Prof Stephen M Mutula

Professor Stephen M. Mutula is a Full Professor with academic qualifications in Computer Science, Education, and Information Sciences. He currently serves as the Interim Dean and Head of the School of Commerce at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa. Prior to this, he was Dean and Head of the School of Management, IT and Governance at UKZN. He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated scientist and an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of digital transformation, digital economy, and information management.

Prof. Mutula has an extensive publication record, including peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and book chapters in areas such as digital economies, e-readiness of SMEs, web-based information management, knowledge management, digital government, and e-democracy. Notable publications include The Diasporean: The Southern African Perspectives (Vol. 1) and Beyond Southern Africa (Vol. 2). His research impact is reflected in a Google Scholar h-index of 39, with over 6,200 citations and an i10-index of 130.

In recognition of his scholarly contributions, Prof. Mutula was named a Highly Ranked Scholar (top 0.05%) by ScholarsGPS in 2024 and was ranked #2 globally in the specialty of Digital Economy. He also received the Excellence Award from the Standing Committee on East, Central and Southern Africa Library and Information Professionals (SCECSAL) during its 26th conference held in Mombasa, Kenya.

Prof. Mutula has served on editorial and advisory boards of several leading international journals and has supervised numerous Master’s and PhD theses to completion. He is a sought-after reviewer and moderator for national, regional, and international universities, and is known for his work on digital inclusion/exclusion, ethical dimensions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (i4.0), and knowledge-based development in Africa.

Abstract:

The Ethical Dimension of Information Society and the Quest for Open Science