Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) marked a landmark milestone in its academic and institutional evolution with the official off-campus.
The highlight of the launch of the Women in Research Initiative for Growth and Transformation (WRIGHT) event was the unveiling of the all-female Steering Committee tasked with directing the initiative through its foundational phase. The committee will be led by Professor Xolile Mkhize as Chairperson, with Nokukhanya Thembane serving as Deputy Chairperson. The other members are Dr Sithembile Nkosi, the Secretary; Dr Ziningi Jaya, Deputy Secretary; Dr Thulile Duma, the Treasurer; and Dr Kavita Behara, the Editor-in-Chief.
The WRIGHT initiative establishes a structured, collective platform designed to propel women researchers forward, aligning directly with MUT’s overarching strategy and national imperatives surrounding gender inclusion and empowerment.
Speaking on her election to lead the pioneering committee, Professor Mkhize expressed deep honour, and outlined a clear, ambitious direction for WRIGHT, describing it as a vital springboard for MUT’s strategic vision. “This is a way of bringing women together in a more coordinated system with a clear vision, moving away from fragmented individual initiatives toward a collective, community-based framework for women researchers at MUT,” said Professor Mkhize. “It feels like we are on a train platform, the MUT 2030 strategy, and WRIGHT is the train moving us toward our destination of transformation and development,” said Professor Mkhize.
Professor Mkhize underlined that the launch comes at the opportune moment to consolidate support for female academics, transitioning from individual pursuits to a unified front that can unlock unprecedented opportunities.
The newly formed Steering Committee is set to rollout a comprehensive three-to-five-year roadmap aligned with MUT’s core institutional goals and broader national frameworks on gender equality in higher education and research. Professor Mkhize noted that the initiative’s plan directly reflects ground-level feedback from researchers across the Institution. “We have our ears on the ground. Researchers have raised their views on how they want to see their development unfold. Our goal is to align ourselves, open doors that are often hard to see as individuals and walk through them together as a collective.”
By creating an integrated ecosystem, the WRIGHT Steering Committee aims to set a high standard for institutional support, ensuring female researchers at MUT are equipped to lead, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to national development priorities.