The Durban University of Technology (DUT) will officially launch 18 Research Institutes and showcase 11 South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chairs at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
The event will bring together academic leaders, researchers, industry partners, government representatives, students and other stakeholders as DUT marks an important milestone in the development of its research and innovation landscape.
The official launch of the 18 Research Institutes will provide a platform for researchers from across the University to work collaboratively on areas of research that respond to regional, national and global challenges. The new Institutes bring together research expertise and capacity, with a focus on advancing knowledge and developing solutions with practical and societal relevance.
The event will also showcase DUT’s 11 SARChI Chairs, highlighting areas of specialised research and research leadership within the University. The SARChI Chairs form part of DUT’s broader efforts to strengthen research capacity, support research excellence and develop the next generation of researchers.
The launch comes as DUT continues to receive recognition for its research development and impact.
In the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings, DUT moved into the 401 to 600 global band, from the 1001 to 1500+ band in 2025. The University was also ranked 60th globally for Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty.
The rankings assess universities’ contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) through areas including research, teaching, stewardship and engagement. DUT’s performance provides an indication of the growing visibility of the University’s work in areas connected to sustainability and societal impact.
The official launch also follows DUT’s receipt of the National Research Foundation’s Focused Research Advancement Award. This was the third consecutive year that DUT was announced as the winner of this NRF award.
The award recognised sustained growth in research productivity and research support over a five-year evaluation period. The 2026 assessment considered areas including doctoral staff capacity, postgraduate outputs, research productivity, NRF investment and growth in NRF-rated researchers.
These developments provide important context for the establishment of DUT’s Research Institutes, bringing together research capacity, specialised expertise and collaborative platforms at a time when the University’s research profile is receiving national and international recognition.
Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, said the launch represents an important step in strengthening the University’s research platform. “The establishment of the Research Institutes provides DUT with an opportunity to bring together expertise, strengthen collaboration and create a platform through which our researchers can respond to complex challenges. It also provides an important foundation for developing the next generation of researchers and strengthening partnerships that can extend the reach and impact of our research.”
The official launch will provide an opportunity for DUT to introduce the Research Institutes and SARChI Chairs to a wider audience, while highlighting the researchers, research areas and partnerships contributing to the University’s research development.
For DUT, the launch event marks the formal introduction of a research platform through which the University can strengthen collaboration, develop research capacity and advance knowledge that contributes to society.
Pictured: DUT PhD candidate Charles Gnana and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology researcher Kea Limbeck collaborate on sustainable biomass research.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Tiyani Mboweni
