The Durban University of Technology (DUT) in partnership with the Insurance Sector Education and Training Authority (INSETA) will be launching the INSETA Research Chair in Digitalisation Project at Coastlands Musgrave on Monday, 25 October 2021. 

The project is part of a five-year partnership between DUT and INSETA after signing an agreement in 2019 to establish a Research Chair in Digitalisation and a Centre of Excellence at DUT.   

The INSETA Research Chair falls under the portfolio of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo.  She notes that DUT is proud to be amongst the universities in this multi-faceted partnership with INSETA. 

“Our value proposition under the INSETA Chair is to contribute to research that is contextual for and specific for the sector and is able to take into account key role players from the ecosystem, as well as contribute to skills training,” Prof Moyo noted. 

According to the DUT’s Short Course Unit Project Manager, Mrs Sudhika Palhad, the partnership aims to enhance research outputs in the area of insurance with a pertinent focus on digitalisation. 

“Its core objectives are to understand the role of the Insurance sector in Digitalisation through contextual, research advocacy. Also, to understand the current and future skills demand of the insurance sector that Digitalisation and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) will demand,” she said. 

Furthermore, she revealed that the over the five-year duration, the partnership will include: 

• Research capacity building through the funding of Postgraduate industry-based and emerging researchers. 
• Conduct research on the topics under the themes of technology, 4IR and skills supply and demand.
• Identify research gaps wherein further research is needed within the insurance sector. 
• Produce accredited research outputs in high impact journals.

The project is expected to enhance the profile of DUT researchers and academics within the financial and insurance services sector. It will also further increase DUT’s publication records in terms of accredited journal outputs. 

“The project enables DUT to expand its footprint with respect to commissioned research while fostering an engagement and collaboration with INSETA and the broader insurance sector. This speaks directly to the strategic objectives of DUT as encapsulated in ENVISION2030,” added Palhad. 

The DUT Research Chair, Prof Colin Thakur said: “Certainly our work thus far has been validated through accredited journals, the media, white trade papers and involvement with the Ministerial Task Team on 4IR.  Off course, DUT is a perpetually engaged university. We therefore intend our research to involve all areas of the Fourth Industrial Revolution with industry lens to support staff and student capacitation.” 

Pictured: DUT Research Chair, Prof Colin Thakur.