Durban University of Technology (DUT) has emerged as the top achiever among Universities of Technology at the 2026 National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards, receiving the Focused Research Advancement Award.
The award recognises universities that have demonstrated significant growth in research productivity and research support over a five year evaluation period.
For the 2026 evaluation, universities were assessed against several research performance indicators, including doctoral staff capacity, postgraduate outputs, research productivity, NRF investment and growth in NRF rated researchers.
DUT recorded the strongest overall performance across these indicators, placing the University at the top of the Universities of Technology category evaluated for the 2026 award.
This means DUT’s position was not based on a single research output or indicator. The assessment considered the University’s overall progress in building doctoral staff capacity, producing postgraduate research outputs, increasing research productivity, attracting NRF investment and growing its base of NRF rated researchers over the evaluation period.
The award was received on behalf of DUT by Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, at the NRF Awards ceremony held on Thursday, 3 September 2026, at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
“Receiving the Focused Research Advancement Award is a proud moment for DUT and, most importantly, a recognition of the collective work of our researchers, postgraduate students, faculties and support teams. Our continued growth in research productivity demonstrates what can be achieved when we invest in our researchers and create an environment that supports innovation, collaboration and impactful research,” said Professor Nemavhola.
He said emerging as the top achiever in the Universities of Technology category was significant because the award considers performance over time and across several areas of research.
“Emerging as the top achiever in the Universities of Technology category is particularly significant because the assessment looks beyond a single measure or a single year. DUT’s performance across doctoral staff capacity, postgraduate outputs, research productivity, NRF investment and the growth in NRF rated researchers demonstrates the progress we have made in strengthening our research ecosystem over the five year evaluation period. We must now build on this achievement and continue investing in research capacity, postgraduate development and excellence,” said Professor Nemavhola.
The 2026 recognition follows DUT’s receipt of the Focused Research Advancement Award in 2024 and 2025. In both years, the award recognised the University’s growth in research productivity and research support over a five year period.
The latest NRF recognition comes as DUT continues to strengthen its research performance. In its latest submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training, DUT submitted 975.4 publication units, compared with 702.62 units submitted in the previous reporting period.
DUT has also recorded a significant improvement in the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. The University moved into the 401 to 600 global band, from 1001 to 1500 plus in 2025. DUT was also ranked 60th globally for SDG 1: No Poverty.
The NRF award is significant because it measures sustained growth rather than performance in isolation. For DUT, emerging as the top achiever in the Universities of Technology category points to progress across the research system, from developing research capacity and postgraduate talent to increasing productivity, investment and the number of NRF rated researchers.
The achievement also places greater responsibility on the University to sustain the gains made over the evaluation period and continue strengthening the conditions that enable researchers and postgraduate students to produce high quality research.
The 2026 NRF Awards brought together South Africa’s research community to recognise achievements across the country’s research and innovation landscape.
Pictured: DUT Deputy Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola receiving the Focused Research Advancement Award at the 2026 NRF Awards.
Tiyani Mboweni
