Celebrating Research Excellence

 In a strategic initiative aimed at contributing towards increasing research output within CPUT, the Directorate Research Development brought together academics from numerous disciplines and other stakeholders for a week of celebrating research excellence at the Institutional Research Festival 2024.

Day one of the conference focused on integrating work-focused research and the world of business while day two focused on ethics in research. The third day marked the start of a two-day conference centred around CPUT’s Research Focus Areas.

This event marked a defining moment in the institution's commitment to groundbreaking research and academic excellence as Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo, put it in his welcoming address: “The concept of excellence in higher education is very elusive strangely misunderstood, sometimes charged politicised. Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. The University’s raison d’atre is to create a stimulating, challenging and rewarding environment. Therefore, thank you to CPUT for Investing in excellence. Let us always accept where we are and agree where we want to be in 2030!”

Nhlapo also emphasised the importance of good governance in the institution.

Prof Stephanie Burton from Advancing Early Career Researchers and Scholars (AECRS) urged the academics to avail themselves as mentors to emerging academics as she outlined capacity development platforms in the AECRS programmes.

Amongst the speakers was Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, Alderman Eddie Andrews, who decisively addressed the conference on: Relevant, Responsive and Focused Research and the need to tackle urban governance challenges. Andrews asserted the urgent need to confront urban governance challenges. He firmly stated that collaboration between the City and the private sector is essential to effectively tackle social issues and drive significant progress in our communities.

The Research Festival concluded with the awarding of certificates and awards to National Research Foundation-rated researchers as well as for research excellence. The following awards for excellence in research activities were made:

Research Publication – 2021 publications

• Platinum - Prof Vipin Balyan (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Gold - Dr Velaphi Msomi (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Silver - Prof Robertson Tengeh (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Silver - Prof Oluwafemi Oguntibeju (Faculty of Health & Wellness Sciences)
• Bronze - Prof Tiko Iyamu (Faculty of Informatics & Design)

Postgraduate Supervision – December 2021 and April 2022 graduations

• Platinum - Dr Larry Jowah (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Gold - Prof Tiko Iyamu (Faculty of Informatics & Design)
• Silver - Prof Johannes Cronje (Faculty of Informatics & Design)
• Bronze - Prof Vipin Balyan (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Bronze - Prof Charles Laubscher (Faculty of Applied Sciences)
• Bronze - Dr Velaphi Msomi (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)

Research Publication – 2022 publications

• Platinum - Prof Tiko Iyamu (Faculty of Informatics & Design)
• Gold - Prof Victoria Jideani (Faculty of Applied Sciences)
• Silver - Prof Rodney Duffett (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Bronze - Prof Vipin Balyan (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)

Postgraduate Supervision – December 2022 & April 2023 graduations

• Platinum - Dr Larry Jowah (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Gold - Prof Robertson Tengeh (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Silver - Prof Atanda Raji (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Bronze - Prof Justine Daramola (Faculty of Informatics & Design)
• Bronze - Prof Andre de la Harpe (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)

Postgraduate Supervision – December 2023 & April 2024 graduations

• Platinum - Prof Mohamed Kahn (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Gold - Prof Andre de la Harpe (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Silver - Prof Atanda Raji (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Silver - Prof Michael Twum-Darko (Faculty of Business & Management Sciences)
• Bronze - Prof Tiko Iyamu (Faculty of Informatics & Design)

External Funding – For 2023

• Platinum - Dr Conrad Sparks (Faculty of Applied Sciences)
• Gold - Prof Tandi Matsha (Faculty of Health & Wellness Sciences)
• Silver - Prof Tunde Ojumu (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Bronze - Dr Kessie Govender (Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment)
• Bronze - Dr Pamela Welz (Applied Microbial & Health Biotechnology Institute)