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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.