Unisa Library and Information Services recently hosted a delegation from the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Library for a benchmarking visit to strengthen research support services and enhance researcher visibility within higher education institutions.

The engagement brought together library professionals from both institutions to exchange knowledge and explore best practices in key areas, including transformative agreements, bibliometrics, researcher profiling and ORCID integration.

Welcoming the delegation, Acting Executive Director of Unisa Library and Information Services, Dr Janice de Wee, highlighted the importance of collaboration among academic libraries in advancing research excellence and institutional impact. "Benchmarking engagements create valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing, innovation and continuous improvement in the services we provide to researchers and academics," she said.

TUT's information librarians initiated the visit after identifying service gaps through product review meetings and engagements with peers from other universities.

According to Dr Magdeline Mashilo of TUT, the institution sought to learn from Unisa's experiences and best practices in research support. "We identified areas where we wanted to strengthen our services and believed that benchmarking with Unisa Library would provide valuable insights," she said.

Among the areas of greatest interest were Unisa Library’s approach to transformative agreements, bibliometric support services, researcher visibility and profiling, and ORCID adoption.

TUT librarian Busi Khumalo said the visit provided a clearer understanding of current trends and future possibilities in supporting researchers. "These engagements," she said, "allow us to assess where we are currently and where we would like to position ourselves in the future."

Discussions also highlighted common challenges facing higher education institutions, including increasing awareness of transformative agreements, understanding article processing charges, and promoting the value of ORCID profiles among academics and researchers.

The TUT delegation commended Unisa Library’s specialised research support services, comprehensive training programmes and strong engagement with colleges, describing these as best practices that could be adapted within their own environment.

Looking ahead, both academic libraries expressed a commitment to strengthening collaboration through communities of practice, regular knowledge-sharing initiatives and reciprocal benchmarking visits.

The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of Unisa and TUT Libraries to advancing research support services, promoting scholarly visibility, and contributing to the growth and impact of higher education research in South Africa.

* By Itumeleng Mpete, Marketing Coordinator, Library and Information Services