The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (DVC: RIE) at the Durban University of Technology, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, recently hosted the first series of Faculty Engagements with the Faculties of Accounting and Informatics and Management Sciences at the Ritson Campus in Durban on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.
Facilitating both sessions was the Senior Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Alan Khan, who highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between the DVC: RIE office and academic faculties. He also reflected on recent research achievements that demonstrate DUT’s commitment to addressing societal challenges through impactful research and innovation.
Mr Khan further highlighted the eight South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chairs recently awarded to DUT by the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande. He also announced that DUT has secured a 15-month contract with Universities South Africa (USAf) to lead a strategic national project aimed at strengthening and harmonising entrepreneurship across South Africa’s 26 public universities. The project will be led by a multidisciplinary team under the leadership of Prof Nemavhola.
In the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics session, Executive Dean Prof Oludayo Olugbara delivered welcome remarks, while in the Faculty of Management Sciences session, Interim Executive Dean Prof Mattys Swanepoel addressed staff. Both Deans described the engagement platform as an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration and advance the university’s research and innovation agenda. They encouraged staff to actively participate, share ideas, and explore interdisciplinary partnerships.
The Interim Director of the Research and Postgraduate Support Unit, Dr Nomcebo Mthombeni, shared key research performance data, noting that the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics recorded 98 research outputs in 2025, a significant improvement from 48.72 in 2024. She also highlighted that one department has over 80 percent of its academic staff holding PhDs.
In the second session, Dr Mthombeni commended the Faculty of Management Sciences for being the highest contributor of research output at DUT, recording 308 units in 2025, compared to 209.97 in 2024. She further noted steady improvements in postgraduate enrolment across both faculties and encouraged staff to engage her office on research funding opportunities. She also clarified that conference attendance approvals now reside within faculties under updated Research, Innovation and Engagement (RIE) policies.
Dr Pinky Ntola, Interim Director of Technology Transfer and Innovation, emphasised the importance of strengthening DUT’s intellectual property portfolio. She explained that this supports research protection prior to publication, enables commercialisation and spin-off development, and contributes to sustainable third-stream income. She also outlined available innovation funding opportunities within her unit.
In his presentation, Prof Nemavhola shared key institutional research statistics and their strategic implications. He noted that 36 percent of academic staff hold doctoral qualifications, which remains below the sector average when compared to other South African universities. He further indicated that 18 percent of doctoral holders are not actively engaged in research or postgraduate supervision.
He encouraged academics to prioritise research output as a core expectation of university work and emphasised the importance of equitable workload distribution to ensure meaningful participation in research activities across all staff.
Prof Nemavhola also highlighted that in 2023, 50 percent of conference attendance claims could not be processed against Department of Higher Education and Training subsidy requirements. He noted that recent policy updates aim to safeguard staff from attending non-compliant or questionable conferences.
He concluded his presentation by opening the floor for discussion, allowing extended time for a robust question and answer session.
Staff from both faculties actively engaged, raising concerns around administrative workloads for academics, conference approval processes, research incentives, and institutional Wi-Fi challenges.
Prof Nemavhola and his team responded to the majority of questions, offering guidance, clarifications, and acknowledging areas requiring further attention and improvement.
The remaining faculties will engage with Prof Nemavhola in upcoming sessions, with the Faculty of Arts and Design scheduled to meet at the DUT Hotel School, Ritson Campus on Friday, 24 April 2026 at 09h00.
Pictured: DVC:RIE, Prof Fulufhelo Nemavhola addressing staff at the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics engagement.
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Simangele Zuma
