At least two of the University’s academic deans gave strong support to the Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s research initiatives, which Professor Rushiella Songca rolled out to MUT researchers on 14 April 2026 at the Student Centre. The research initiatives are part of Professor Songca’s 100 Day Plan. Professor Songca joined the University on 2 March 2026.
The Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, Professor Alfred Msomi, outlined his faculty’s research plans, which aim to advance research to the next level. He reported on his faculty efforts, including a research task team coordinating high-level research programmes, a PhD symposium, and regular research-writing sessions to support staff in pursuing doctorates and academic careers. He also emphasised that any equipment, laboratories, and instruments obtained by researchers were to be treated as university resources to be shared.
The Faculty of Engineering Dean, Dr Richard Chidzonga, also outlined his faculty’s plans to improve research. Dr Chidzonga said they now have active research representatives and seminars. Also, they are planning a conference and commended the MarComms team (Mbali Mkhize and Zama Sishi) for being instrumental in raising seed funding of R800,000 for the faculty’s research agenda, and for the new award of R500,000, which the faculty would use to support their terminal degree programmes. “We have also targeted 22 research units for 2026, and several staff are already publishing multiple articles,” Dr Chidzonga. Dr Chidzonga also added that they were planning benchmarking visits from 11 to 13 July 2026, to Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ).