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Episode 57

PROFESSOR JAPIE GREEFF

Professor Japie Greeff: Turning Imagination Into Strategy | Serious Games and Gamification Expert

In this episode of Shapers, host Benjamin Shaw speaks with Professor Japie Greeff – electronic engineer, AI educator and a pioneer in gamification and serious game design.

With over 20 years of experience spanning tech and academia, Japie shares how game-based thinking can reshape education, unlock motivation and drive meaningful progress. From the classroom to real-world impact, this conversation highlights why the future of learning might just look a lot more like play.

Presented by EXEO Capital

Shownotes:

Connect: LinkedIn

Education:

1.        University of Johannesburg – PhD in Electronic & Electrical Engineering, with a focus on Engineering Education and Gamification

2.        Tshwane University of Technology – MTech in Electrical Engineering (Embedded Development)

3.        Tshwane University of Technology – BTech in Telecommunications (with Distinction)

4.        UNISA – National Diploma in Electrical Engineering (Telecommunications)

5.        Centurion College – National Diploma in Electronic Engineering (Industrial Electronics)

 

Professional Career:

  1. Belgium Campus – Research Coordinator: Leading research strategy, staff development, curriculum reform, and external engagement to strengthen academic impact.
  2. North-West University – Associate Professor & Deputy Director: Taught AI, led research in serious games and gamification, and managed postgraduate research programmes.
  3. Britehouse Mobility – Development Manager (SharePoint): Oversaw a team of developers delivering Microsoft stack solutions; also served as technical lead and architecture advisor.
  4. TFT – Senior Electronic Engineer: Designed turnkey test and product systems; specialised in embedded development and PCB design.
  5. UTIL LABS – Senior Technologist: Developed embedded systems and testing frameworks for energy load management and electronics manufacturing.
  6. Zaptronix – Embedded Developer & Support Engineer: Created embedded systems for telemetry and load management; supported field deployments.
  7. HartRAO (NRF Facility) – Technician / Microwave Engineer: Maintained RF and fibre optic systems for SA’s radio astronomy infrastructure, including SKA project support.
  8. HartRAO Science Awareness – Facilitator: Delivered science outreach to thousands of learners and trained educators in effective science teaching.

 

  • Terry Pratchett – “The anthropologists got it wrong when they named our species Homo sapiens (‘wise man’). In any case it’s an arrogant and bigheaded thing to say, wisdom being one of our least evident features. In reality, we are Pan narrans, the storytelling chimpanzee.”
  • Jane McGonigal’s two books – Reality is Broken and Superbetter