Programme Director for the evening, Kgopedi oa Namane (Metro FM broadcaster) with Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng (Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation)
Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng, Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation, is not mincing her words on the portfolio’s stance on excellent research at Unisa. Congratulating the 56 researchers who were recognised in various prestigious categories, Phakeng was speaking at the Research and Innovation awards gala dinner on 14 March 2013.
“Let me make it clear, this research awards gala dinner is about excellence, not about acknowledging potential. There is a tendency in our society today to downplay excellence in favour of mediocrity. This is usually done unwittingly in interactions and considerations about equity, transformation and capacity development.
“There seems to be a perception among some of us in this country that excellence resides only in one group of people or a particular section of our society and thus an acceptance that we cannot deal with issues of equity, transformation and capacity development at the same time as we encourage and recognise excellence. My view is that we can and the achievements of our researchers at Unisa show exactly that,” said Phakeng with pride.
A large part of this platform was honouring all researchers who obtained NRF ratings at the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, and those who have recently joined Unisa.
The focus on research and innovation is now stronger than ever, more so because these disciplines are proving their worth by fulfilling critical social responsibilities. One cannot ignore that over the last 140 years, research at Unisa has followed a somewhat non-linear trajectory. Before it became a research institution in its own right, Unisa was, and in some ways, still is an incubator for research in Africa, with its magnificent library and its outstanding archives section. It’s easy to talk about the past, but Phakeng is incredibly confident that the research, innovation and postgraduate future of the university is bright. This is evident by the fact that 28.6% of the researchers recognised and awarded are below 40 years of age, giving them at least 25 more years before retirement. The challenge is to retain these researchers – one that Phakeng and her portfolio have taken up and are doing all they can to make sure these researchers stay and add value to Unisa.
Unisa is not just retaining its most valued researchers but keen to attract new ones. Pictured from right, Prof Narend Baijnath (Pro Vice-Chancellor), Prof David Glasser (an A1 rated scientist from the University of the Witwatersrand who joined Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology on 1 March 2013), Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng (Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation), Prof Diane Hildebrandt (B1 rated researcher from the University of the Witwatersrand who joined Unisa’s College of Science, Engineering and Technology on 1 March 2013) and Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor)
Prof Mandla Makhanya, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, has given the portfolio generous encouragement in ensuring that this challenge is met. He says, “Not only does Unisa offer very generous encouragement and support – financial and otherwise – for our researchers, and especially our female researchers (young and black in particular) but we are also being really innovative in our intention to create spaces for our staff to conduct lengthier periods of research in environments away from their offices and their concomitant work responsibilities. While this will have a significant financial impact on the university – and I might add that the policy will be applied very judiciously – we believe that we will be making a very real and valuable contribution to the growth and development of research and innovation at Unisa and of course, the country at large.”
Among the researchers acknowledged for their NRF ratings was Prof David Glasser, an A1 rated scientist from the University of the Witwatersrand who joined Unisa on 1 March 2013. Glasser’s A1 rating is not new but it is new and exciting to this university.
As Unisa celebrates 140 years of shaping futures, it was fitting to invite some of those who have truly had their futures shaped and lives changed by this university. Despite his impoverished background, Maanda Ndou, an orphan, graduated with an honours degree in political science at Unisa in 2012 and is currently studying towards a masters degree. Ndou was a street kid and spent six years of his life before coming to Unisa staying at the Tshwane Child Welfare and Boys Town in Kagiso.
Esther Pory Mtshweni also got a chance at life while serving as a domestic worker for nine years. She decided to register or a BAdmin degree with Unisa, completed it in 2004 and went on to complete her honours in 2008 at Unisa. Mtshweni is currently completing her second honours degree in archival studies and hopes to graduate before the end of this year. “If there was no Unisa, Pory could still have been stuck in someone else’s kitchen cleaning and preparing lunchboxes while being paid, if she was lucky, a minimum wage of about R1 500 per month,” said Phakeng, highlighting the critical role this institution has played over the decades in changing lives for the better.
Award categories for the night included youngest women doctoral graduate for 2012, 2013 resilience in research women award, 2013 developing researcher women award, 2013 leadership in research women award, 2012 Principal’s award for excellence in research, Hiddingh-Currie award; and prestigious external research awards recognition.
- A dynamic team won the 2012 innovation award after being responsible for filing the first patent of a method and apparatus for treating a fluid. Winners: Prof Wei Hua Ho (College of Science, Engineering and Technology) and Prof Srinivasu Vallabhapurapu (College of Science, Engineering and Technology).
- The 2012/2013 Hiddingh-Currie award is given to authors of published works within Unisa Press. Worth R10 000, it encourages and nourishes specialised skills in academic research and scholarly publishing. The criteria of this award are that the work should be of an academic or artistic nature and of the highest quality. It should also contribute to the understanding or development of a discipline and also address a specific need or problem in society.
- The principal’s award for excellence in research is targeted at young and developing researchers not older than 35 years – young researchers or groups who have achieved academic research excellence of the highest quality as published in the preceding two years. The research cohort comprises of scholars who are generally in the minority throughout the national higher education system.
- The 2013 leadership in research women award is awarded to researchers who, in the last five years, have demonstrated their outstanding leadership in research by publishing widely, contributing to the advancement of research within their field, participating in the development of scholars through mentorship, providing supervision to a substantial number of postgraduate students, receiving recognition and awards in their fields as achievers and participating in community and/or industry engagement.
- The 2013 resilience in research women award is awarded to a researcher/s who, in the past three years, have succeeded in attaining a doctoral qualification in spite of extraordinary circumstances that would inhibit possible completion. The award celebrates the values, perseverance, commitment and singular dedication in the pursuit of academic goal.
- The 2013 women developing researcher award is aimed at acknowledging research and innovation excellence by Unisa’s women researchers and encourages new aspiring PhD candidates to become established researchers.
 Unisa students, Maanda Ndou and Esther Pory Mtshweni flank Prof Phakeng. The VP is proud that these are just some examples of lives that have been shaped and changed because of the university. |
 The 2012/2013 Hiddingh-Currie award winners: Dr Jeremy Shearar for Against the world: South Africa and human rights at the United Nations and Dr Tlou Setumu for His story is history: Rural village future through the eyes of a rural village boy (Hidden Histories Series). |
 2012 innovation award winners: Prof Wei Hua Ho (College of Science, Engineering and Technology) and Prof Srinivasu Vallabhapurapu (College of Science, Engineering and Technology) are flanked by Prof Mandla Makhanya (Principal and Vice-Chancellor) and Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng (Vice-Principal: Research and Innovation) |
 The principal’s award for excellence in research winners, standing, Kunofiwa Tsaurai (College of Economic and Management Sciences), Dr Babatunde Fagbayibo (College of Law) and Prof Zenghui Wang (College of Science, Engineering and Technology) and sitting, Dr Puleng Segalo (College of Human Sciences). Not pictured, Prof Philip Stoop (College of Law). |
 Mirror images, Prof Jane Carruthers (College of Human Sciences) has done groundbreaking work on environmental history and Prof Jack Mphahlele (College of Science, Engineering and Technology), has focused extensively on organic chemistry. Both were acknowledged for receiving membership of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf). Not pictured is Prof Alan Weinberg (College of Human Sciences) who received the same accolade. |
 Dr Veli Jiyane (College of Human Sciences) and Dr Matseliso Mokhele (College of Education) were awarded 2013 resilience in research women award. |
 Nomanesi Madiya (College of Education) and Dr Chrizell Churr (College of Law) each received the 2013 women developing researcher award. |
 Dr Elnerine Greeff (College of Human Sciences) was awarded for being the youngest women doctoral graduate for 2012. |
 2013 leadership in research women award winners: Prof Salome Schulze (College of Education), Prof Michelle Kelly-Louw (College of Law), Prof Marisa Keuris (College of Human Sciences), Prof Mari Jansen van Rensburg (College of Economic and Management Sciences), Prof Anna Hugo (College of Education) and Prof Judy van Biljon (College of Science, Engineering and Technology). Not pictured, Prof Laurette Pretorius (College of Graduate Studies), Prof Marilyn Naidoo (College of Human Sciences) and Prof Jeannie van Wyk (College of Law). |
 Mirror images, Prof Jane Carruthers (College of Human Sciences) has done groundbreaking work on environmental history and Prof Jack Mphahlele (College of Science, Engineering and Technology), has focused extensively on organic chemistry. Both were acknowledged for receiving membership of the Academy of Sciences of South Africa (ASSAf). Not pictured is Prof Alan Weinberg (College of Human Sciences) who received the same accolade. |
 2012 NRF B3-Rated Researchers – Prof Jaco Dreyer (College of Human Sciences) and Prof Jopie Pretorius (College of Law) |
 2012 NRF C1-Rated researchers – Prof Monga Luhandjula (College of Economic and Management Sciences), Prof Anneli Loubser (College of Law) and Prof Anthony de Villiers Minnaar (College of Law |
 2012 NRF Y2-Rated Researchers: Dr Jessica Murray (College of Human Sciences), Dr Wessel Bentley (College of Human Sciences), Prof Mpfari Budeli (College of Law) and Prof. Magdaleen Swanepoel (College of Law). Not pictured, Dr Samantha Gildenhuys (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences) and Prof Yorick Hardy (College of Science, Engineering and Technology). |
 2012 NRF C3-Rated Researchers – Prof Duncan Hodge (College of Economic and Management Sciences), Prof Sabelo Ndlovu (College of Graduate Studies) and Prof Vuyisile Msila (College of Education). Not pictured, Dr Karendra Devroop (College of Economic and Management Sciences) |
 Krister Stendahl Medal in Biblical Studies: Prof Christo Lombaard (College of Human Sciences) for his book, The Old Testament and Christianity Spirituality, while Prof Eleanor Lemmer (College of Education) was awarded an Education of South Africa (EASA) research medal. |
*Article by Kirosha Naicker and Rajiv Kamal
