Dr Vijay Reddy is a Distinguished Research Specialist in the Inclusive Economic Development (IED) research division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Dr Reddy assumed this position after serving as an Executive Director at the HSRC from 2006 to 2018. The three major thrusts of her research are large-scale achievement studies, skills planning and public understanding of science. In addition, she also conducts life history research.
Dr Reddy holds undergraduate degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (previously University of Durban-Westville), a MEd from Rutgers University in the USA (as a Fulbright Scholar), a Doctorate in Education from the University of Durban-Westville (with joint supervision from the University of Sussex). Her doctoral dissertation, completed in 2000, was entitled: Life Histories of Black South African Scientist: Academic Success in an Unequal Society. Before joining the HSRC, Dr Reddy worked as a high school science and mathematics teacher, in non-governmental organisations involved in science teacher development. She also taught chemistry at the Universities of Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal. Subsequently she joined the Faculty of Education at UKZN and was responsible for the graduate education programme..
Dr Reddy has published a number of journal articles, book chapters, peer reviewed monographs and research reports. She has presented at many local and international conference, including presenting a number of keynote addresses. She co-ordinated the South African component of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study in 2003, 2011, 2015 (and will continue in 2019) and has published extensively on TIMSS. Her recent publication is entitled Making global research locally meaningful and this best reflects her stance related to international achievement studies. She led the multi-year research project, the Labour Market Intelligence Partnership, to support the Department of Higher Education and Training building the Skills Planning Mechanism. She was the lead author of the Skills Supply and Demand Report as well as the technical report to estimate Occupations in High Demand. The analytical approach they used represents a radical departure from manpower forecasting and tries to understand the complexities and intricacies around how supply and demand interact in the South African society and economy and then draw implications for reform. Dr Reddy has undertaken research projects for the National Research Foundation (NRF); the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), British Council, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Advisory Commission on Innovation (NACI)..
