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Mangosuthu University of Technology Annual Report

37

Objective 4:

To include more people in research

activities. Increase the proportion of

academic staff defined as “research

active”;

Objective 5:

To maximise research output;

Objective 6:

To increase National and International

collaboration;

Objective 7:

To encourage the commercialisation of

research output and collaboration with

industry;

Objective 8:

Create an environment supportive of

research; and

Objective 9:

To improve administrative facilitation

for all researchers.

Research Niche Areas

The following research niche areas were approved by

Senate:

• Algal Biotechnology;

• Ethno Botany;

• Food Security;

• Language, Academic Literacy and Communication;

• Radio Access Network and Rural Communication;

• Renewable Energy;

• Service Delivery Improvement in the Public Sector;

and

• Waste Management.

Research Projects

The majority of research projects focus on the upgrading

of postgraduate qualifications. Academic staff members

are encouraged to build on existing projects and

departmental strengths in order for Mangosuthu

University of Technology to be recognised as a role player

in research.

Research Awards

The Research Awards Evening aims to recognise staff

members that perform research of a high quality. The

research awards recognise the efforts of the researchers

over a two-year period and the awards evening is held on

an annual basis.

The Annual Research Awards Evening was hosted on the

20 November 2015 at Makaranga Garden Lodge. The

guest speaker was Prof. F Van Niekerk (University of North

West). The following staff members were recognised:

Most Productive Researcher

Dr RC Nnadozie

Senate Prize for the Researcher Who Published Most

Accredited Journal Articles during the Past Two Years

Dr AK Tumba

Notable Achievements:

Prof. TC Davies

Prof. Davies was invited to write a review article on Urban

Geology of African Megacities for the Journal of African

Earth Sciences.

Mr Njabulo Gumede

He received the Thuthuka Grant for 2014/2015 and

secured R500 000 TIA Seed Fund Grant.

Ms Xolile Mkhize

She obtained two fully-funded scholarships:

1.

Wageningen University (Netherlands) for agri-

business cluster development; and

2.

University of Illions for Soya bean processing in the

National Soya Bean Research Laboratory.

She also secured the NRF KIC Grant worth R30 000.00.

Mr Boniso Ngwenya

1.

He filed a South African patent for harnessing wave

energy (2015/02913); and

2.

He secured EDTEA funding worth R495 000.00.

Professor Logan Naidoo

Prof. Naidoo contributed two chapters in a DHET-

recognised book titled Chatsworth: The Making of a

South African Township.

Ms Ntombenhle Ndlovu

She selected as a semi-finalist for Global CLEANTECH

Innovation Programme. She was also selected to present

the innovation at the Innovation Summit 2015 held in

Cape Town.

Mr Dave Pons

1.

He secured EDTEA funding worth R450 000.00.

2.

He secured South African Breweries funding

towards travelling costs to London for his Ceiling-

in-a-Can invention.

Mr TT Poswa

He received NRF KIC Grant worth R30 000.00.

Prof. Ewa Zawilska

She collaborated in a research programme with the South

African Universities Radiometric Network (SAURAN).

Disclosures and Patents

The following is worth reporting:

1.

Renewal of Patent No. 2012/09619, titled Ceiling-in-

a-Can by

Mr D Pons.

2.

Provisional Patent Application No. 2014/03554,

titled: System of Harnessing Wave Energy by

Mr BS

Ngwenya.