An African institute for research excellence in theology and religion
The RITR was established in 1975 as the Institute for Theological Research and changed to its present name in 1997.
More change came after 2019 when the RITR underwent a review and drafted a new constitution, vision, mission and operational plan.
Aligned with the School of Humanities, the College of Human Sciences and Unisa, the vision of the RITR is to become an African institute for research excellence in theology and religion. It strives to excel in research, community engagement and academic citizenship towards improving the lives of individuals and communities.
Guided by the mission of the School of Social Sciences, the College of Human Sciences and Unisa, the mission of the RITR is to serve as a comprehensive transdisciplinary research institute that produces excellent scholarship and research and fosters active community engagement concerning theology and religion. It is guided by the principles of humanity, equity, community-centeredness, innovation and creativity.
The RITR’s operational plan for 2020 to 2022 commits the institute to high research output, national and international recognition of its research programmes and local and continent relevance and impact on communities.
In 2021 alone, the RITR published 31 articles and 23 book chapters, demonstrating its productivity.
Notwithstanding these achievements, the institute recognises the need for continuous improvement, specifically in human resources, postgraduate supervision and sourcing of external grants. The operational plan supports ongoing improvement and is articulated around five strategic focus areas: These are tuition, research and innovation, community engagement, collaboration and academic management, and resource management.
Of importance is that the operational plan takes cognisance of the transformation agenda in higher education and the community it serves, as well as Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the National Development Plan and the socio-political environment, including theological and religious aspects.
These strategic areas are being operationalised using the Logical Framework.
Last modified: Mon Aug 07 17:24:44 SAST 2023