In a compelling address at the MUT Research Colloquium that took place off campus on 5 November 2026, Professor Andile Khathi from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) appealed to academics and researchers to elevate their work beyond academic journals and focus on creating real-world socioeconomic impact that directly transforms lives.
Speaking under the theme of shifting from basic research output to tangible societal benefit, Professor Khathi challenged researchers to rethink the fundamental purpose of academic inquiry. “Research excellence only asks: What have we discovered? But if you are aiming for socio-economic impact, you and your students need to ask: What is different because of our discovery?” Khathi told the audience. “Let every paper be the beginning of a pathway towards useful innovation, stronger communities, and more opportunities.”
Illustrating his message through his own research journey, Professor Khathi shared how his team’s observations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic led to international policy changes. While health authorities globally listed underlying conditions like diabetes and hypertension as critical risk factors for severe COVID-19, Khathi’s team noticed a troubling trend: many patients without these accredited comorbidities were still experiencing severe complications and dying. Investigating further, his team hypothesized that undiagnosed prediabetes was the unaccounted culprit. After rapidly analysing and publishing their data, their findings influenced the World Health Organization (WHO) to officially recognise prediabetes as a key comorbidity to monitor in COVID-19 management.
Despite influencing global health policy, Professor Khathi emphasized that policy change alone was not enough for the “man on the street.” Because diagnostic tests for prediabetes remain expensive and inaccessible for many, his team took the research a step further by developing affordable point-of-care testing devices. Currently, his laboratory is validating three portable prototype devices designed for use in local clinics, doctor’s offices, and even at home. The goal is to enable early detection and prevent patients from progressing to Type 2 diabetes, recently recognised as the leading cause of death in South Africa.
“It is not good enough if work ends up in a publication or a thesis,” Khathi stressed. “We need to move from the lab to real life. The taxpayers who fund our work expect a return on their investment,” he said.
Professor Khathi argued that academic impact extends beyond patents and commercial products. “It is fundamentally about human capability and community development,” he said. He highlighted that over the past year, his research initiatives have supported the graduation of 15 PhD, 50 Master’s, and 50 Honours students. “These are not just numbers,” he said. “These are individuals equipped with high-level skills, confidence, and earning power. They are securing employment, feeding their families, and lifting their communities. That intergenerational mobility is true socioeconomic impact.”
Addressing the future role of Universities of Technology, Professor Khathi outlined a strategic shift in research methodology. First was to identify the real needs first. “Start with a verified societal problem rather than conducting research first and searching for an application later,” he said. Also, put together multi-disciplinary teams, he said. “Break down academic silos by integrating health sciences, engineering, data science, and user-centred design. And co-design with end-users by engaging communities and industry partners early in the design process to ensure adoption and ethical execution.” Professor Khathi also advised MUT staff to “measure what matters by evaluating success not only by citations and publications, but by prototype viability, spin-off creation, policy adoption, and community benefit. “A lot of us have been building the bridge without knowing where we are going. I am challenging everyone to determine where we need to go first, and then build the bridge in that specific direction,” he said.
To turn inspiration into action, Professor Khathi concluded his keynote address by issuing a 90-day challenge to all colloquium delegates. “Identify a specific problem. Pinpoint a real-world issue and gather evidence on who it affects and why it matters. Then map the pathway to impact, and outline the necessary steps to take a solution from concept to community implementation,” he said. He said the next step was to select impact indicators by defining a clear metrics to track progress across all stages of development. And lastly, he advised each MUT staff to form a new collaboration by connecting with at least one new partner within 90 days to begin the journey toward real-world impact. “The future belongs to universities that change lives,” Professor Khathi concluded. “Let’s move from research to impact, and do work that truly transforms our society.”