Laurine Chikoko holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Nelson Mandela University, South Africa (Economic Research Southern Africa [ERSA] Certificate of Merit for Meritorious Performance in Economics; Nelson Mandela University Merit Award: First place in the PhD Year of study for 2012). Currently, she is the Executive Dean, of Research and Postgraduate Studies at Midlands State University. Professor Laurine Chikoko has active research interests in financial; monetary; macro and development economics.  She is an accomplished researcher with an established publication record. She participates in programmes run by international bodies on economic policy issues such as Wilton Park (an executive agency of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office providing a global forum for strategic discussions), and Africa Economic Development Strategies (AEDS). Professor Chikoko continues to sharpen her skills in economic analysis as she teaches postgraduate classes and supervision doctoral students in economics