching, 2023
- Mcambi,Zanele Sphokuhle (212502496): Grade 7 Technology Teachers’ Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge in teaching Graphic Communication, 2023
- Sothwa, Kenneth (219095531): Electrical technology teachers’ awareness of learners’ misconceptions about three-phase theory: A case study of uMgungundlovu technical high schools. 2020
- Chilliba, K.D. (212528996) A closer look at how grade 9 technology teachers incorporate critical thinking in their teaching of the design process: A case study in KwaSanti cluster.2019
- Ugwu, Alvin (213569937): An exploration of Intermediate Phase Natural Sciences and Technology Pre-service Teachers’ experiences of learning about Education for Sustainable Development: A Case study at a South African university, Summa cum laude 2018
- Khumalo Chashaza (203507846): An exploration of Grade 9 Technology teachers’ experiences of teaching the Design Process: A case study of Umgungundlovu district. 2018
- Dumakude Magugu (216068816): Exploring grade 12 life sciences teachers’ concerns about teaching evolution in Wartburg, KwaZulu-Natal, 2018
- Nsele Nonhlanhla (216074120): An exploration of grade 12 life sciences teachers’ perceptions of teaching evolution. 2018
- Thompson, Rowan (215078923): Implementation of an Integrated ICT and Basic Adult Education (BAE) course for young mothers using CBPAR in Limpopo. Cum laude, 2017
- Khuzwayo Princess Hlengiwe (72190132): Food for thought: A closer look at Ipolokeng primary schools’ nutrition programme. 2017
- Konadu-Yiadom Emmanuel (216074136): An exploration of Quantity Students’ engagement with engineering graphics and specification drawings. 2017.
- Jagesar Nivesh (200404670): A case study of gender differences in 8th-grade students’ performance in TIMSS 2011 science test in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai schools, 2017
- Sotsaka, Douglas (210555976): An exploration of the interface between Grade 11 Engineering Graphics and Design Teachers’ understanding of Assembly Drawing and their practice: A case study of the uThukela District, KwaZulu-Natal, Summa cum laude, 2016
- Samaneka, Furiwai (214581947): An exploration of Grade 10 Life Sciences teachers’ views on the implementation of the Practical examinations in Life Sciences at selected high schools in the Estcourt region, Cum laude, 2016
- Mesuwini Joseph (214585612): An exploration of the skills set required for sustainable employability of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) engineering graduate: A Case for Majuba TVET College, Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, 2016
- Legg jack, Dagogo (213570929): Employability skills of Technical College graduates: A case for Government Technical College (GTC) in Ahoada Rivers State Nigeria, Summa cum laude 2015
- Nwokocha Godson (212558483): Exploration of basic 7-9 science and technology teachers’ conception of IK as drawn from their lived experiences and classroom practices in Imo State, Nigeria, 2015
- Ohemeng-Appiah, Frank (212562162): Teaching the design process in the grade 9 technology class, 2015.