After more than two and a half decades of visionary leadership, MUT is preparing to bid a bittersweet farewell to its founding Research Director, Dr Anette Mienie. Dr Mienie’s remarkable 26-year journey, which began when the Institution was still a technikon, will officially culminate on 30 June 2026, when she leaves her post.
Dr Mienie, a resident of Ballito, one of Durban’s northern suburbs, arrived at MUT with a bold mission: to build the University’s Research office completely from scratch. What started as a modest endeavour fuelled by ambition has, over a quarter of a century, completely reshaped the University’s academic landscape, transforming MUT into a thriving hub of impact-driven research and innovation.
The early days of the Research office were defined by steep challenges and a stark shortage of postgraduate qualifications on campus. “At that time, it was me as the research director, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aaron Ndlovu, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic, Professor Edmund Zingu, who possessed the terminal qualification,” Dr Mienie recalled. “But through hard work, determination, and ambition, staff soon attained Master’s qualifications and PhDs. The rest, as they say, is history.”
Driven by unwavering determination, Dr Mienie assembled a passionate team of academics and support staff. Together, they established an administrative department and nurtured a creative ecosystem where research became a powerful catalyst for societal change. As staff members began visiting her office, groundbreaking ideas took flight.
Post its jubilee milestone last year, the Research Office still stands as a beacon of hope, resilience, and empowerment. Under Dr Mienie’s foresight, the office has built a foundational legacy that will support generations of future scholars.
Over the last 26 years, the Research Office has secured a long list of major achievements, including:
- Institutional Frameworks: Establishing robust research policies and strategies to anchor the university’s academic agenda.
- National Recognition: Winning the prestigious National Research Foundation (NRF) Excelleration Award for the 2020/2021 period.
- Staff Empowerment: Launching the Seed Funding Programme and the Research Capacity Development Grant to foster emerging talent.
- Global Footprint: Developing international research partnerships and hosting Postdoctoral Research Fellows.
- Culture of Excellence: Introducing the annual Research Excellence Awards to honour trailblazing campus researchers.
Colleagues note that Dr Mienie leaves behind an office she built from the ground up, nurtured with deep care, and watched flourish, much like the vibrant flowers and plants she tends to at home.
As MUT raises a glass to honour her visionary leadership and the relentless spirit of Dr Mienie’s team, the University looks toward its future with immense excitement, anchored by the rock-solid foundation she leaves behind. The entire MUT community extends its deepest gratitude to Dr Mienie for her trailblazing service and wishes her well as she prepares to step off the University stage.