The Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management was established in 1968 and is widely recognised as a first class education, training and research service provider in the fields of transport economics, logistics management and supply chain management.

The Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa) was created within the Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management at the University of Johannesburg in response to industry’s need for independent, unbiased, relevant and up-to-date research. The industry, as well as users of the industry’s services, has recognised that world-class transport and supply chain research is absolutely imperative in any developing economy.

ITLS (Africa) has partnered with the Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney http://sydney.edu.au/business/itls as part of a plan to maximise the research potential of each institute and ensure a high level of collaboration and the best of both worlds in terms of cutting-edge research.

In order to maximise the impact of transport and supply chain research on the South African society and economy, the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (Africa) provides specialist high-level research services for both the private and public sectors, focusing on the most urgent research priorities in the country.

ITLS (Africa) has, at its core, the skills, experience and network as well as a long and sound history of providing research excellence to both the public and private sectors, in topics ranging from policy and government strategy to various customised transport solutions in all modes of transport.

ITLS (Africa) is responsible for a range of research and related activities within the Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management. ITLS (Africa) has partnered with the Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney, as part of a plan to maximise the research potential of each institute and ensure a high level of collaboration and the best of both worlds in terms of cutting-edge research.

Both institutions intend to promote and encourage a broad range of academic cooperation initiatives which include:

• Development and promotion of research collaboration in areas of mutual interest.
• Sharing of experience in innovative teaching, development of an international curriculum and course design.
• Exchange of academic materials, which are made available by both parties.
• Exchange of academic staff.
• Sponsoring of cooperative seminars, workshops and other academic meetings on matter of mutual interest.

• To continuously study the transport, logistics and supply chain business environments in South and southern Africa.
• To establish a database on critical and key transport and supply chain trends in South and southern Africa.
• To secure commercial research projects by offering customized client-focused research solutions.
• To optimise, manage and market the dissemination of applied and new knowledge of Masters and Doctoral students.
• To develop a research culture and to increase academic 0utput.
• To publicise research findings through public debates, symposia, briefing sessions and publications.
• To make a meaningful contribution to the southern African transport, logistics and supply chain body of knowledge, including the provision of specialized training programmes.

April 2019

Prof. David Hensher of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies –ITLS (Sydney) visited the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies – ITLS (Africa) in April 2019. He led a team of senior academic researchers on conceptualizing a research project on user preferences across multi-modal transport modes in the Gauteng Province. ITLS Sydney researchers will work closely with ITLS (Africa) researchers on the roll-out of the project and dissemination of information regarding the project results.

April 2017

Professor David Hensher, Director of ITLS, was invited by the University of Johannesburg to present at a Transport Forum seminar on Toll Roads and attend a meeting of the ITLS (Africa) Board of Advice, of which he is a member. At the Toll Roads seminar Professor Hensher spoke on “The Australian experience with toll roads: Road Pricing – Why might it help and work?” and “Toll Saturation and the Implications for Car Commuting Value of Travel Time Saving (VTTS)?”. The other speaker at the seminar was Alex van Niekerk, Manager of Toll and Traffic (Northern Region), South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) who spoke on “The South African policy and experience regarding closed and open road toll systems in the country”.

The Transport Forum is one of the most important platforms in South Africa to discuss all issues relating to transport; it provides insight into policy direction and allows business to remain informed on the latest developments within the transport sector. The Transport Forum has a monthly meeting of the thought leaders within the transport sector of South Africa and provides a unique platform for industries to debate matters of relevance and share knowledge and ideas. Each month credible and expert people within the transport sector are invited to speak on transport related themes of national relevance. The Toll Roads seminar which was reported in one of South Africa’s national newspapers, Business Day, was hosted by the University of Johannesburg which is the home to ITLS (Africa).

ITLS (Africa) was created within the Department of Transport and Supply Chain Management at the University of Johannesburg in response to industry’s need for independent, unbiased, relevant and up-to-date research. In 2007 ITLS (Africa) partnered with the ITLS at the University of Sydney as part of a plan to enhance collaboration between the universities, advance information sharing and dissemination and build research ties. In order to maximize the impact of transport and supply chain research on the South African society and economy, ITLS (Africa) provides specialist high-level research services for both the private and public sectors, focusing on the most urgent research priorities in the country.

Dr Joash Mageto and Prof Rose Luke met with the Hon Kipchumba Murkomen, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Roads and Transport during the 7th BRI Conference at the University of Nairobi in Nairobi, Kenya.